Environmentally Aware Research Articles

The Association Between Corporate Environmental Sustainability, Environmental Awareness, And Job Pursuit Intention

Taiwan, renowned as a global leader in technology, boasts a manufacturing sector that accounts for more than 30%of its GDP. With the growing public knowledge of climate change, there has been a notable rise in environmental awareness among contemporary societies, influencing how businesses are perceived based on their environmental practices. This research targets potential job candidates in the tech sector, employing semi-structured interviews with individuals educated in engineering and related disciplines within Taiwan. It delves into three core questions, aiming to uncover: (1) whether individuals with environmental awareness prefer to work for committed companies to environmental sustainability; (2) if environmentally aware employees can facilitate the adoption of sustainable practices within their companies; and (3) whether a company's dedication to environmental sustainability enhances its appeal to prospective employees, thereby aiding in the recruitment and retention of top talent. Findings indicate that all participants are environmentally aware and eager to support workplace sustainability initiatives. Individuals with employment options often opt for companies with robust environmental reputations. Conversely, those encountering challenges in securing employment tend to prioritize immediate job availability over the environmental standing of the company. The study concludes with several recommendations to foster environmental awareness across various sectors, including government, media, businesses, educational institutions, and individuals.

Quick, Quick, Slow: Making Time for Sustainable Photography Practices in Contemporary Higher Education

AbstractAs environmental awareness grows, so do questions about the environmental impact of photography, in particular traditional film development and processing, which includes the use of plastics, gelatine and other environmentally harmful chemicals notwithstanding water usage and waste. Pioneering practice and research into sustainable alternatives to conventional processes has quickly established, supported by organisations such as The Sustainable Darkroom. Students in Higher Education are environmentally aware and prepared to take action to mitigate their impacts where possible. As such, there is a coalescence of perceptions within and beyond the classroom which asks to be addressed in the curriculum. This paper draws upon the research project Under a Green Light: A Darkroom for the Future which investigated how university darkroom practices can pivot toward more environmentally friendly methods. The paper describes the learning environment of the darkroom as a space of slowness, immersion and experimentation and the pedagogic value of this for photography students. The paper argues that incorporating environmental awareness into day‐to‐day teaching through systemic changes to process and practice, rather than through short term curriculum interventions, contributes to transformative learning experiences and promotes positive long‐term change.

Cultivating resilience: Camburi Quilombo’s role in preserving local knowledge amid climate change

PurposeThis paper examines how the Camburi Quilombo community in Ubatuba, Brazil, can be empowered to develop cultural resilience and conserve its Afro-Brazilian heritage in the face of challenges posed by climate change, urbanization and cultural erosion with the adverse consequences of tourism and inadequate infrastructure.Design/methodology/approachEmphasizing traditional knowledge, the project consisted of data collection, climate risk assessments and the development of an action plan in collaboration with academic institutions, governmental bodies and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs).FindingsAligned with sustainable development goals (SDGs), the project contributes to zero hunger, quality education, sustainable cities, climate action and life on land. Seed exchange fairs, decentralized seed banks and education initiatives foster environmental awareness and sustainable agriculture, impacting the community directly and over 1,000 individuals indirectly. While demonstrating short-term changes and mid-term viability, the project faced some challenges due to local communication complexities and overlapping jurisdiction.Originality/valueServing as a bridge between scientific research and local knowledge, the project aims to promote a paradigm shifts toward recognizing, respecting and incorporating indigenous practices, so that a more environmentally aware future can be envisioned for these communities amidst climate challenges. Reflecting on achievements, the project underscores integrating diverse cultural knowledge for community resilience.

