Determinants of Consumers’ Sustainable Disposal Behavior of Clothing Items: An Application of Triandis’s Theory of Interpersonal Behavior (TIB)

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the personal and situational factors that influence consumers’ sustainable clothing disposal behavior. The conceptual research framework was developed by adopting theoretical elements from the Theory of Interpersonal Behavior. Data were collected through an online survey with a national convenience sample of 304 participants living in the U.S. Simple and multiple linear regression analyses were used to test the hypothesized relationships among variables. Four out of seven proposed hypotheses were supported. The results confirmed that consumers’ attitudes toward green clothing and affect towards sustainable clothing disposal behavior positively predict their sustainable disposal intention of clothing items, while perceived social pressure does not. The results also revealed that perceived convenience significantly influences sustainable clothing disposal behavior. Consumers’ sustainable disposal intention and recycling habits significantly predict their sustainable clothing disposal behavior, while perceived convenience has no moderating effect upon these relationships. The findings imply that people who are already habitual of recycling household items are more likely to dispose clothing items in a sustainable manner. The findings also suggest that it is possible to increase participation in sustainable clothing disposal practices by improving the convenience (e.g., introducing more accessible clothing drop off facilities). The findings can be a useful guide to the researchers and marketers of apparel in formulating coordinated future efforts to increase consumers’ engagement in sustainable clothing consumption.