The Mechanism of Textile Recycling Intention and Behavior Transformation: The Moderating Effect Based on Community Response

Abstract

As an important part of the circular economy, recycling old garments not only lessens resource waste, but also offers significant social benefits and environmental conservation. Taking Hefei City, Anhui Province, China, as a case, this study adopted the innovative Planned Behavior Theory (TPB) model and introduced innovative variable community promotion as the moderating variable to analyze the influencing factors of residents’ used clothing recycling behavior. It was found that residents’ attitudes, perceived behavioral control, and subjective norms were key factors influencing their intention to recycle used clothes. Community promotion activities play a positive role in improving residents’ perceived behavior control. However, there is also an interaction between community promotion and perceived behavior control, indicating that the effect of community promotion is affected by residents’ perceived behavior control level. This shows that the publicity and promotion of the community will improve residents’ enthusiasm for recycling old clothes, but if the publicity or promotion is too strong, it may lead to a decline in residents’ enthusiasm. The results show that improving residents’ environmental awareness, simplifying the recycling process, utilizing social influence, rationally planning community promotion activities, policy support and incentive measures, and establishing multi-party cooperation mechanisms are effective ways to promote the recycling of used clothing and resources. Through these measures, we can better promote the recycling of used clothing, realize the rational development, utilization, and protection of resources, and contribute to the realization of green and high-quality development. However, this study is limited to the research and investigation in Hefei, Anhui Province, and most of the respondents have a certain educational background, so the universal applicability of the data may not be significant.

1. Introduction

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that annually, the typical American discards approximately 4.5 kg of clothing that has been worn. In New York City, 190,000 tons of clothing were dumped in landfills in 2008 because of fashion. In Belgium, which has a population of just over 10 million, 15,000 tons of used clothing is recycled. Japan buys 1.44 million tons of clothing each year, but only 300,000 tons are recycled or reused, while the remaining 1.06 million tons are buried or burned. The scale of China’s fabric sector has surpassed 50 percent of the global total, and its generation of chemical fiber constitutes 70 percent of the world’s total, and its trade accounts for a third of global sales [1]. However, despite such significant scale and advantages in the global market, China’s textile industry still faces many challenges.

China is the largest producer of textiles; its total textile fiber processing comprises over 50 percent of the global total. With the continuous increase in per capita fiber consumption, a large number of waste textiles are produced every year [2]. Compared with the international advanced level, there is still a big gap in the unit comprehensive energy consumption of China’s printing and dyeing textile industry. The fabric sector, likewise, turns into one of the sectors stringently supervised by the state because of excessive energy usage, excessive water usage, and excessive contamination [3]. According to Xinhuanet.com, approximately 26 million tons of pre-owned garments are cast aside annually in China, which not only wastes resources, but may also pollute the environment [4]. Statistics show that Chinese people buy about ten new items of clothing on average every year, among which three to five items will be discarded. Despite approximately 5 × 10⁸ million tons of clothing being discarded annually, the rate of recycling remains below 10%. Furthermore, based on a survey conducted by the China Circular Economy Association, the recycling efficiency of used clothing in China remains low, with a recycling rate of less than 1%,which indicates that there is still much room for improvement in the recycling and reuse of used clothes [5]. From the perspective of resources and environment, the textile and apparel sector has become the world’s second-largest contaminating industry after the oil industry. Environmental protection and sustainable development have become an important issue in the global textile industry. China’s textile industry must respond positively, enhance the development and application of green technologies, promote green production methods and circular economy models, reduce pollution emissions and resource consumption, and achieve sustainable development of the industry.

Despite the difficulties in promoting the recycling of used clothes, there is a huge market space and innovation opportunities behind it. Research operated by the International Recycling Organization (BIR) showed that reusing 1 kg of used clothing reduces 3.6 kg of carbon dioxide emissions and saves 6000 L of water. The China National Textile Industry Federation estimates that the full recycling of waste textiles could save the equivalent of 24 million tons of chemical and natural fibers of crude oil each year, accounting for 5% of China’s total annual oil imports [6]. The reuse and application of waste textiles and garments can decrease the waste of resources and alleviate the resource pressure. China has a large export volume of textiles. However, it relies on imports of raw materials and needs to promote recycling development. Recycling can also help reduce environmental pollution, as textile and garment processing produces large and difficult pollution, which can have adverse effects on health. At present, the recycling of waste textile fibers is receiving more and more attention. Recycling can also reduce carbon emissions and achieve green and sustainable development. Promoting the recycling of waste textiles and garments can help break through green trade barriers [7].

Within the domain of social psychology, the concept of the theory of planning behavior [8] holds a significant position in elucidating the mechanisms underlying behaviors that individuals undertake. This theory has found effective application across various domains of behavioral research. In the previous literature, community promotion is often overlooked. However, the recycling of old clothing plays a key role in the community [9,10]. At present, many communities are faced with the dual dilemma that there are too many used clothes recycling bins, but the recycling effect is not obvious, and there is a lack of an effective management department [4]. Therefore, systematically evaluating the actual effect of community promotion and carefully studying how promotion efforts affect residents’ used clothes recycling behavior are of important guiding significance for improving the efficiency of the used clothes recycling system. Most of the literature based on the study of used clothes recycling only focus on the level of behavioral intention, and these studies tend to ignore the specific situation of behavior implementation and the actual motivation behind it [11]. In this paper, the traditional theory of planning behavior (TPB) framework is used to examine residents’ intentions for the recycling of old clothes. Community outreach was introduced as a regulatory variable based on behavioral attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control, as the primary observed variables, and the influence of the above factors on residents’ behavioral attitude towards recycling used clothes is studied. The novel contributions of this paper are outlined below: (1) Community promotion is introduced as the moderating variable, so as to further analyze the factors that affect the behavior pattern, implementation process, and challenge process of used clothes recycling, and enhance the model’s adaptability and forecast accuracy. (2) When discussing the topic of used clothing recycling, this study goes further and studies the behavioral level.