Environmental Awareness and Walking Behavior to the Grocery Store

The relationship between environmental awareness and actionable change is complex. While extensive literature examines the links between green ideology and eco-friendly behavior, few studies focus on how green ideology influences transportation choices and the built environment. This study investigates the relationship between environmental awareness and walking behavior, addressing three research questions aimed at: identifying socio-demographic characteristics linked to a high level of environmental awareness; exploring how environmental awareness affects perceptions of walkability; and determining whether individuals committed to community environmentalism are more likely to walk to the grocery store. The findings reveal that higher income is associated with considerations of local air quality, noise, and the importance of positive environmental transportation choices. Car ownership negatively impacts the willingness to adjust routes or travel time to minimize environmental impact. Environmentally aware individuals perceive the grocery store as closer, feel safer walking, view sidewalks as more available and in a better condition, and notice more tree shading. Those who consider air quality and noise levels in their walking decisions are more likely to notice tree shading. Individuals committed to community environmentalism are significantly more likely to walk to the grocery store, underscoring the crucial role of environmental values in shaping transportation behaviors and walkability perceptions.

Deciphering the dynamics of human-environment interaction in China: Insights into renewable energy, sustainable consumption patterns, and carbon emissions

The increasing acknowledgment of the complex interplay between human actions and the natural world has generated a need to decipher human-environmental interdependence's ecological dynamics. The present research examines the intricate dynamics of the interplay between humans and the environment in China spanning 1975 to 2022. The results show that coal energy (i.e., -0.057, p < 0.050) and fossil fuel consumption (i.e., -0.766, p < 0.050) negatively affect renewable energy outcomes, highlighting the need for transitioning to cleaner energy sources. Conversely, energy use (0.006, p < 0.000), carbon pricing (0.480, p < 0.050), economic growth (0.0005, p < 0.050), and public awareness (0.040, p < 0.010) are positive drivers of renewable energy outcomes, suggesting the importance of policies promoting sustainable energy practices and raising environmental consciousness. Regarding sustainable consumption practices, materialistic practices (-0.0.004, p < 0.050), marketing strategies (-1.642, p < 0.000), and socioeconomic status (-2.026, p < 0.050) have adverse effects, while environmental awareness exhibits a positive influence. These findings underscore the significance of promoting environmentally conscious behavior and addressing societal factors that hinder sustainable consumption patterns. Furthermore, the study reveals that hedonic adaptation (0.036, p < 0.050) contributes to increased carbon emissions, indicating the need for strategies that mitigate the impact of changing living standards on the environment. Conversely, media penetration (-0.028, p < 0.010) and effective government communication are associated with decreased carbon emissions, underscoring the potential of media campaigns and informative communications to foster behavioral changes and encourage sustainable practices. Regulators may develop all-encompassing strategies to fight environmental damage and encourage a better tomorrow by providing incentives for using alternative energy sources, encouraging environmentally aware consumerism, and using the power of the press.

Enhancing Environmental Awareness Through Integrated Curriculum in China

Environmental education plays a crucial role in shaping environmentally aware and responsible citizens, particularly in countries like China. This paper examines the integration of environmental education into the Chinese curriculum, exploring opportunities, challenges, and best practices. The analysis highlights successful models of integration, innovative teaching strategies, and pedagogical approaches used in Chinese schools. Despite obstacles such as curriculum overload and limited resources, schools have embraced interdisciplinary learning, community engagement, and technology integration to foster environmental literacy. The conclusion underscores the importance of prioritizing environmental education and collaboration among stakeholders to empower students as stewards of the environment.

Comparing the Effect of Scientific Background on University Students’ Environmental Views

Creating an environmentally aware society is not an easy task and requires knowledge about what affects the formation of environmental views. At the same time, to contribute to environmental protection, individuals with different educational backgrounds need to have environmental awareness, because their decisions as future professionals may affect the environment. The problem, however, is that there is not adequate research on the association between educational background and environmental views. To address this gap, the aim of this study is to investigate whether scientific background affects environmental views and attitudes. Specific objectives are to examine whether scientific background affects university students’ views on environmental issues as well as their attitudes towards the solution to environmental problems. To achieve this aim, a comparative study was performed on two student groups: students attending environmental studies and students attending classical studies. The results showed that non-environmental students were less willing to change their habits to protect the environment and to participate in environmental actions compared to environmental students who expressed a pronounced willingness to do so. However, both student groups did not acknowledge their personal environmental responsibility. Categorical regression revealed that students’ certain sociodemographic variables affected their willingness to change habits. However, other additional variables are recommended to be analyzed in future studies. The results from this study provide support for making changes in the curricula of non-environmental departments and for carrying out actions to reinforce the participation of students in initiatives aimed at raising environmental awareness.

