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1 – 10 of over 2000
Article
Publication date: 22 August 2024

George Balabanis, Anastasia Stathopoulou and Xiaolan Chen

The study addresses gaps in sustainable luxury consumption research by analyzing the role of social norms in different cultural settings. It investigates how social norms…

Abstract

Purpose

The study addresses gaps in sustainable luxury consumption research by analyzing the role of social norms in different cultural settings. It investigates how social norms, self-control, conspicuousness and future orientation shape sustainable luxury consumption in individualistic (UK) versus collectivist (China) national cultures.

Design/methodology/approach

The study was based on survey data from British and Chinese luxury product consumers collected through online panels. The final sample included 452 valid responses from the UK and 414 from China. Hypotheses were tested using structural equation modeling.

Findings

The study found that descriptive norms positively influence sustainable luxury consumption in individualistic (UK) and collectivist (China) cultures. Injunctive norms affect sustainable consumption only in the UK. Future consequences universally impact sustainable consumption. Conspicuous consumption negatively affects preferences for sustainable luxury brands. Self-control enhances the impact of descriptive norms in the UK but reduces the impact of injunctive norms in China.

Originality/value

This study uniquely explores how social norms and cultural influences impact sustainable luxury consumption in individualistic and collectivistic societies. It highlights the moderating role of national culture, providing actionable insights for luxury brands to enhance sustainable consumption with culturally tailored strategies. The research challenges the universality of the theory of normative social behavior, advocating for its refined application across different cultures.

Details

International Marketing Review, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0265-1335

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 28 June 2024

Laura Salciuviene, Aistė Dovalienė, Žaneta Gravelines, Mantas Vilkas, Caroline Oates and Jūratė Banytė

The study aims to identify the effects of consumer moral identity and consumer engagement with sustainable consumption on sustainable consumer behaviour at home and in the…

Abstract

Purpose

The study aims to identify the effects of consumer moral identity and consumer engagement with sustainable consumption on sustainable consumer behaviour at home and in the workplace.

Design/methodology/approach

Survey data were collected in two European countries, i.e. Lithuania and the United Kingdom (total sample 586) and analysed using PLS-SEM to test hypotheses pertaining to the key variables, including moral identity, engagement with sustainable consumption, sustainable consumption behaviour at home and sustainable consumption behaviour in the workplace.

Findings

Revealed that moral identity was a predictor of sustainable consumption behaviour at home but had no direct effect on sustainable consumption behaviour at the workplace. Similarly, engagement with sustainable consumption has been demonstrated to have a direct positive impact on sustainable consumption behaviour at home, but no significant effect on sustainable behaviour at work was confirmed. A strong moral identity fosters higher consumer engagement with sustainable consumption. The findings revealed the positive impact of sustainable behaviour at home on equivalent behaviour at work, reminding of the importance of the so-called “spill-over” effect.

Originality/value

An element of novelty in this study lies in the differentiation of behavioural practices at home and in the workplace, demonstrating that a spill-over effect can occur with a “home-work” path. By highlighting the importance of consumer moral identity and consumer engagement in predicting sustainable consumption behaviour in both domestic and professional settings, our study contributes to the advancement of knowledge in the fields of sustainable marketing and consumer behaviour.

Details

EuroMed Journal of Business, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1450-2194

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 8 April 2024

Elvira Vieira, Ana Pinto Borges, Paula Lopes Rodrigues, Ana Maria Reis and Svitlana Ostapenko

Circular economy (CE) is receiving increasing worldwide attention as a manner to overcome the challenges linked to current trends of unsustainable energy and resource consumption…

Abstract

Purpose

Circular economy (CE) is receiving increasing worldwide attention as a manner to overcome the challenges linked to current trends of unsustainable energy and resource consumption. This paper aims to fill this gap and analyze the adherence to sustainable, access-based and collaborative consumption practices by exploring the role of CE awareness, specifically in the context of Porto, the second-largest city of Portugal.