The following contents of this article are as follows: in the second part, a review of the relevant references will be provided; the third part will outline the theoretical framework and research assumptions; the fourth part will detail the data sources and methods of the study; and the fifth part will further explore the mechanism of residents’ behaviors and intentions for the recycling of old clothes. The last part gives conclusions and policy recommendations.

2. Literature Review

There is a wealth of papers on the study of recycling of used clothing, but there are not many studies on the impact of personal intentions on old clothing recycling behavior, from the perspective of TPB, on social relationships. The research on resource recycling is highly consistent with the concept of sustainable development in China. Encouraging the recycling of used clothing and improving the recycling system will be of great benefit to environmental protection, reuse, and welfare. The unified management of used clothing that is no longer needed, whether it is recycled or donated to welfare causes, can help improve people’s well-being.

2.1. Theoretical Foundations

TPB was originally proposed by Ajzen (1991) and it is by far the most popular theory [8]. The initial elements of the TPB (perceived behavioral control, subjective norms, attitudes, and behavioral intentions) are interpreted and applied in the context of sustainable behavior [12]. The planned behavior theory (TPB) typically offers a solid explanation for intention and predictive conduct [13] toward investigating how people behave in a multitude of situations, especially pro-environmental behavior. Pro-environment behavior refers to the environmental behavior, but what motivates people to adopt the environmental behavior? Although the theory of planned behavior (TPB) is not perfect in measurement and formulation, it has shown unique advantages in predicting consumers’ pro-environmental behavior [8].

This theory holds that people are largely driven by their own interests, and individuals’ behavioral intentions can be deeply understood through their attitudes toward specific activities, subjective standards, and perception of behavioral control [14]. Among them, attitude denotes a person’s inclination, whether it be positive or negative, towards engaging in certain actions. Subjective norms are associated with how a person views the social pressures exerted by important people in their life, i.e., an individual’s belief that others think he should or should not participate in an action. Perceived behavioral control covers the user’s satisfaction with performing the action and the perceived difficulty of performing the action [8].

With the improvement in environmental awareness, people’s cognition and attitude towards environmental behavior have changed significantly. People are increasingly concerned about the adverse effects of environmental deterioration on human beings, and their preference gradually shifts to more resource-saving, low-pollution, and recyclable products [15]. However, it is feasible and necessary to analyze people’s environmental behavior by using the theory of planned behavior.

In summary, by studying people’s pro-environment behavior through planned behavior theory, we can have an in-depth comprehension of the incentives and determinants of public engagement in eco-friendly actions. On this basis, we can formulate more effective strategies and measures to promote individuals’ active participation in environmental protection actions and jointly contribute to environmental protection and sustainable development.

2.2. Hazards of Used Clothing

In the United Kingdom and the United States, annually, a vast quantity of apparel and accessories is thrown away, totaling 1.4 million tons and exceeding 11 million tons, respectively, with the average American household discarding 30 kg of used clothing each year. In China, 26 million tons of secondhand garments are discarded annually. Most of these clothes are buried or burned, which produces dioxins, a Class 1 carcinogen, and landfill polyester fibers that take up to 200 years to decompose, leading to serious environmental problems [16].

According to Xiang, waste clothing can carry a large number of bacteria, which can spread a variety of diseases. General cleaning and ironing cannot eliminate the bacteria they carry, which is very harmful to the health of the people [17].

2.3. Significance of Old Clothing Recycling

If there is no old clothing transformation, the waste of resources and the pollution of the environment will become increasingly serious. Resource recycling is not only environmentally friendly but also a way to satisfy personal interests and pursuits. Old items can be transformed, according to design, to avoid waste.

Recycling old clothes can help us control waste, and another major reuse function of recycling old clothes is to help the poor. When exploring the significance of used clothes recycling, we have to mention its far-reaching impact on the sustainable development of society and economy. Used clothing recycling is not only an environmental behavior, but also contains huge economic potential [18,19].

2.4. Demand for Used Clothing

Used clothing is in greater demand and can be divided into two main categories. (1) The charity industry: some poor children and left-behind elderly people in remote areas do not have high requirements for clothes, and old clothes can become the main source of clothing in their daily life through recycling and transformation [20]; (2) The used clothes recycling market: Although the purchase and sale of used clothes is an unpopular industry, it is profitable when there is market demand. Studies have shown that up to 95% of clothing can be reused, worn, or recycled depending on its condition. Old clothing, when professionally recycled, generates significant “surplus value” [19].