Consumer Behaviour and Sustainable Product Choices: Insights from Visual Trends

This research explores consumer behaviour towards sustainable product choices, emphasizing the influence of visual trends. Utilizing a comprehensive survey, we examined aspects such as environmental impact awareness during purchases, recycling practices, and reactions to eco-labelling. The data, visualized through Python, revealed a preference for sustainable products among environmentally aware consumers. However, a paradox emerges with the persistent preference for non-reusable plastics, despite awareness of their environmental impact. These findings underscore the complexity of consumer behaviour and highlight the necessity for education and practical measures to foster truly sustainable choices. This study contributes novel insights into the dynamics of consumer decision-making in the context of environmental sustainability.

Will Women Save the World? The Ecological Civic Activity of Girls and Women from Generation Z Representing ICT and STEM

The subject of the study is the gender gap in the environmental activism of young people from generation Z, related to the ICT and STEM sector, which plays a key role in the ecological transformation. Women are, according to world literature, more ecological than men in thinking, motivation and actions. The aim of the study was to check whether and to what extent this regularity applies to Poland and the masculinized ICT sector, where women constitute only about 20% of employees, and also what is the relationship between the level of environmental activism, environmental awareness and environmental behavior in the private sphere. The research sample consisted of 637 people born between 1995 and 2010 (Generation Z): 381 women (59.8%), 247 men (38.8%) and 9 non-binary people (1.4%). The data was taken from an extensive study carried out for the report on the values of ICT and STEM sector related young people from the generation Z. From the raw database, questions were extracted as indicators of awareness (15 questions on the NEP scale), ecological knowledge, sense of influence on counteracting the ecological crisis, risk perception of ecological threats, ecological behavior in the private sphere, and ecological activism (environmental behavior in the civic sphere). The data analysis included: (1) calculation of the NEP Index (2) frequency tables, including cross-tabs for all variables broken down by gender, (3) testing gender differences (Student’s t for continuous variables and Pearson’s Chi-square for ordinal and nominal variables) and (4) testing the relationship between selected variables and the level of environmental awareness (one-way ANOVA or t-test). Women turned out to be more environmentally aware than men (NEP Index 0.70 vs. 0.57), had more knowledge, a greater sense of influence on combating the ecological crisis, and greater faith in the effectiveness of the institutional activities in this area; showed greener behavior in their private lives and greater environmental activism.The ANOVA analysis showed that, with the exception of two variables, the surveyed areas of civic activity were proportionally related to environmental awareness: the higher the level of environmentalism, the higher the mean on the NEP scale. Almost all examined differences were statistically significant at p level &lt; 0.001.

Sustainable Integration of Solar Energy, Behavior Change, and Recycling Practices in Educational Institutions: A Holistic Framework for Environmental Conservation and Quality Education

Environmental sustainability in educational institutions is a critical concern for addressing global challenges. This research presents a comprehensive framework for sustainable energy conservation, behavior change, and recycling practices in schools, with the aim of fostering environmental consciousness among students and enhancing overall educational quality. The framework integrates solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, encouraging students’ participation in their maintenance while repurposing collected water for plant irrigation and using organic waste as a natural fertilizer. By creating a micro-ecosystem within schools, the approach cultivates a generation of environmentally aware individuals who actively contribute to environmental stewardship. The framework aligns with Saudi Arabia’s 2030 vision of improving quality of life and increasing green surfaces. It promotes environmental awareness, facilitates clean energy adoption, and reduces operational costs. The role of municipalities and recycling bodies is crucial for its successful execution, involving waste management support, educational programs, and regulatory compliance. Through collaboration between schools, municipalities, and recycling bodies, the framework aims to create a culture of sustainability. It envisions students as advocates, gaining experiential knowledge in renewable energy technologies and waste management. This research offers a roadmap for schools to integrate solar energy, behavior change, and recycling practices, positioning them as leaders in environmental stewardship. The framework underscores the importance of collaborative efforts, financial support, and awareness campaigns. By embracing this comprehensive approach, schools can play a pivotal role in mitigating climate change, promoting sustainable living, and inspiring a brighter future for generations to come.

