Types of Food Packaging, Knowledge about Environmental Impacts, and Attitudes toward the Use of Eco-friendly Packaging among Street Food Vendors around Primary Schools in Urban Areas

Abstract

This study examines the types of food packaging used by street food vendors around primary schools in urban areas of Ubon Ratchathani province. The study selected the top three schools with the largest number of teachers and students in the Ubon Ratchathani Municipality, which were Ubon Ratchathani Kindergarten, Ubon Wittayakom School, and Wat Sri Ubonrattanaram Foundation School. Data were collected using a questionnaire that included general information such as the type of food sold, the type of packaging used, knowledge about the environmental impacts of plastic packaging, and attitudes toward packaging choices among 70 street vendors around the school area from 70 street vendors in September 2023. The results showed that the most common type of food sold was beverages, accounting for 29.5%. The most frequently used type of packaging was plastic bags with handles, at 77.1%, followed by plastic handle bags for cups at 41.4%. On average, stores used 119.91 plastic packaging items per day (SD = 32.73). Most purchased these from general grocery stores, accounting for 27.1%, with an average purchase price of 151 baht per time (SD = 46.87). The sample group had the highest level of knowledge about the environmental impact of plastic packaging, at 82.9%. Additionally, 85.7% knew that paper packaging is environmentally friendly, but 62.9% lacked knowledge about the fact that burning plastic packaging causes air pollution. The attitude of the sample group was at a very good level, accounting for 68.6%, with the view that reducing plastic use is important. However, they still felt that environmentally friendly products are difficult to find (61.4%). It is recommended that the government should implement policies to promote the use of biodegradable or recyclable packaging and provide more education to street vendors about environmentally friendly packaging.