2.5. Policies Related to Used Clothing Recycling

In November 2012, the strategic alliance for technological innovation in the comprehensive utilization of waste textiles was initiated by the China Association of Comprehensive Utilization of Resources and jointly established with 28 enterprises, universities, research institutes, and other units. And in January 2012, The Secretariat of Housing and Urban-Rural Development issued new industrial guidelines, encompassing waste garments, linens, and other similar fabrics within the “recyclables” category, regulating and guiding the “fabric” into the recycling channel [21]. In response to the “Guidelines on Accelerating the Construction of Waste Recycling System” regulated by seven governmental offices, including the National Development and Reform Commission of China in Hefei, Anhui Province, China issued the “Implementation Plan for the Construction of Waste Recycling System” to continuously improve the market environment for waste recycling [22]. France is the world’s leader in the implementation of the extended producer responsibility (EPR) policy on discarded clothing, linens, and shoes. The policy spotlights the positive aspects of employing extended producer responsibility policies and provides a new perspective and strategy on the challenges facing the textile waste sector [23].

2.6. The Textile Circular Economy and Consumer Psychology

The need for textiles is well known, and the pace of iteration is extremely fast. In view of this, the government and relevant institutions are working together to propose a multi-stakeholder initiative to systematically reshape the textile industry value chain and promote its transition from a linear economic paradigm to a circular economic paradigm [24]. The reuse strategy is not only economically feasible, but also shows significant positive externalities in alleviating the imbalance of resource allocation and weakening social structural inequality [25].

Consumers’ personal consumption tendency and other psychological factors will have a certain impact on their behavior of recycling used clothes [26]. In addition, altruistic motivation, the emotional warming effect activated by “giving” behavior, and the rational expectation of social benefits, together, constitute the key driving mechanism of social recycling behavior [27].

3. Theories and Research Hypotheses

This part takes the results of local research in Hefei, Anhui Province, China as an example to provide methods to determine the impact of residents’ attitudes, subjective norms, and subjective behavior supervision of residents’ willingness to recycle used clothes. This segment is composed of four sections, encompassing the theoretical foundation, conceptual structure, experience-based model, and prescribed method.

Model and Hypothesis Proposed

(1)

Attitude

Attitude (ATT) is people’s subjective assessments of specific behaviors [8]. Based on the TPB framework, attitude is the primary factor influencing an individual’s actions and plans. Predicting a particular behavior requires measuring attitudes toward the behavior itself [28]. The more positive a person feels about a behavior, the more likely they are to desire to engage in it. The dedication of individuals to safeguarding the environment, which is to say, their attitudes towards environmental issues, appears to be essential for active participation; that is evident [29]. In this research, the favorable views of inhabitants on the reuse of old garments boosted their inclination to embrace green practices by inspiring them to engage in action.

Therefore, we proposed the following research hypothesis:

H1. 

There is a positive correlation between residents’ attitudes and their behavioral intentions.

(2)

Subjective norms

Subjective norms (SN) reflect perceived social pressures from influential people around a person [8]. Subjective norms are all factors that are generally considered to influence decision-making [30], such as the influence of neighbors, friends, etc., on one’s intention and the changes caused by them. When individuals hold a positive view on the recycling of old garments, community members are more likely to be spurred and contribute to the recycling process of old garments. Residents may adopt green behaviors to conform to the expectations of others when they are influenced to do so by others [31]. Therefore, we propose the following research hypothesis:

H2. 

There is a positive correlation between residents’ subjective norms and their behavioral intentions.

(3)

Perceived behavioral control

Perceived behavioral control (PBC) is an individual’s subjective judgment of how easy it is to perform a certain behavior [8]. If individuals possess greater self-control, they will exhibit a more robust inclination to participate in specific actions [32]. Residents are more likely to actually take action when they see themselves as capable of carrying out used clothing recycling behaviors and when these behaviors are relatively easy to carry out. This includes the knowledge of used clothing recycling, access to related resources, and ease of recycling. Therefore, improving consumers’ sense of perceived control over environmental behavior is one of the effective ways to promote environmental behavior. Therefore, we propose the following hypothesis:

H3. 

Residents’ perceived behavioral control is positively correlated with their behavioral intention.

H4. 

Residents’ perceived behavior control can positively affect their behavior.

(4)

Behavioral intention

Behavioral intention (BI) denotes the inclination an individual exhibits prior to engaging in a particular action. This tendency reflects the result of the decision to carry out a certain behavior. It lies between the cognitive process and the external behavior. Behavioral intention is significantly correlated with the occurrence of an individual’s actual behavior [33]. Understanding the motivational factors behind an individual’s behavior can especially help researchers better understand specific causes [34]. The more determined a person’s willpower is, the more likely they are to perform a particular behavior, increasing the chance that they will end up performing it. In contrast, if the will to act is not strong enough, indicating their lack of confidence in completing the action, this makes it possible and more likely for them to change the original intention and less likely to actually execute that action.

H5. 

Residents’ behavioral intentions positively influence their behavior.

(5)

Community outreach

Community promotion (CO) refers to a way for a business or organization to promote activities or provide services through a series of promotional activities in the community. Such promotion activities usually include interaction with community residents, organization of community activities, release of relevant information and advertising, and promotion through community media and channels. In this paper, it includes the used clothing recycling publicity activities organized by the community, the posting of relevant publicity posters, and the setting up of used clothing recycling bins, etc.

H6. 

Community promotion plays a moderating role in residents’ perceived behavior control and behavior.

The specific conceptual model diagram is shown in Figure 1.

4. Methodology

4.1. Method Introduction

In this paper, AMOS was used to establish an SEM model, and through the classic TPB (planned behavior theory), combined with the community promotion (CO) variable, the influence mechanism of residents’ used clothing recycling behavior was empirically analyzed. Planned behavior theory (TPB) is a social psychological theory proposed by social psychologist Icek Ajzen in 1985 [33], which is an extension of rational behavior theory (TRA) [8]. TPB states that an individual’s behavioral intentions are determined by three key determinants: attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control. These factors altogether affect a person’s willingness to act, ultimately determining the occurrence of actual behavior. SEM (Structural Equation Modeling) is a prediction-oriented modeling technique, especially for exploratory research and theory construction. It is capable of dealing with complex causal networks and allows us to evaluate the direct and indirect effects between multiple variables simultaneously.