Simulating wood companies development considering the effect of ethical marketing

Dedicating oneself to a greater good is one of the secret ingredients to business success in an evolving and highly interconnected markets environment. For wood companies, this is even more needed to face the overwhelming ongoing environmental crisis affecting business practices and customers' behavior in general. To build solid reputation and increase one's presence on competing markets, wood companies should not only care about products competitiveness, but also customers' perception, environmental awareness and ethical marketing. In this article, we simulated the effect of ethical commerce on wood companies' reputation using a modified competitive and cooperative model based on differential equations considering wood type, products categories and companies brand score or reputation as function of their commitment to social and environmental causes. The qualitative analysis and results of numerical experiment show that, focusing on sharing values, and building strong relationship with customers are highly important for long-term development. Moreover, reducing environmental impact by shifting production strategy towards man-made materials could meet today customers' demands for ethically and environmentally aware manufactured wood products.

Consumer preferences for circular outdoor sporting goods: An Adaptive Choice-Based Conjoint analysis among residents of European outdoor markets

Since 2015, the concept of a Circular Economy (CE) has been gaining attention within the field of corporate sustainability including the textile sector. Further, CE related literature often mentions single actors from the Outdoor Sporting Goods Industry (OSGI) as forerunners. However, an analysis of users’ acceptance of circular outdoor products is so far missing in that literature. Thus, this study aimed to analyse if outdoor sporting goods users value circular product attributes using an Adaptive Choice-Based Conjoint analysis. The conjoint data from 1012 respondents, resident in important European outdoor markets, show that functional product attributes as well as social sustainability are more important for the purchase choice than circular product attributes while product durability and the share of recycled material used in the product are the most relevant circular attributes. Further, environmental awareness (strong influence), gender and age (weak influence) moderate the preference for functionality rather than circularity: environmentally aware, young, or female users are comparatively receptive to circular product features. As the study relates these findings to previous research and discusses practical implications, it adds an OSGI-specific perspective to the literature on consumer acceptance of circular products and thereby gives action recommendations to industry managers.

Perceptions and concerns about sustainable healthcare of nursing students trained in sustainability and health: A cohort study

AimTo describe nursing students' perceptions of sustainable health education in the nursing curriculum and their concerns about sustainable healthcare and the impact of climate change on nursing. BackgroundSustainable health education involves education on the impact of climate change on health and the impact of healthcare on the environment. The effectiveness of sustainable health education in improving attitudes, knowledge and skills in sustainable healthcare has been demonstrated. However, there is a need to study students' perceptions of this and their concerns about achieving sustainable healthcare from the use and disposal of healthcare resources. DesignA cohort study with an inductive content analysis of open-ended questions included in a survey. MethodsThe study was carried out with undergraduate nursing students throughout their four-year undergraduate academic program using scenario-based learning and augmented reality related to sustainability, climate change and health. As students were exposed to three educational interventions, they completed a survey of open-ended questions about their perceptions of their environmental sustainability training in the nursing curriculum, their concerns about the resources’ used in healthcare and their perceptions of the impact of climate change on the nursing profession. ResultsStudents identified content in the nursing degree program on climate change and health and hospital waste segregation. They also demanded more content on 'low environmental impact nursing care' when their clinical practice training increased. Students were concerned about the excessive and unnecessary use of materials in healthcare, especially in the post-pandemic period, the lack of environmental awareness of healthcare professionals and the lack of power to change the situation. They recognised the lack of proper waste segregation in healthcare settings, no recycling bins and little reuse of materials. They were also concerned about the polluting disposal of material. They perceived important impacts of climate change on nursing, such as patient care due to increased pollution-related diseases, including foetal malformations and new health care needs arising from weather conditions. Finally, students were concerned about the impact this will have on nursing care work and require 'nursing leadership in environmental awareness'. ConclusionsStudents demand more training in low environmental impact healthcare and innovative educational practices are effective in this regard. Appropriate Sustainable Healthcare Education can make future health professionals more environmentally aware and enable them to lead the shift towards climate-smart care. Tweetable abstractStudents demand more training in low environmental impact healthcare and perceive significant impacts of climate change on nursing.

