Speaker
Description
Keywords: Single-use plastics, Food service providers, Sustainability, KNUST.
Single-Use Plastics (SUPs) in food services contribute to environmental pollution and pose health risks. This study investigates Single-Use Plastic (SUP) usage among food vendors and consumers at KNUST campus, highlighting its significant risks. Surveys of 80 food vendors and 130 consumers assessed usage patterns, awareness, and attitudes toward sustainable policies. Simple random sampling was utilized and questionnaires were distributed both online and in-person and descriptive analysis and factor analysis were performed on the responses. The research revealed that 99.8% of vendors were females while 53.8% of consumers were males. Most vendors were between 31-40 years old and had basic education and most vendors (97.5%) used polyethylene bags, 85% used plastic containers, and 61.3% used plastic cutlery. While vendor awareness of SUPs environmental impact was high, knowledge of associated health risks was low (46.3%). Both groups showed strong support for reducing plastic use, with 58.8% of vendors and 69.2% of consumers in favour. Education campaigns and promoting reusable alternatives were the most preferred sustainability initiatives. However, a significant gap existed between awareness and action. Although 80% of consumers expressed a willingness to choose sustainable options, only 62.5% of vendors were willing to adopt them. This indicates a discrepancy between awareness and practical implementation, particularly among vendors. The study concludes that high SUPs use on campus presents a major environmental challenge. Effective policies must therefore be multi-faceted, addressing vendors practical concerns while leveraging consumer demand. Recommendations include combining educational campaigns, promoting alternatives, and implementing gradual regulations to bridge the awareness-action gap.