To reduce response bias, the survey is arranged as follows:

(1)

Respondents were clearly informed of the purpose and the importance of the survey before it began, ensuring that respondents understand the value of their contributions to the research.

(2)

For each question or measurement item in the questionnaire, provide a detailed explanation, including the purpose of the question and how it is expected to be answered.

(3)

Inform respondents in advance that their personal information will be protected, absolute anonymity of the questionnaire was ensured, and only the collected data were used for study analysis.

(4)

Emphasize that there is no such thing as a right or wrong answer in the questionnaire and encourage respondents to respond based on their true feelings and experience.

(5)

Participants were informed that they were free to choose whether to participate in the survey and that they had the right to decide not to complete the questionnaire or withdraw at any time during the survey.

(6)

To ensure the legitimacy of the data, review it after it has been collected and exclude responses that are clearly not logical or consistent, such as situations where all questions choose the same option.

(7)

Before data analysis, data cleaning is performed to eliminate invalid or abnormal data points to guarantee the precision and dependability of the analysis outcomes.

(8)

Maintain a high degree of transparency and integrity to ensure the fairness and objectivity of the investigation process and results.

4.2. Questionnaire Design

The questionnaire consists of two principal components: The initial section concentrates on the fundamental individual data of the survey takers, encompassing sex, age, educational attainment, and the like. The subsequent part pertains to the assessment of variables, and all the assessment items employ a normalized seven-point Likert scale [35]. Score 1 represents absolute disagreement, whereas score 7 represents complete consent. Measurement inquiries for variables were sourced from maturity scales utilized in prior research and suitably tailored to the present context.

Table 1. Summarizes the demographic characteristics of the respondents.

Demographic Attributes	Frequency, N	Percentage,%
Gender
Male	311	55
Female	255	45
Age
18–35 years old	351	62
Ages 35–65	198	35
Age 66+	17	3
Level of education
Elementary school	17	3
Junior high	62	11
Senior high school	182	32
College degree or above	305	54
Income (month)
Less than 2000 yuan	85	15
2000–5000 yuan	170	30
5000–10,000 yuan	237	42
More than 10,000 yuan	74	13
Family size
1 person	11	2
2 people	40	7
3 people	209	37
4 people	216	38
5 people	62	11
6 and up	28	5

shows the distribution of respondents by gender, age, family status, education, and personal income. The count of male respondents (55%) was superior to that of female respondents (45%). A large proportion of the survey participants were aged between 18 and 35, including a significant number of teenagers. Then, the second-largest group of respondents was in the 35–65 age group, which is in the prime of life, which means that the survey mainly focused on young people. Among the interviewees: high school (32%) and college degree or above (54%), which indicates that most of the people interviewed in this paper are highly educated, and they are more able to guarantee the authenticity of the questionnaire, thus improving the reliability of the data. The income of the interviewees is relatively even and normally distributed, which ensures the universality of the data.

4.3. Data Collection

An online survey platform frequently used by scholars, Juanxing (www.wjx.cn), was used in this study [36]. Considering the reality and rigor of the survey, the survey was conducted in a combination of online and offline. Considering the representativeness of the survey site and the practicability of the survey method, this study selected Hefei, Anhui Province, China, which has a relatively dense population and broad development prospect, and randomly distributed the survey among the residents of several old and new communities in the city so as to consider the survey of waste clothing recycling in a more comprehensive way.

4.4. Study Area

Located in East China, Hefei is the core city where the government of Anhui province is based. Nestled between the banks of the Yangtze and Huaihe, Hefei is rich in history, culture, and natural resources. Hefei in Anhui province is a representative city of used clothing recycling(As shown in Figure 2). Through cooperation with professional environmental protection companies, such as Anhui Yide Environmental Protection Co., Ltd. and Anhui Changyi Renewable Resources Co., Ltd., Hefei has realized the scale and standardized recycling of used clothing [37]. As one of the key cities in the construction of waste materials recycling system in China, Hefei, Anhui province attaches great importance to and supports the construction of the waste materials recycling system [38]. After the old clothes are sorted, cleaned and disinfected, the clothes suitable for donation will be used for charity, while the clothes not suitable for donation will be transformed into new raw materials through environmental protection treatment, such as cotton yarn, non-woven fabrics, polyester raw materials, etc., to realize the reuse of resources. Hefei’s old clothes recycling program is not only public, but also used to help poor students and groups in need through projects such as “Old Clothes recycling for Students” [39].

A pre-survey was conducted through Questionnaire Star (www.wjx.cn) and 54 valid questionnaires were obtained before the official survey was conducted. The preliminary investigation showed that the proposed measurement had acceptable reliability, with Cronbach α values ranging from 0.825 to 0.968 for all potential variables. The official survey was carried out between 5 February and 11 March 2024, during which 654 questionnaires were gathered. To maintain the survey’s validity, those with missing data or a response duration under 60 s were omitted, resulting in 566 valid questionnaires being obtained.