Accounting for Environmental Awareness on Green Purchase Intention and Behaviour: Evidence from the Philippines

This study examines the green purchase awareness of Philippine youth consumers and its influence on green purchase intention and, ultimately, their green purchase behaviour. The study used the theory of planned behaviour as a conceptual framework. The research used an online five-point Likert scale questionnaire and gathered data from accounting and business students in the Philippines; data were collected from 923 usable respondents and then validated and analysed using structural equation modelling (SEM). The findings suggest that respondents’ awareness of environmental degradation’s consequences influences green purchase intention and positively mediates green purchase behaviour. The attitudes, norms, and respondents’ perceived behavioural control represent the environmental awareness beliefs; they positively and significantly contributed to green purchase intention, which contributed to green purchase behaviour. The study is original in that it examines the applicability of the theory of planned behaviour in the context of the Philippines, which has legislative backing for environmental awareness among the citizens. It also investigates the extent to which subjective norms can influence personal behavioural control and mediate towards green purchase intention. The findings contribute to the Philippine setting; however, it is extensible with further research on emerging nations that share societal cultures. The data obtained sufficiently explain the phenomenon using the theory of planned behaviour; combining it with Hofstede’s model of societal culture can increase explanatory power for societal-based studies on purchase intention and behaviour. In a high-power distance and collective societal-cultural setting, findings support the argument that environmental awareness contributes to green purchase intention and buyer behaviour. The proactive stance of making the population aware of the environmental effects is noticeable. However, they provide a low-level explanation of their intention to purchase green products and a medium-level explanation of translating purchase intention to purchase behaviour. Hence, we recommend the government review their approach to making people environmentally aware, which measurably translates into green purchasing intention and purchasing behaviour.

Curbing Emissions: Environmental Regulations and Product Offerings Across Markets

Problem definition: In the U.S. auto market, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) implements a stricter fuel economy standard in California than the federal standard implemented by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Trump administration’s 2018 announcement to freeze the EPA standard threatened to widen its gap from the CARB standard and cause a split market where automakers offer differentiated car models in CARB and non-CARB states. Inspired by this crisis, we investigate three research questions: when is market unification (all vehicles meeting a common efficiency standard) attainable? Is unifying a split market likely to reduce total CO2emissions? If so, what strategies can help unify the market when unification does not occur naturally? Methodology/results: We adopt a game-theoretic model where two regulators with different levels of environmental awareness set efficiency standards in their respective markets, a firm offers product(s) for these markets, and consumers make purchases. We find that there exist cases where the firm offers a unified product for both markets, a different product in each market, or only serves one market, and our analysis suggests that unifying a split market may help curb emissions. We then propose and show that horizontal negotiations (between the regulators) and vertical negotiations (between a regulator and the firm) are potentially effective strategies to unify a split market and reduce emissions. Managerial implications: Our findings show that a more environmentally aware regulator can leverage its market power and reduce CO2emissions outside its jurisdiction through negotiations. Furthermore, our findings suggest that the regulator should prioritize horizontal negotiations while using vertical negotiations as a back-up option.Supplemental Material: The online appendices are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/msom.2022.1141 .

Motivating consumer-to-business smartphone returns: Evidence from a factorial survey experiment

In light of short replacement cycles and low recycling rates of smartphones, establishing effective return mechanisms for unused smartphones is crucial to prolong product use phases and thereby reduce the environmental impact of smartphones. Consumer-to-business return options provide a novel, accessible way to return unused devices but require consumer acceptance to fulfill their ecological potential. However, thus far, disposition is a largely understudied aspect of consumer behavior. We address the need for research on disposition behavior and smartphone returns by examining influences on consumers' intentions to use consumer-to-business return options for smartphones in a factorial survey experiment with 1192 smartphone users in Germany. We find that environmental awareness and price consciousness are both associated with higher return intentions. Although financial rewards are generally preferred to non-financial rewards, non-financial rewards gain popularity among environmentally aware consumers and when lower financial rewards are offered. Neither marketing smartphone returns with different appeal types nor linking the smartphone return to purchasing a replacement device influence participants' return intentions. In contrast, return mechanisms and device condition do significantly affect return intentions in our experiment. We discuss our findings’ implications for practitioners offering consumer-to-business return options and formulate practical recommendations, in particular regarding the use of non-financial rewards, the integration of return and refurbishing services, and potential benefits of physical drop-off stations.

