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Identification of Sustainable Consumer Behaviors

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Economic and Business Aspects of Sustainability".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2021) | Viewed by 21576

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Zhifeng Gao

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Guest Editor

Food and Resource Economics Department, University of Florida, , Gainesville, FL, USA
Interests: consumer behavior; survey/market research; choice analysis; the economics of sustainable practices

Dr. John Lai

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Guest Editor

Food and Resource Economics Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-0180, USA
Interests: consumer behavior; agricultural marketing; consumer perceptions and preferences; livestock and livestock products
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Dr. Bachir Kassas

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Guest Editor

Food and Resource Economics Department, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611-0180, USA
Interests: consumer behavior; health-related behavior; preference elicitation mechanisms; prosocial preferences

Prof. Dr. Ruifeng Liu

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Guest Editor

College of Economics and Management, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450046, China
Interests: food economics and management; consumer behavior; agricultural economics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

With the increasing understanding of the relationship between human activities and nature, sustainable development has been recognized and promoted globally. The United Nations defines sustainable development as “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (United Nations, 2021). This definition encompasses three main components, namely social, environmental, and economic sustainability. Consumers play an essential role in sustainable development, both directly and indirectly. Consumers directly protect the environment through activities such as conserving water, reducing the quantity of trash and litter being introduced into the environment, and recycling/reducing household waste. They can also indirectly contribute to sustainability by using their purchasing power to influence the types, amounts, and forms of products produced. For instance, the global sales of electric cars increased from 0.05 million to 2.08 million from 2011 to 2020 (IEA 2021), resulting from both government support and consumer demand. Similarly, the worldwide sales of organic food, predominantly consumer-driven, increased from USD 59.1 million in 2010 to USD 95 million in 2018 (Statista 2021). Worldwide, there are approximately 600 labels associated with sustainability and environmentally friendly practices to satisfy the increasing consumer demand for this type of product.

Because of the significant role of consumers in sustainable development, it is critical to identify sustainable consumer behaviors and factors contributing to such behaviors. This Special Issue concentrates on the identification of sustainable consumer behaviors. Papers focusing on any topic related to the listing shown below are welcome. Both theoretical and applied original papers will be considered. Systematic reviews that combine and summarize the results of the literature on sustainable consumer behavior are also welcome.

Possible topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

Consumer recycling behaviors;

Sustainable lifestyles;

Attitude and preference towards sustainable alternative energy (e.g., bioenergy, solar, wind, green energy);

Consumer environment and ecosystem protection behavior;

Preference for sustainable products (e.g., ecolabel, organic, energy stars);

Behaviors related to household/food waste;

Preferences and perceptions of sustainable animal production systems;

Consumer acceptance of sustainably produced food, fiber, and fuel;

Consumer perceptions of conservation practices in food production;

Preferences for policies related to sustainability and conservation practices for the environment;

Perceptions and attitudes towards emerging food production technologies that promote sustainability;

Preferences for genetic modification practices that address challenges in food sustainability.

Keywords: recycling behaviors; sustainable lifestyle; environment and ecosystem protection behavior; preference of sustainable alternative energy; environment and ecosystem protection; household/food waste behavior; preferences of sustainable animal production systems; acceptance of sustainably produced food/fiber/fuel; perceptions of conservation practices in food production; preferences for sustainability policies; sustainability-driven food production technologies; genetic modification to solve sustainability issues

Dr. Zhifeng Gao
Dr. John Lai
Dr. Bachir Kassas
Dr. Ruifeng Liu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 652 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring the Antecedents of Organic Food Purchase Intention: An Extension of the Theory of Planned Behavior

by Sandrina Francisca Teixeira, Belem Barbosa, Hugo Cunha and Zaila Oliveira

Sustainability 2022, 14(1), 242; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14010242 - 27 Dec 2021

Cited by 29 | Viewed by 6676

Abstract

Worldwide organic food consumption has registered a consistent rise in recent years. Despite the relevant body of literature on the topic, it is necessary to further understand the antecedents of purchase intention. This article aims to identify the factors that influence the consumer’s intention to purchase organic food. It extends the theory of planned behavior model by including environmental concerns, health concerns, and perceived quality as determinants of attitude toward organic food products. Additionally, it considers the effect of product availability on consumers’ perceived behavioral control. This article includes a quantitative study that was conducted in Portugal in 2020 (n = 206). Structural equation modeling was used to test the proposed set of research hypotheses. In line with extant literature, this study confirmed that attitude toward organic food is the main determinant of purchase intention. Additionally, it demonstrates that health concerns and perceived quality have a significant impact on attitude toward organic food. The impact of environmental concerns on attitude was not confirmed by this study. Based on these findings, it is recommended that managers stress health benefits and quality of organic food in order to foster positive attitudes and consequently leverage purchase intention. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Identification of Sustainable Consumer Behaviors)

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13 pages, 287 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Relating Knowledge and Perception of Sustainable Landscape Practices to the Adoption Intention of Environmentally Friendly Landscapes

by Xumin Zhang, Hayk Khachatryan and Melinda Knuth

Sustainability 2021, 13(24), 14070; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132414070 - 20 Dec 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2645