5. Empirical Analysis

5.1. Reliability and Validity Test

Reliability refers to the consistency of results obtained when the same method is used to measure an object repeatedly. In this paper, Cronbach α is mainly used to evaluate the main index of reliability of research tools, and the required Cronbach α coefficient is no less than 0.7 [40]. The higher the value, the higher the reliability.

Table 2. Results of Cronbach α coefficient.

Constructs	N	AVE	CR	Alpha (>0.7)	Std Dev
AT	4	24.14	11.562	0.854	3.400
SN	3	15.87	17.017	0.879	4.125
PBC	3	16.23	12.568	0.875	3.545
BI	3	16.19	14.537	0.887	3.813
BE	3	15.53	17.882	0.887	4.229
CO	5	19.33	87.104	0.968	9.333

’s outcomes reveal that the Cronbach α coefficient values for the six potential variables examined in this research exceed 0.7, signifying that the variables possess adequate internal consistency and the econometric model demonstrates robust reliability.

To assess the research tools’ validity, this investigation primarily employed average variance extraction (AVE) and composite liability (CR) to determine convergence validity. Constructional validity was established using CR values greater than 0.7 and AVE values greater than 0.5 as criteria [41]. The higher the CR value, the higher the internal consistency of the dimension; A higher AVE value indicates a lesser measurement error and a higher degree of convergence validity. The analysis of confirmatory factors was executed, and the results in

Table 3. Verification of convergent validity.

Indicators	Standardize the Load	Unstandardized Load Capacity	S.E.	C.R. (t-Value)	P (*** p < 0.01)	SMC	CR	AVE
AT1	0.824	1				0.68	0.839	0.568
AT2	0.614	0.715	0.05	14.162	***	0.38
AT3	0.779	1.007	0.054	18.83	***	0.61
AT4	0.78	0.972	0.052	18.684	***	0.61
SN1	0.895	1				0.80	0.855	0.665
SN2	0.729	0.672	0.035	19.065	***	0.53
SN3	0.814	0.816	0.036	22.602	***	0.66
PBC1	0.868	1				0.75	0.859	0.670
PBC2	0.799	0.899	0.041	21.905	***	0.64
PBC3	0.786	0.87	0.04	21.738	***	0.62
BI1	0.776	1				0.60	0.878	0.706
BI2	0.874	1.209	0.054	22.556	***	0.76
BI3	0.867	1.184	0.052	22.623	***	0.75
BE1	0.805	1				0.65	0.878	0.706
BE2	0.842	1.11	0.05	22.347	***	0.71
BE3	0.872	1.177	0.049	24.046	***	0.76

verified that the combined validity values of all measurement indicators were greater than 0.7, and the extracted factor load and mean variance were both greater than 0.5, indicating that the measurement model had good convergent validity.

To measure the discriminant validity of the variables, this study compares the correlation coefficient between the square root of AVE for each construct and the construct. The outcomes of this comparison were subsequently utilized to confirm the discriminant validity of the measurement model. The outcomes in

Table 4. Differential validity.

	AVE	Perceived Behavioral Control	Subjective Norms	Attitude	Behavioral Intent	Behavior
Perceived behavioral control	0.670	0.818
Subjective norm	0.665	0.634	0.815
Attitude	0.568	0.229	0.263	0.754
Behavioral intent	0.706	0.833	0.728	0.285	0.840
Behavior	0.706	0.811	0.670	0.259	0.915	0.840

demonstrate that the absolute value of the correlation coefficient between the latent variables is less than the square root of the average of the latent variables (bolded diagonally), indicating that the measurement model exhibits good discriminant validity. This indicates that the attributes of each latent variable are markedly different from those of the other latent variables.

5.2. Model Fit Test

Structural equation models were used to test the model fit in this paper, and

Table 5. Goodness of fit of the model.

Empty Cell	Indicators	Norm	Judgment
Absolute fit measures	CMIN/DF	1–3	2.956
	GFI	>0.9	0.938
	AGFI	>0.9	0.913
	RMSEA	<0.08	0.059
Incremental fit measures	NFI	>0.9	0.952
	IFI	>0.9	0.968
	CFI	>0.9	0.968
Parsimonious fit measures	PNFI	>0.5	0.762
	PCFI	>0.5	0.774
	PGFI	>0.5	0.662

provides an exhaustive summary of the main fit indicators derived from the structural equation model analysis. The absolute fit measure and the relative fit measure constitute the two primary model fit indicators frequently employed. According to the criteria of statistical analysis, when the Chi-square/df ratio is less than 3, it indicates that the degree of fit of the model is good [42]. At the same time, if the RMSEA value is less than 0.08, it also further confirms that the fitting status of the model is ideal [43]. In terms of relative fitting indicators, we mainly focus on NFI, CFI, IFI, TLI and other values. When the values of these indicators all exceed 0.9, the fitting effect of the model can be judged to be excellent [44].

Compared with their respective suggested values, the estimated values of all indicators fall within the 0 suggested range. This indicates that the SEM model established in this study fits well and is reasonable and effective in using this model to study the residents’ old clothing recycling behavior.

5.3. Path Analysis Results

We used the boot strapping method of 1000 repeated samples to draw statistical inferences about the significance of the model coefficients. The structural model consisting of hypothetical relationships was evaluated using estimates of standardized regression coefficients (beta values) and p-values. Figure 3 shows the results of the hypothesis test. The results show that attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavior control have significant positive effects on recycling intention (β = 0.059, p < 0.1; Beta = 0.323, p < 0.01; β = 0.615, p < 0.01), supporting hypothesis H1, H2, H3. Perceived behavioral control had a significant positive effect on purchasing behavior (β = 0.160, p < 0.05), supporting hypothesis H4. The used clothing recycling intention had a significant positive effect on the used clothing recycling behavior (β = 0.718, p < 0.01), supporting hypothesis H5.