Optimal bundling of products with different environmental impacts considering consumer environmental awareness

Emission reduction has become a critical and urgent issue in marketing. We notice that some companies develop new products to exclusively solve the pollution emission from the existing polluting products. This paper aims to research the optimal bundling problem of a monopoly seller who offers a polluting product and the new green product when considering consumer environmental awareness. First, by comparing the maximum profit of bundling strategies, we reveal that bundling strategies always dominate the pure component (PC) strategy. More specifically, the pure bundling (PB) strategy dominates when the marginal costs are low and the green product performs well in emission reduction; otherwise, mixed bundling dominates. Second, by analyzing the net pollution emission of different strategies, we show that although bundling strategies benefit the seller economically, they may not be optimal environmentally when the green product is not effective. Numerical studies are constructed to show our findings intuitively. Further, this provides useful managerial insights to enterprises and government regulators. To help achieve emission reduction target, government regulators should implement emission regulations to regulate enterprises’ behavior. Besides, the enterprise should be more cautious when the emission regulation exists or when the enterprise itself is also environmentally aware since more profit may also mean more pollution.

Nature in the showcase. Naturbanization keys in Chile and Spain

Naturbanization relates protected natural areas (PNAs) to demographic and economic change, territorial impacts, and the residential function. The purpose of this paper is to identify the triggers of naturbanization. The methodological process examines real estate web sources that showcase offers in PNAs as a business strategy to capture clients and gauges its influence on environmentally aware populations in Chile and Spain through an analysis of data provided by a survey. Results indicate that the attraction of these natural areas also extends to other areas and that environmental awareness is part of a more public discourse that conceals the real estate value that the capitalist model places on nature. Thus, the current dynamics of the real estate market turn naturbanization into a stratagem for conceiving nature as a new commodity.

Green preferences

This paper studies how interaction between economic decision-making and environmental awareness affects US business cycle and GHG emissions in a two-sector DSGE model. We emphasize the mechanisms that relate carbon emissions dynamics, consumer behavior, and environmental awareness in a framework incorporating two classes of goods (i.e., “clean” and “dirty”). This paper offers three main results. First, green consumption preferences play a key role in emissions reduction when they internalize emissions concentrations. Second, a green preference shock is the second source of fluctuation in many sectoral variables and stabilizes the business cycle. Third, a pollutant supply shock leads to sustainable consumption procyclicality documented in US data, only if households are environmentally aware.

Establishing a Relationship Between Demographic Factors and Students' Environmental Awareness

A lack of environmental education has been shown to lead to lower levels of environmental awareness and consequently fewer climate change prevention measures (Toksoz et al., 2011). Researchers who study this issue focus on identifying the populations most vulnerable to a lack of environmental awareness based on demographic factors like household income and education level (Ajuang et al., 2016; Philippsen et al., 2017; Sun et al., 2020). This research is essential in guiding future climate-related education efforts, but there is limited data on the topic. In order to fill in this research gap, this project focuses on the relationship between demographic factors and the environmental awareness of high school students in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. One hundred twenty-five high school students were surveyed, and data were collected relating to students' annual household income, parental/guardian education, age, gender, race, household recycling and gardening practices, and environmental awareness. It was found that, in general, students with higher household income levels, parental/guardian education levels, or age had higher levels of environmental awareness. However, students with the lowest parental education levels also showed increased environmental awareness compared to other lower levels. Male students tended to be slightly more environmentally aware than female students, and students whose families recycled or gardened regularly had higher levels of environmental awareness than those who did not. This information can help to guide future environmental education campaigns to improve environmental awareness levels and environmental relationships, which is needed to effectively address the risks posed by climate change.