An Examination of Plastic Bag Consumption by Age, Gender, and Spending Using K-Means and Elbow Method

Indonesia is identified as the second major source of plastic waste in marine ecosystems, an unsettling finding. The present condition of the situation presents a substantial hazard not alone to the varied marine ecology, but also to the existence of coastal populations and sectors such as marine fishing and tourist industry. The extensive usage of plastic bags has become an important component of Indonesia’s dilemma of plastic waste, particularly in relation to plastic shopping bags. This research investigates the consumption patterns of consumer plastic bags through the analysis of factors like age, gender, and expenditure levels. The best number of clusters for grouping comparable customers was identified using K-Means clustering and the Elbow Method. The study revealed six discrete categories of plastic bag consumption, therefore emphasizing the influence of demographic factors such as age, gender, and spending habits on consumer conduct. It is worth mentioning that middle-aged female customers who engage in high levels of expenditure have been seen to have a lower rate of plastic bag usage. The findings of this study can be utilized to develop focused interventions aimed at mitigating the usage of plastic bags.