Design/methodology/approach

The methodology of choice is quantitative, based on partial least square-based structural equation modeling.

Findings

The result shows that there is an influence of CE awareness on subsequent sustainable consumption models.

Research limitations/implications

Present research contributes to the theory on CE awareness and sustainable consumption. It proposes a model that could be applied in other countries. As this research is developed within the city of Porto, it may limit generalizations of obtained results.

Practical implications

As CE practices are embodied into national and local policies, this research contributes to understanding local contexts of CE practices dissemination, providing practical suggestions for businesses and policymakers aiming the transition to the CE.

Originality/value

An original approach to measuring the awareness of CE economy is proposed, that is analyzed not only from the familiarity perspective but in six dimensions of its construction: familiarity, importance, perception or interpretation, advantages, social impact and barriers in this process. Further, the conceptual model of the impact that these dimensions have on the adoption of sustainable consumption models (purchase of sustainable products, access-based and collaborative consumption) is proposed.

Details

Social Responsibility Journal, vol. 20 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1747-1117

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 16 September 2024

Arpita Anshu Mehrotra, Debashish Sengupta, Charbel M. El Khoury and Farah Arkadan

Understanding behavior toward sustainable consumption remains among the most challenging contemporary topics and requires continual investigation. The aim of this paper is to…

Abstract

Purpose

Understanding behavior toward sustainable consumption remains among the most challenging contemporary topics and requires continual investigation. The aim of this paper is to explore young Bahraini women’s level of awareness of sustainable consumption while also considering their attitudes, motivations and behavior as key elements in the study.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative approach was used to collect the data. More specifically, 46 semi-structured interviews with young Bahraini women took place and the results were produced using thematic analysis.

Findings

Results reveal that consumers’ awareness levels toward sustainable consumption have been growing but awareness remains variable among consumers. In turn, motivation toward supporting sustainability is more associated with environmental reasons than cultural or economic ones. The attitude toward sustainable consumption is generally positive among young consumers. Moreover, sustainable consumption has been found to be present through various means in the purchase decisions of young Bahraini women.

Originality/value

This study exclusively explores the awareness levels of young Bahraini women regarding sustainable consumption with a focus on the elements of the behavioral process, namely, “awareness, attitude, motivation, and behavior”, as central research pillars.

Details

Social Responsibility Journal, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1747-1117

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 18 July 2024

Van Thi Hong Do and Long Thanh Do

While consumers are increasingly concerned about the environment and commit themselves to environmental protection, they are still reluctant to act. This phenomenon, to date, has…

Abstract

Purpose

While consumers are increasingly concerned about the environment and commit themselves to environmental protection, they are still reluctant to act. This phenomenon, to date, has remained a puzzle and gained much attention from practitioners and researchers. As a contribution to the understanding of the phenomenon, this study aims to examine the role of downward social comparison as an explanation for the inconsistency of the relationships between two types of pro-environmental attitudes, namely attitudes toward the environment and attitudes toward sustainable consumption, and two sustainable consumption behaviors including electricity-saving behavior and unneeded consumption reduction.

Design/methodology/approach

Hierarchical multiple regressions were employed to test the hypotheses with survey data from 381 consumers in a large city in a Southeast Asian country.

Findings

The regression results support our expectation that downward social comparison negatively moderates the relationships between the two attitude variables and the two sustainable consumption behaviors.

Originality/value

Our findings provide some insights into the complexity of the attitude-behavior relationship and offer some practical recommendations for governments and policymakers in designing more effective behavioral interventions for the sustainability of human society.

Details

Asia Pacific Journal of Marketing and Logistics, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1355-5855

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 3 July 2024

Lamberto Zollo

This paper aims to propose a multilevel framework of fashion consumer ethics that unpacks how ethical consumers publicly express their identity through sustainable fashion (SF)…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to propose a multilevel framework of fashion consumer ethics that unpacks how ethical consumers publicly express their identity through sustainable fashion (SF). The author explores SF’s cognitive, relational and contextual dynamics, highlighting how attitude–behavior (A-B) gaps might impede consumers’ ethical identity and social image alignment.