5.4. Adjust the Test Results

Amos24.0 was used to conduct the adjustment effect analysis of latent variables, and the results of standard coefficient and non-standard coefficient of path coefficient were obtained, and the adjustment effect analysis chart was drawn to analyze the adjustment effect of community promotion [45]. The model used is the latent variable interaction effect model [46].The specific conceptual model is shown in Figure 4.

For simplicity and clarity, let the intrinsic latent variable η have three indexes: y1, y2, y3; The exogenous latent variables ξ1 and ξ2 also have three indicators each: x1, x2, x3 and x4, x5, x6, respectively. Thus, the interaction effects of ξ1 and ξ2 on η are analyzed.

Thus, the structural equation model is established:

$$\eta ={\gamma }_1{\xi }_1+{\gamma }_2{\xi }_2+{\gamma }_3{\xi }_1{\xi }_2+\zeta$$

The coefficients γ1, γ2 represent the main effect, and γ3 represents the interaction effect, and the product term ξ1ξ2 is regarded as the third latent variable besides ξ1 and ξ2. A method of pairing and multiplying indicators of high load was adopted, that is, “big versus big, small versus small”. By weighing and combining the topics of community promotion, the same amount of indicators can be achieved. In this paper, PBC and BE correspond to ξ1 and ξ2, CO to η, and the corresponding interaction INT corresponds to ξ1ξ2.

In order to calculate the standardized estimate of the simplified model for the interaction effect of the latent variable [47], as the standardized estimate of the main effect is also a suitable “standardized” estimate, the formula for the “standardized” estimate of the interaction effect is introduced: [47]

$${\gamma }_3^{″}={\gamma }_3^{\prime }{\displaystyle \frac{\sqrt{{\varphi }_{11}{\varphi }_{22}}}{\sqrt{{\varphi }_{33}}}}$$

where ${\gamma }_3^{\prime }$ is a normalized estimate of the interaction effect, and ${\varphi }_{11}{,\varphi }_{22}$, and ${\varphi }_{33}$ are the original estimates of the variance of ${\xi }_1$, ${\xi }_2$ and ${\xi }_1{\xi }_2$, respectively.

The fitting indexes of the moderating effect model are CMIN = 209.69, df = 48, GFI = 0.939, NFI = 0.964, CFI = 0.972, IFI = 0.972, and RMSEA = 0.077, respectively, and the fitting indexes are all good, which indicates that the moderating effect model is acceptable.

As shown in

Table 6. Path coefficients in the adjustment model.

Path Coefficient
Path			Non-Standard Coefficient	Standard Coefficient	S.E.	C.R.	P (*** p < 0.01)
PBC	-	BE	0.571	0.543	0.063	9.022	***
CO	-	BE	0.2	0.298	0.031	6.541	***
INT	-	BE	0.081	0.135	0.021	3.819	***

, in the fitting results of the model, at a higher significance level, it can be shown that community promotion must play a moderating role between perceived behavior control and residents’ behavior of recycling old clothes, assuming that H6 is confirmed.

From the calculated standardized estimated path coefficient, it can be seen that perceived behavior control has a significant positive effect on residents’ used clothing recycling behavior (β = 0.543 > 0, p < 0.001), and community promotion also has a significant positive effect on residents’ used clothing recycling behavior (β = 0.298 > 0, p < 0.001). However, the interaction term of community promotion and perceived behavior control had a significant negative effect on residents’ used clothing recycling behavior (β = −0.135 < 0, p < 0.001). In other words, community promotion has a significant moderating effect on perceived behavior control and residents’ used clothing recycling behavior. This further proves that hypothesis H6 in this paper is valid.

In order to further analyze the trend of the moderating effect of community promotion, the study divided the scores of community promotion into two groups according to high (M + 1SD) and low (M − 1SD) and then made a schematic diagram of the moderating effect of community promotion between perceived behavior control and used clothing recycling behavior. A simple slope test was carried out for each moderating effect [48]. Next, we only studied the moderating effect diagram drawn by the standardized path coefficient.

As can be seen from the regulatory effect diagram in Figure 5, whether the community promotion score is high or low, perceived behavior control and residents’ old clothes recycling behavior show a clear positive correlation. However, in the group with low community promotion score, it can be seen that with the improvement in perceived behavior control, residents’ used clothes recycling behavior is significantly improved (simple slope = 0.706). However, in the group with high community promotion score, the improvement is not so obvious (simple slope = 0.543).

6. Discussion

6.1. Analysis of Influencing Factors of Residents’ Old Clothing Recycling

Taiwan, China’s textile industry has been established—a complete and highly integrated production system that encompasses fiber manufacturing, spinning, weaving, dyeing and finishing, as well as garment processing [49]. The accumulation of textile waste from the surge in clothing production, consumption, and disposal activities poses multidimensional challenges to the sustainability of local environmental, social, and economic dimensions in Turkey [27]. In contrast, the state of used clothing recycling in Hefei, China is worrying, and the exploration of residents’ autonomous influencing factors is an important issue. The modeling outcomes of structural equation using AMOS24.0 are displayed in Figure 3 [50].