Abstract

The influence of traditional residential landscapes on humans and the environment has provoked a discussion on maintaining landscapes in a sustainable way and conserving water resources. Traditional American landscapes require water-intensive management. Previous research has discussed potential negative impacts on the environment from prevalent improper landscaping maintenance techniques. To mitigate long-term consequences, sustainable landscape management programs aim at protecting the environment from harmful inputs and conserving water. Among alternative practices, converting fully turfgrass lawns to sustainable landscapes is recommended. The Florida Friendly Landscaping (FFL^TM) initiative is one such program designed to minimize negative impacts while maintaining and improving landscapes’ aesthetic characteristics. Although technological advancements in lawn care services have rapidly developed in the past few decades (e.g., smart irrigation systems), the level of homeowners’ knowledge and perceptions regarding sustainable practices are still at the forefront of potential factors that influence the widespread adoption of sustainable lawn management. Relatively few studies have investigated how homeowners’ knowledge and perceptions of sustainable landscapes affect adoption decisions. This study adapted Ajzen’s theory of planned behavior as a framework to examine how individuals’ knowledge and perceptions of sustainable landscapes influence their adoption intention, and to predict their pro-environmental behavior. We found that homeowners’ knowledge about lawns and landscapes (more knowledgeable) is positively correlated with their sustainable landscape adoption intention. Additionally, homeowners’ perceptions of landscape conservation practices (more agreeable with sustainable landscape practices) are positively correlated with sustainable landscape adoption intentions. The implications for policymakers and water conservation programs are discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Identification of Sustainable Consumer Behaviors)

10 pages, 584 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Explore Consumers’ Willingness to Purchase Biotechnology Produced Fruit: An International Study

by Yan Heng, Sungeun Yoon and Lisa House

Sustainability 2021, 13(22), 12882; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132212882 - 21 Nov 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2952

Abstract

While food biotechnology has been widely applied and benefited the food and agriculture sector, community acceptance of biotechnology is still low. The factors that drive consumer rejection of food biotechnology have been well studied, but knowledge on the factors that drive willingness to purchase, particularly on an international level, is limited. This study aims to identify driving factors for respondents’ willingness to purchase fresh fruit produced with biotechnology, using an international survey conducted in the US, Canada, UK, France, and South Korea. While the overall willingness to purchase biotechnology produced fruit is low across countries, French consumers have the highest rate of willingness to purchase biotechnology produced fresh fruit among studied countries, followed by South Korea. The factors influencing respondents’ willingness to purchase include demographics, lifestyle, and shopping behavior. While respondents behave differently across countries, factors like environmental awareness, self-reported healthiness, and habits of eating away from home, have been found to enhance the willingness to purchase biotechnology produced fruit across countries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Identification of Sustainable Consumer Behaviors)

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12 pages, 1265 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Does Physical Activity Influence Consumer Acceptance of Gene Edited Food?

by J. Ross Pruitt, Kaitlyn M. Melton and Marco A. Palma

Sustainability 2021, 13(14), 7759; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13147759 - 12 Jul 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2092

Abstract

Consumer acceptance of new and emerging food production technologies is tied to their understanding of costs and benefits of the product. Advances in bioengineering not only provide direct nutritional benefits to the consumer, but also environmental benefits that improve sustainability. Improved consumer understanding of the benefits of innovative bioengineered food products can aid in the adoption process. We track participants’ physical activity level to determine whether this trait impacts willingness to pay for bioengineered foods. Additionally, we determine whether consumers are willing to pay a premium for gene edited food relative to genetically modified food. The results indicate that there is no link between physical activity and willingness to pay for genetically edited food. Additional results suggest that there is a premium among Asian and other respondents but not by gender. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Identification of Sustainable Consumer Behaviors)

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Review

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17 pages, 1124 KiB

Open AccessReview

Is Buying Local Food a Sustainable Practice? A Scoping Review of Consumers’ Preference for Local Food

by Lucio Cappelli, Fabrizio D’Ascenzo, Roberto Ruggieri and Irina Gorelova

Sustainability 2022, 14(2), 772; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14020772 - 11 Jan 2022

Cited by 23 | Viewed by 6099

Abstract

Access to healthy food and the introduction of sustainable nutrition practices are two important issues today. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought new challenges to food security but it has also provided opportunities for local food production. The discussion on local food has been gaining attention in recent years, but there is still a lack of clear understanding of the term ‘local food’ in the literature. The relationship between local food and sustainability issues is still unclear and has various connotations. This discordance leads to further discussions on whether buying local food should be considered a sustainable behavior and whether consumer preference for local food can be perceived as a sustainable practice. A scoping literature review was conducted in order to fill this gap and to shed light on the main tendencies of the scientific literature regarding this topic. The outcomes of the research revealed three dimensions of ‘local food’ definitions in the literature: geographical, geopolitical, and organic; while the problem of a unified local food definition remains open. The studied literature did not show any sound evidence for sustainability attributes in the definition of local food and consumer perception of local food. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Identification of Sustainable Consumer Behaviors)

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