Design/methodology/approach

The framework theoretically reconstructs fashion consumer ethics by integrating social intuitionism, social representation theory and the public sphere. This theorizing process sheds light on fragmented attempts found in previous research to understand how ethical consumers express their self-identity and socially represent their image through SF, avoiding A-B gaps.

Findings

The theoretical propositions suggest how ethical consumers’ self-concept is expressed at the cognitive level, leading to ethical commitment toward self-associated fashion brands; social image is manifested at the relational level, giving rise to consumers’ ethical engagement in SF; and ethical consumers’ self-verify their identity-image alignment in the public sphere, thus addressing A-B issues.

Originality/value

The sociopsychological approach suggests a novel understanding of ethical consumers’ individual and social representation through SF consumption. The framework interprets SF as an “aesthetic of existence,” co-constructed collectively and symbolically expressed publicly. As a result, the proposed model combines different theories to introduce new causal mechanisms and constructs of ethical consumers’ cognition, sociological relations and public spheres.

Details

Journal of Consumer Marketing, vol. 41 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0736-3761

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 24 July 2024

Alireza Rousta and Elnaz Allaf Jafari

The constant population growth and inappropriate consumption patterns have led to abnormal use of the earth's capacities, destruction of natural resources, enormous spread of…

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Abstract

Purpose

The constant population growth and inappropriate consumption patterns have led to abnormal use of the earth's capacities, destruction of natural resources, enormous spread of diseases, and increased waste materials. Thus, these issues should be highlighted to avoid serious problems for the earth. Accordingly, this study examines the effect of environmental knowledge (EK), environmental responsibility (ER), and environmental concern (EC) on sustainable consumption behavior (SCB), with the mediating role of customer attitude (CA).

Design/methodology/approach

The present applied study is descriptive-correlational. The statistical population includes customers of Hyperstar stores located in Tehran. Overall, a sample size of 384 people was selected based on Cochran's formula. The data were collected using standard questionnaires and analyzed using structural equation modeling and Smart PLS version 3 software.

Findings

The fit of the proposed model was confirmed at measurement, structural, and general levels. Thus, it indicates that the structural model has an acceptable fit. Furthermore, the findings emphasize that ER and EC have a positive effect on CA, and ER and EC have a positive impact on SCB. ER and EC have a positive effect on SCB through the mediation of CA, while EK does not have any significant effect on SCB but EK has an effect on SCB through the mediation of CA.

Originality/value

Given the growth of environmental destruction, it is necessary to consider the change of CA toward buying sustainable products. Therefore, this study pays attention to the mediating role of attitude and examines the effects of EK, EC, and ER that cause SCB among customers of Hyperstars.

Details

Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1477-7835

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 31 May 2024

Ho Huy Tuu and Nguyen Huu Khoi

This study explores the direct and indirect effects of two components of food-related consideration of future consequences (CFCs), including CFC-Immediate and CFC-Future, on…

Abstract

Purpose

This study explores the direct and indirect effects of two components of food-related consideration of future consequences (CFCs), including CFC-Immediate and CFC-Future, on sustainable food attitudes (SFA) via food-related health and environmental concerns.

Design/methodology/approach

Partial least squares structural equation modeling technique was used on a data set of 664 Vietnamese consumers collected in Central Vietnam to evaluate measurement and structural models.

Findings

CFC-Immediate and CFC-Future as well as health and environmental concerns have positive effects on SFA. Indirect effects of CFC-Immediate on SFA via health concerns and CFC-Future on SFA via health/environmental concerns are also discovered.

Research limitations/implications

Future studies should examine the impact of environmental values on CFCs, forming a more comprehensive understanding regarding the relationship between the two variables, especially by including a wider range of sustainable food types to gain diverse knowledge about sustainable food consumption.

