Sustainability

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15 pages, 559 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Launch of Sustainable Plastic Apparel: Effects of Brand Luxury and Experience on Consumer Behaviour

by Ken Kumagai and Shin’ya Nagasawa

Sustainability 2020, 12(18), 7662; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12187662 - 16 Sep 2020

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4887

Abstract

Since plastic waste is a serious social issue, fashion companies are attempting to develop sustainable apparel made from post-consumer plastic bottles. This social issue is relevant to every company regardless of the level of brand luxury. However, previous literature has not examined the [...] Read more.

Since plastic waste is a serious social issue, fashion companies are attempting to develop sustainable apparel made from post-consumer plastic bottles. This social issue is relevant to every company regardless of the level of brand luxury. However, previous literature has not examined the effect of this sustainable product type on consumer behaviour, whereas comprehensive sustainable development is widely discussed in luxury branding research. Consequently, this study investigates how the launch of sustainable plastic apparel affects consumer brand attitude and purchase intention. According to the 440 samples collected via an online survey in Japan, moderated mediation analyses reveal that the launch of sustainable plastic apparel positively affects brand attitude contributing to purchase intention indirectly, while it also contributes to purchase intention directly. In addition, brand luxury and brand experience are found to weaken the effect of this sustainable product launch, whereas the influence of sustainable product experience is insignificant. To launch this type of sustainable apparel effectively, luxury companies are advised to redesign their current marketing to promote sustainable products more effectively and adjust their branding tactics to align with sustainability. Otherwise, their brand luxury may lead to a disadvantage, since plastic recycling is increasingly becoming a social requirement. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Patterns in Consumer Behavior)

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15 pages, 767 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Turning the Tap or Buying the Bottle? Consumers’ Personality, Understanding of Risk, Trust and Conspicuous Consumption of Drinking Water in Norway

by Geir Wæhler Gustavsen and Atle Wehn Hegnes

Sustainability 2020, 12(18), 7560; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12187560 - 14 Sep 2020

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3631

Abstract

This paper contributes to the debate on sustainable water consumption by exploring the relation between consumers’ personality, understanding of risk/trust and social distinction in water drinking practices in Norway. Our main research question, how can we understand preferences for water consumption?, is [...] Read more.

This paper contributes to the debate on sustainable water consumption by exploring the relation between consumers’ personality, understanding of risk/trust and social distinction in water drinking practices in Norway. Our main research question, how can we understand preferences for water consumption?, is approached by answering a set of hypotheses inspired by a combination of three theoretical approaches. Latent variables measuring personality and conspicuous attitudes are included in frequency models based on the statistical beta distribution together with other predictors. Statistical tests were performed to find the connection between expected frequency of water consumption, personality, risk/trust and conspicuous attitudes. The conclusion is that the consequence of the connections between consumers’ personality, understanding of risk and conspicuous consumption of water should be considered by Norwegian stakeholders when planning future strategies and methods for more sustainable water consumption. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Patterns in Consumer Behavior)

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20 pages, 3043 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on Consumers’ Preferences for the Self-Service Mode of Express Cabinets in Stations Based on the Subway Distribution to Promote Sustainability

by Xiaohong Jiang, Ting Tang, Luhui Sun, Tengfei Lin, Xuan Duan and Xiucheng Guo

Sustainability 2020, 12(17), 7212; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12177212 - 3 Sep 2020

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3763

Abstract

With the explosive growth in the express delivery business, last-mile delivery issues have come to the forefront in China. Subway-based distribution has been demonstrated and practiced. The self-service mode of express cabinets in stations based on the subway distribution can effectively reduce the [...] Read more.

With the explosive growth in the express delivery business, last-mile delivery issues have come to the forefront in China. Subway-based distribution has been demonstrated and practiced. The self-service mode of express cabinets in stations based on the subway distribution can effectively reduce the last-mile delivery costs, increase the utilization rate of public transportation resources, and reduce traffic congestion and carbon emissions. This paper designed self–service mode of express cabinets in stations and discussed the feasibility by investigating consumers’ preferences. The consumers’ preferences and influencing factors were examined by using the multicategorical logit model. The results show that consumers’ gender, education level and number of online purchases per month have an impact on consumers’ preferences. The majority of consumers are willing to actively engage in green consumer behavior. Meanwhile, consumers are more concerned about whether the express mode is convenient to conduct and the queuing of an express cabinet. Some suggestions and recommendations on promoting this self-service mode were put forward, such as pushing different advertisements for different groups of consumers, designing efficient and multi-function express cabinets, and adopting a reward system. This research provides guidance for decision making regarding the promotion of a new self–service mode based on the subway distribution, which can promote sustainable consumption and improve the efficient operation of urban last-mile delivery and the low-carbon development of urban transportation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Patterns in Consumer Behavior)

