Environmentally Friendly Business Practices among Low-Income Households in Rural Peninsular Malaysia

Abdullah Al Mamun,Noor Raihani Zainol,Noorshella Che Nawi,Kanniga Malar Mohan,Rajennd Muniady,Muhammad Mehedi Masud

doi:10.3390/su12187338

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to predict the intention and behavior towards environmentally friendly businesses (EFB) among low-income families in rural Peninsular Malaysia within the framework of the theory of planned behavior (TPB). Data were collected from 420 low-income household heads through structured interviews. The results reveal a significant impact of environmental concern (EC) and eco-literacy (EL) on the attitude towards the environment (ATE); normative belief (NB) and motivation (MO) on subjective norms (SUN); and skills and knowledge (SK) on perceived behavioral control (PBC). Additionally, there was a positive and statistically significant effect of ATE, SUN, and PBC on the intention towards environmentally friendly business (ITEFB) and the ITEFB on environmentally friendly business adoption behavior (EFBAB). This study provides empirical evidence with a proposed research model to address the environmental issues through improving the socioeconomic condition of low-earner families. The Malaysian government and relevant agencies should focus on improving EL, EC, MO towards EFB, and the SK regarding EFB among the low-income households.

Highlights

The poverty level and inequality in income distribution in Malaysia have been ignored due to rapid economic growth, and the reduction of overall inequality has not been pursued and monitored as a main objective of the national politics [1]
In predicting the intention towards environmentally friendly business (ITEFB) among the poor families in the rural areas in Malaysia, it was found that the attitude towards the environment (ATE), subjective norms (SUN), and perceived behavioral control (PBC) (Hypothesis 1, 6 & 11) have the coefficient values of 0.146, 0.372, and 0.149, respectively, with the p-values of less than 0.05
The findings suggested that the theory of planned behavior (TPB) model could explain the relationship as well as the cause and effect in achieving the environmentally friendly business adoption behavior (EFBAB)

Summary

Introduction

The poverty level and inequality in income distribution in Malaysia have been ignored due to rapid economic growth, and the reduction of overall inequality has not been pursued and monitored as a main objective of the national politics [1]. Lee and Khalid [1] highlighted that there is a rising trend in the inequality of earning in both the private and public sectors in Malaysia despite the rapid economic growth. Dietzenbacher, and Los [3] reported the increase of inequality in the distribution of income across rural and urban areas, as well as skilled and unskilled workers in Malaysia. It is crucial to examine the income generating alternatives for the low-income rural households in Malaysia, which is in line with the government’s recent initiatives to reduce poverty and improve the income of low-income households

Objectives

Methods

Findings

Discussion

Conclusion