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A Survey on the Use of Plastic versus Biodegradable Bottles for Drinking Water Packaging in the United Arab Emirates

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Listed:
  • Himadri Rajput

    (Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain 15551, United Arab Emirates
    National Water and Energy Center, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain 15551, United Arab Emirates)

  • Munjed A. Maraqa

    (Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain 15551, United Arab Emirates
    National Water and Energy Center, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain 15551, United Arab Emirates)

  • Fatima Zraydi

    (College of Education, Special Education Mild to Moderate Disability, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain 15551, United Arab Emirates)

  • Lina A. Al Khatib

    (Electrical Engineering Department, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain 15551, United Arab Emirates)

  • Noor Ameen

    (Mechanical Engineering Department, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain 15551, United Arab Emirates)

  • Rime Ben ElKaid

    (Aerospace Engineering Department, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain 15551, United Arab Emirates)

  • Safia S. Al Jaberi

    (Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain 15551, United Arab Emirates)

  • Noura A. Alharbi

    (Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain 15551, United Arab Emirates)

  • Reka Howard

    (Institute of Agricultural and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68527, USA)

  • Ashraf Aly Hassan

    (Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain 15551, United Arab Emirates
    National Water and Energy Center, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain 15551, United Arab Emirates)

Abstract

Due to intensive utilization and extensive production, plastic waste is becoming a serious threat to the environment and human health. The situation is even worse in countries such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where single-use plastic water bottles add to the load of plastic pollution. The main objective of this survey was to assess the extent of bottled water utilization by the UAE residents and their awareness of the environmental concerns arising from single-use plastic bottles. The aim was also to evaluate their willingness to shift towards using biodegradable plastic bottles. This study involved the feedback of 2589 respondents living in the UAE. The eigenvalue decomposition (EVD) was applied to determine the most responsible variables explaining the variability of our data set. A chi-square analysis was also used to determine the significance among the responses. Most of the respondents to this survey were UAE nationals (79.8%) of ages ranging from 21 to 35 years (42%), who were educated, with most holding a university degree (69.6%). Regardless of their gender, age, occupation, education, and income, a large group of respondents (40.7%) was concerned about the impact of their purchased items on the environment; however, the frequency of plastic products recycled was observed to be low (49.7%). According to the findings of this survey, 42.4% of the respondents were likely to purchase 100% biodegradable bottles, and about 70% of the respondents expressed a willingness to spend at least AED 1 more for purchasing 100% biodegradable bottles.

Suggested Citation

  • Himadri Rajput & Munjed A. Maraqa & Fatima Zraydi & Lina A. Al Khatib & Noor Ameen & Rime Ben ElKaid & Safia S. Al Jaberi & Noura A. Alharbi & Reka Howard & Ashraf Aly Hassan, 2022. "A Survey on the Use of Plastic versus Biodegradable Bottles for Drinking Water Packaging in the United Arab Emirates," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-13, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:5:p:2664-:d:757939
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Zapata, Oscar, 2021. "The relationship between climate conditions and consumption of bottled water: A potential link between climate change and plastic pollution," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    2. Alasdair Cohen & Isha Ray, 2018. "The global risks of increasing reliance on bottled water," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 1(7), pages 327-329, July.
    3. Samuel Abalansa & Badr El Mahrad & Godwin Kofi Vondolia & John Icely & Alice Newton, 2020. "The Marine Plastic Litter Issue: A Social-Economic Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(20), pages 1-27, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Rahaf Ajaj & Wisam Abu Jadayil & Hamna Anver & Eman Aqil, 2022. "A Revision for the Different Reuses of Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Water Bottles," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-14, April.

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