Practical implications

Communicative messages should focus on both health and environmental concerns while emphasizing both immediate and more distant outcomes of sustainable food (fish) consumption for individuals with different dominant temporal orientations.

Originality/value

This study sheds light on the direct and hierarchical relationships among food-related CFCs, health and environmental concerns and SFA to better understand the intricate psychological process of sustainable food consumption.

Article
Publication date: 25 July 2024

Yasmin Abdou and Nesma Ammar

This paper outlines the active learning methods used to develop and deliver a sustainable business course to undergraduate students. Moreover, the paper aims to investigate the…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper outlines the active learning methods used to develop and deliver a sustainable business course to undergraduate students. Moreover, the paper aims to investigate the effect of the sustainable business course on the students’ engagement in sustainable consumption.

Design/methodology/approach

From a pedagogical perspective, the paper describes the active learning methods applied in a newly introduced sustainable business course via numerous distinctive assessment techniques. On the empirical front, the research investigates the impact of the sustainable business course on the students’ engagement in sustainable consumption. To test such impact, an online survey was distributed among students who completed the sustainable business course, and as a control group for comparison, students who did not take the course.

Findings

The research results indicate a positive relationship between completion of the sustainable business course and engagement in sustainable consumption. Furthermore, the data revealed that female students exhibited more engagement in sustainable consumption than male students.

Research limitations/implications

The study contributes to the literature on student-centered pedagogy, active learning techniques and the relationship between sustainable business education and engagement with sustainable consumption.

Practical implications

The study contributes to the literature on student-centered pedagogy, active learning techniques and the relationship between sustainable business education and engagement with sustainable consumption. Pedagogically, the nonconventional course curricula and assessment methods described in this study can be used as a reference by instructors aiming to integrate active and experiential teaching methods into their sustainable business curricula. For decision makers in higher education who are working in line with the global direction to achieve sustainability, this research provides preliminary evidence that students’ engagement with sustainability is influenced by their course curricula.

Originality/value

By depicting innovative approaches to teaching sustainability in business, the research enriches the field of sustainable business pedagogy which remains under-researched in many countries. Furthermore, the research goes further by investigating the effect of the course on students’ sustainable consumption. This acts as evidence of the effectiveness of teaching sustainable business in changing future leaders’ perspectives and priorities to include environmental and social aspects, which has become a global goal. Accordingly, the research has the potential to encourage more business schools to make sustainable business education mandatory.

Details

International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1467-6370

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 3 September 2024

Carina Mae Font and Xavier Font

This research considers new and unexplored explanations of why consumers continue to engage in environmentally damaging, fast fashion consumption. It explains why rational…

Abstract

Purpose

This research considers new and unexplored explanations of why consumers continue to engage in environmentally damaging, fast fashion consumption. It explains why rational arguments alone do not prevent fast fashion consumption or encourage consumers to move toward greater adoption of sustainable fashion consumption behaviours.

Design/methodology/approach

This research compared the effects of a “neutral” control and an “intrasexual rivalry” experimental condition on: (1) likelihood to buy, and (2) willingness to pay, of frequent female fast fashion shoppers (N = 184).

Findings

Women use fast fashion as a conspicuous signal to other women, although this is not necessarily why they waste fast fashion purchases. Mating motives appear to produce a significant increase in fast fashion buying behaviour with women feeling intrasexual pressure to engage in consumption, and utilising consumption themselves as a self-promotion strategy.

Practical implications

Retailers tackling wasteful fast fashion consumption can demonstrate that sustainable consumption provides a superior conspicuous signal to fast fashion consumption, instead of solely using rational messaging.

Originality/value

Grounded in evolutionary psychology, this study uses three theories of intrasexual rivalry, conspicuous consumption and conspicuous waste to understand how both the volume and variety of fast fashion consumed are used as conspicuous signals in a mate attraction context.

Details

Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management: An International Journal, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1361-2026

Keywords

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