Consumers' intentions to return PET bottles in a hybrid waste management system: evidence from Vietnam

Abstract

Despite the expansion of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) to reduce plastic waste in emerging economies, consumers’ return intentions in the hybrid formal–informal waste management systems remain insufficiently understood. This study extends the theory of planned behavior (TPB) by incorporating environmental concern, economic incentives, convenience of return, and perceptions of informal recycling to explain PET bottles return intentions. A dual-channel survey (online and face-to-face) was conducted in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, yielding 325 valid responses from January to March 2026. Employing covariance-based structural equation modeling (CB-SEM), several key findings emerge. Perceived behavioral control is the strongest predictor of return intention (β = 0.307, p < 0.001), followed by subjective norms (β = 0.219, p = 0.002) and attitude (β = 0.141, p = 0.033). Perceptions of informal recycling positively influence return intention (β = 0.129, p = 0.040). Rather than acting as a competitive barrier, positive perceptions of the informal sector serve as a complementary enabler that supports formal return intentions. These findings highlight the need for EPR policies to coordinate stakeholders across the entire value chain. It is essential to prioritize infrastructural accessibility and incorporate informal scrap dealers into official reverse logistics chains to achieve sustainable circularity.