(1)

The effect of attitude on the willingness to recycle used clothing

Conclusions drawn from the study show that residents hold a positive attitude towards used clothing recycling, but this enthusiasm is not strong. This indicates that although residents recognize the importance of used clothing recycling, there may be hesitation or a lack of motivation to actually do it. This finding is consistent with previous studies on used clothing recycling, which have found that attitudes have a positive impact on the intention to recycle used clothing. Personal and subjective norms, behavioral attitudes and intentions can explain consumers’ pro-environmental behaviors [51]. Consistent with previous findings, at the 10% significance level, residents’ attitudes (β = 0.059) have a positive impact on residents’ used clothing recycling intentions, assuming H1 is confirmed. It can be seen that residents have a positive attitude toward used clothing recycling, but the enthusiasm is not high. In other words, the residents of Hefei, Anhui province, all have a good environmental awareness, but their enthusiasm for environmental protection is not high. It is suggested that the government and the community should strengthen the environmental protection education of the residents and further strengthen the social publicity by distributing leaflets and giving economic incentives to residents who participate in the recycling of used clothes. This can not only make residents have a positive evaluation of recycling used clothes but also advocate for the whole society to participate in recycling, rendering the environment of environmental protection.

(2)

The influence of subjective norms on the willingness to recycle used clothing

This is consistent with some early research results, indicating that residents’ attitudes and subjective norms are factors that affect urban residents’ environmental protection intentions [52]. This study’s findings indicate that subjective norms positively influence the intention to recycle used garments. Once again, subjective norms are an important predictor of recycling intent in the environmental field.

Subjective norms (β = 0.323, p < 0.01) had a positive effect on residents’ used clothing recycling intentions, supporting hypothesis H2. Residents with high subjective norms are more likely to be under social pressure from their surroundings and significant others and thus have the intention to recycle old clothes. People’s behaviors and suggestions can greatly influence and change a person’s intention to recycle old clothes. This effect is significant mainly because of social influence and imitation effect, where people tend to imitate behaviors that they think are similar to themselves or socially acceptable [53]. If residents see neighbors or others in the community actively participating in old clothing recycling, they may perceive it as a responsible act and be willing to follow suit.

(3)

Perceive the effect of behavioral control on willingness and behavior

Perceived behavioral control exerts a notably positive impact on the intention and practice of used clothing recycling among residents and is the main factor affecting residents’ used clothing recycling behavior. The findings of this research align with earlier studies concerning the recycling of used garments, which discovered that perceived behavioral control positively affects the intention and behavior of secondhand clothing recycling. Perceived behavioral control is an important factor in the intention to adopt renewable energy technologies [54]. Wang’s research results show that perceived behavioral control had positive effects on behavioral intention, executive intention, and pro-environmental behavior, which is consistent with the findings of this study [55].

The results of standardized path coefficient showed that perceived behavior control had a major positive impact on residents’ used clothing recycling intention (β = 0.615, p < 0.01), which supported hypothesis H3 [56]. According to the path coefficient results in Figure 2, perceived behavior control (β = 0.160, p < 0.05) can positively affect residents’ used clothing recycling behavior to a small extent, which indicates that hypothesis H4 is confirmed. It is proven that perceived behavioral control is a significant forecaster of recycling intention and recycling behavior in the field of environmental protection. This suggests that residents are more likely to generate used clothing recycling intentions and behaviors if they perceive the process as convenient and easy to perform. It can be seen that the influence of perceived behavior control on both residents’ tendency to recycle old clothes and their behavior towards old clothes is significant.

(4)

The influence of recycling intention on recycling behavior

Consistent with previous studies on the recycling of used clothes, it was found that behavioral attitudes had a positive impact on farmers’ pro-environment production behaviors [57]. Green intention had a positive effect on green production behavior [58]. This also proves that recycling intention is an important predictor of recycling behavior. The results show that residents’ intention to recycle used clothes (β = 0.718, p < 0.01) can forthright affect their behavior of recycling used clothes to a large extent. This result indicates that if people have the tendency to recycle old clothes, they are more likely to recycle. In other words, residents’ tendency to recycle used clothes will greatly affect whether residents will actually recycle used clothes.

(5)

An introduction to the influencing factors of residents’ used clothes recycling

Residents’ awareness of environmental protection, the price of for-profit recycling, and the obligation of non-profit recycling of used clothes may all affect residents’ tendency to recycle used clothes [4]. The publicity of used clothes recycling and the rationality of relevant management policies will also directly affect the adoption and implementation of used clothes by residents [59]. When residents understand how and where to recycle their used clothes, as well as the specific steps of the recycling process, they are more likely to feel empowered to recycle. Residents’ willingness to recycle is also higher if they perceive that there are sufficient resources available, such as time, money, and transportation, to support them in completing the act of recycling. Residents may find it difficult to carry out the recycling act if they perceive that there are barriers to recycling, such as the point being too far away, the process being too cumbersome or the time being inconvenient. Conversely, if the recycling point is easily accessible, residents will perceive the act of recycling as easier to enforce, thereby increasing the likelihood that they will recycle their old clothing [60].