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15 pages, 1827 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Organic Food Consumption in Italy: The Role of Subjective Relevance of Food as Mediator between Organic Food Choice Motivation and Frequency of Organic Food Consumption

by Greta Castellini, Mariarosaria Savarese, Cinzia Castiglioni and Guendalina Graffigna

Sustainability 2020, 12(13), 5367; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12135367 - 2 Jul 2020

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 3790

Abstract

Nowadays, the problems that afflict our planet (climate change, loss of biodiversity, etc.) are leading to the implementation of a more sustainable type of consumption. Increasing the consumption of organic products is a way to face and try to solve these problems. In [...] Read more.

Nowadays, the problems that afflict our planet (climate change, loss of biodiversity, etc.) are leading to the implementation of a more sustainable type of consumption. Increasing the consumption of organic products is a way to face and try to solve these problems. In order to reach this aim, it is important to understand how consumers’ subjective relevance of these products impacts on their consumption. The recent literature, in fact, highlighted how food consumption is salient for the individual to express their identity and life orientations, even more in the case of organic food consumption. Nonetheless, little is known about how subjective relevance of food affects organic food consumption. The present research aims to measure the role of subjective relevance in organic food consumption. Data were collected with a self-report questionnaire that was filled out by a sample of 964 Italians, representative of the population. We used structural equation modelling (SEM) and the bootstrap technique to test the hypothesis. The results show that subjective food relevance is a mediator between the motivations of organic food consumption and the frequency of consumption of it. This research points out the necessity to study consumers in a wider way, using communication that emphasizes the role that these products have in satisfying the psychological needs of consumers. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Patterns in Consumer Behavior)

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16 pages, 330 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Alternative Proposals to Measure Consumer Ethnocentric Behavior: A Narrative Literature Review

by José Felipe Jiménez-Guerrero, Juan Carlos Pérez-Mesa and Emilio Galdeano-Gómez

Sustainability 2020, 12(6), 2216; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12062216 - 12 Mar 2020

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 4372

Abstract

CETSCALE (Consumer Ethnocentrism Tendencies Scale), the scale developed by Shimp and Sharma in 1987 to study consumer ethnocentric behavior, has received preferential use in the literature, with numerous replications carried out in countries on all continents. Although it was proposed as a 17-item [...] Read more.

CETSCALE (Consumer Ethnocentrism Tendencies Scale), the scale developed by Shimp and Sharma in 1987 to study consumer ethnocentric behavior, has received preferential use in the literature, with numerous replications carried out in countries on all continents. Although it was proposed as a 17-item scale along with a smaller version of only ten items, studies that use only a part of these have been become increasingly common. To some extent, this practice responds to the multidimensional behavior of CETSCALE, as can be widely confirmed. It is for this reason that a growing consensus is in favor of reviewing the scale as a tool to measure ethnocentrism, made evident by the appearance of new alternative scales. CEESCALE and CES are two of the most recent proposals, which were developed with a similar number of items but grouped into a number of clearly defined dimensions, providing more robust results. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Patterns in Consumer Behavior)

13 pages, 303 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Psychometric Properties, Measurement Invariance, and Construct Validity of the Italian Version of the Brand Hate Short Scale (BHS)

by Silvia Platania, Martina Morando and Giuseppe Santisi

Sustainability 2020, 12(5), 2103; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12052103 - 9 Mar 2020

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3345

Abstract

Brand hate can be defined as the consumer’s dissatisfaction with the product or service performance. The consumer’s hatred of the brand is related to the desire for revenge and avoidance. This kind of emotion does not remain only a desire; it is often [...] Read more.

Brand hate can be defined as the consumer’s dissatisfaction with the product or service performance. The consumer’s hatred of the brand is related to the desire for revenge and avoidance. This kind of emotion does not remain only a desire; it is often transformed into real actions that lead to consumer behavior. Although the analysis of the literature provides useful insights and interesting suggestions about the phenomenon of brand hate, to date, very few studies and scales that are capable of measuring this phenomenon have been developed, especially in the Italian context. The present work investigated the psychometric properties of an Italian adaptation of the BHSs (N = 422) with the aim of verifying the same factor structure found in the original German version. Results confirmed a one-factor structure (first order, 6 items). Moreover, the scale was found to be invariant across gender. This suggests that companies must first have adequate systems and mechanisms in place to understand the reasons that drive consumers to hate the brand and implement recovery strategies to address this hatred. The achievement of sustainability or failure to do so can add to or detract from a brand’s value in the marketplace. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Patterns in Consumer Behavior)

16 pages, 1008 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Co-Creating Value in Sustainable and Alternative Food Networks: The Case of Community Supported Agriculture in New Zealand

by Mariarosaria Savarese, Kerry Chamberlain and Guendalina Graffigna

Sustainability 2020, 12(3), 1252; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12031252 - 10 Feb 2020

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 5368

Abstract

Background: Over recent decades, society has been facing different social, political, and economic challenges that are changing classical consumption dynamics towards more sustainable practices, mostly in the field of food consumption. In particular, alternative food networks are enabling new food consumption models inspired [...] Read more.