6.2. Analysis of the Moderating Effect of Community Promotion

The findings of the study show that community promotion behavior can enhance the influence of perceived behavior control on residents’ used clothing recycling behavior. In addition, it was found that community promotion played a mediating function in the relationship between perceived behavior control and residents’ used clothing recycling behavior, namely, H6 were established. The presence of community promotion can enhance the positive effect of perceived behavior control on used clothes recycling behavior, but when the community promotion score is high, the enhancement effect will be weakened. This is consistent with the results of Harat’s research, which shows that community attention plays a key role in the family’s pro-environmental behavior (Kharat et al., 2017) [61]. Community promotion can not only raise residents’ awareness of the importance of recycling used clothing but also stimulate residents’ recycling behavior by providing convenient recycling channels and enhancing social responsibility. Community promotion can provide residents with convenient ways to recycle by setting up recycling sites or organizing regular recycling activities. This bodily comfort is a crucial element in encouraging residents’ involvement in the reuse of old garments. When recycling becomes easy and convenient, residents are more likely to put old clothing into recycling bins or participate in recycling activities rather than discarding it.

6.3. Countermeasures and Suggestions

(1)

Enhance environmental publicity and education to increase residents’ awareness of the value of recycling used clothing. The environmental significance and economic value of used clothing recycling should be popularized among residents through publicity activities and the production of publicity materials, and residents should be guided to establish environmental awareness and actively participate in the recycling of used clothing.

(2)

Encourage positive interaction and imitation among community residents, such as through the demonstration role of community leaders or opinion leaders, to promote the popularization of used clothing recycling.

(3)

Reasonably plan community promotion activities to ensure that activities can actually improve residents’ perceived behavior control, rather than merely increasing the frequency or intensity of community promotion. Establish a tracking and evaluation mechanism for the effect of used clothing recycling, regularly evaluate the effectiveness of recycling policies and activities, and adjust and optimize according to the evaluation results.

(4)

Encourage cooperation between the government, enterprises, non-governmental organizations, and community residents to jointly promote the recycling of used clothing and resource recycling. More incentives, such as recycling rewards and tax incentives, should be introduced by the government and relevant departments to encourage residents and businesses to participate in the recycling of used clothes.

6.4. Inadequacies of the Research

(1)

The research could be confined to the particular conditions of Hefei, Anhui province, China, and may not be fully representative of used clothing recycling practices in other regions or countries.

(2)

The study mainly focused on residents’ intention and behavior of used clothing recycling, and may not fully cover all influencing factors, such as cultural differences and economic incentives.

(3)

Most of the subjects investigated in this paper have a certain educational background, which may lead to a decrease in the universal applicability of the data results.

6.5. Future Outlook

(1)

It is suggested that the scope of the study be expanded to include residents from different regions and various cultural backgrounds to confirm the universality and applicability of the model.

(2)

Further research is recommended on the specific barriers and facilitators in the recycling process of used clothing, as well as how to overcome them more effectively.

(3)

It is recommended to explore the influence of different incentives on used clothing recycling behavior, such as financial incentives, policy support, etc.

(4)

Interdisciplinary research is encouraged, combining knowledge from fields such as environmental science, sociology, psychology, and economics to understand and promote used clothing recycling more comprehensively.

7. Conclusions

According to the planned behavior theory (TPB), this study established the corresponding structural equation model and reached the following conclusions:

(1)

At the 10% significance level, the path coefficient between attitude and intention is greater than 0 (β = 0.059), which is a positive correlation. Residents’ attitude towards used clothing recycling has an impactful influence on their behavioral intention. When citizens have a favorable view on secondhand clothing recycling, they are more inclined to possess a readiness to engage in the recycling of used garments. This positive attitude may stem from environmental recognition, recognition of the reuse of resources, and a concern to reduce the environmental impact of waste.

(2)

There is a significant positive correlation between subjective norms and residents’ intention (β = 0.323, p < 0.01). Subjective norms also have an important impact on residents’ behavioral intention to recycle used clothing. When residents feel that people around them (such as family, friends, community members, etc.) have a positive attitude towards used clothing recycling and expect them to participate, they are more likely to have a willingness to participate in used clothing recycling.

(3)

The results of standardized path coefficient showed that perceived behavior control had a major positive impact on residents’ used clothing recycling intention (β = 0.615, p < 0.01). Perceived behavioral control is also a key factor affecting residents’ behavioral intention of used clothing recycling. Residents are more likely to be willing to participate in recycling when they believe they have the capacity, resources, and opportunities to participate in recycling.

(4)

The intention-to-be has a high degree of significance to the result of the behavior, and the path coefficient is large (β = 0.718); residents’ intention and behavior are highly positively correlated. There is a notable connection between behavioral intention and real behavior. When residents have a strong will to participate in the recycling of old clothes, they are more likely to translate this will into actual action.

The theoretical significance of this study is as follows: (1) Community promotion is added to the traditional planned behavior theory (TPB) model, and the moderating effect of community promotion on perceived behavior control and residents’ used clothing recycling behavior is analyzed and demonstrated. (2) To break the limitation of previous studies that only studied the intention of used clothes recycling behavior, this study also included the actual behavior of used clothes recycling in the study, supplementing the imperfections of the research in this field.

The practical significance of this study is detailed as follows: Recycling clothes can greatly aid in decreasing the environmental load imposed by garments [19]. The recycling of used clothing has great value not only from the perspective of environmental protection, but also from the economic and social aspects [62]. The launch of “recycle and resell” or “renewal series” can improve ESG scores and attract customers who prefer sustainable consumption. The used clothing recycling program significantly improves the brand’s environmental image and brings secondary store traffic [63]. From the perspective of planned behavior theory (TPB), this study investigated the influencing factors of residents’ used clothing recycling behavior, so as to help promote residents to adopt environmental protection behaviors. Hence, the findings of this research hold significant practical value for advancing the spread and encouragement of secondhand clothing recycling practices.