Background: Over recent decades, society has been facing different social, political, and economic challenges that are changing classical consumption dynamics towards more sustainable practices, mostly in the field of food consumption. In particular, alternative food networks are enabling new food consumption models inspired by principles of participation and sustainability. The aim of this study was to explore how community supported agriculture farms create value for sustainability practices from both farmer and consumer perspectives in order to find new levers to engage consumers towards pursuing better food consumption models. Methods: A qualitative study was conducted following focused ethnography principles. Results: The results show that community supported agriculture is a complex concept based on the active participation of consumers as carers of economic, social, and environmental values. These values are all strongly connected, and together contribute to create an ecosystem where sustainable food practices can be promoted through a “learning by doing” process. Conclusions: This research offers new ways to re-connect and collaborate with consumers in the era of sustainable food consumption. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Patterns in Consumer Behavior)

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24 pages, 1266 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A European Mixed Methods Comparative Study on NEETs and Their Perceived Environmental Responsibility

by Andrea Bonanomi and Francesca Luppi

Sustainability 2020, 12(2), 515; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12020515 - 9 Jan 2020

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4059

Abstract

This study explores whether young people’s propensity to take responsibility for the environment—and, consequently, to make pro-environment consumption choices—is negatively affected by living in a condition of social exclusion, such that of NEETs (i.e., Not in Education, Employment or Training). By adopting a [...] Read more.

This study explores whether young people’s propensity to take responsibility for the environment—and, consequently, to make pro-environment consumption choices—is negatively affected by living in a condition of social exclusion, such that of NEETs (i.e., Not in Education, Employment or Training). By adopting a mix of comparative methods, we used the fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (fs-QCA) to compare European countries to find which configurations of types of NEET can be associated with different levels of perceived individual environmental responsibility. In addition, we implemented a mediation model by using Generalized Structural Equation Modeling (GSEM) estimation, to find whether the association between the NEET condition and the level of perceived environmental responsibility is mediated by individual happiness—as a proxy of social exclusion’s consequences on the individual’s well-being. Fs-QCA results are integrated at the micro level to test context-related variation. Data come from the 2016 European Social Survey, the 2016 Eurofound report, and the 2018 Italian Youth Report. We found that the presence of more vulnerable NEETs is associated with lower levels of perceived environmental responsibility. At the micro level, only in some countries does the condition of NEET lead to attribute environmental responsibility to the institutions, rather than to the single individual, and it seems related to a general lower well-being. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Patterns in Consumer Behavior)

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Review

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25 pages, 1406 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

New Trends and Patterns in Sustainable Consumption: A Systematic Review and Research Agenda

by Giulia Sesini, Cinzia Castiglioni and Edoardo Lozza

Sustainability 2020, 12(15), 5935; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12155935 - 23 Jul 2020

Cited by 64 | Viewed by 14706

Abstract

The challenge of sustainable development and consumption is to meet current wants without impoverishing future generations and the planet in the long term. Therefore, new patterns of sustainable practices are increasingly promoted. The purpose of the present study is to realize a systematic [...] Read more.

The challenge of sustainable development and consumption is to meet current wants without impoverishing future generations and the planet in the long term. Therefore, new patterns of sustainable practices are increasingly promoted. The purpose of the present study is to realize a systematic review aimed to analyze the contents and features of articles dealing with new trends in consumers’ sustainable consumption. One hundred and four papers published in the last five years were retrieved and analyzed through a lexicographical analysis using the software T-LAB. The results show that, even if most of the current studies focus almost exclusively on the environmental impact of sustainability, the social perspective is also recently taking hold. Evidence suggests prevailing attention towards consumers’ appeal and consumption of eco-friendly food products, together with a growing interest in the last years in consumers’ practices in other key sectors, such as tourism, commerce, and clothing. Future research should spotlight the less explored frameworks, looking at the economic and social sides of sustainability in a variety of contextual settings. At the same time, consumer-focused research should not forget to look at consumers’ sustainable behavior as a whole and its impacts from the perspective of planet, people, and profit. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Patterns in Consumer Behavior)

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