Increasing Consumer Awareness Research Articles

Analisis Penerapan Sistem Manajemen Mutu ISO 9001:2015 Terhadap Kinerja Operasional Perusahaan

In the era of global competition, the quality of products owned by companies needs to be evaluated because of an increase in consumer awareness of the quality of products produced by companies. Currently, the ISO 9001:2015 standard has been used by many organizations ranging from small, medium to large all over the world. Several empirical literature studies that have been carried out explain the importance of quality management standards in optimizing continuous improvement of the company's operational performance, where the aim is to meet the needs and expectations of customers in the market. Although the ISO 9001: 2015 standard is useful for companies, there is no agreement between practitioners and scholars whether the ISO 9001: 2015 standard makes it possible to improve the company's operational performance. Therefore, this research is aimed at reviewing and testing a hypothesis, namely the relationship between ISO 9001:2015 quality standards and different perspectives on company operational performance in order to find out the role of ISO 9001:2015 standards in increasing a company's operational performance. This research was conducted in order to be able to identify and observe empirical literature studies that are relevant to the present. The results of the empirical studies that have been conducted found that ISO 9001:2015 has a significant influence on internal business processes, has a positive correlation with indicators of innovation and learning at a significant level and ISO 9001:2015 standards are recommended so that they can be used in improving the company's operational performance.

Evaluation of the qualitative properties and consumer perception of marinated sardine Sardina pilchardus: The effect of fucoxanthin addition

With the increasing consumer awareness and demand for healthy food and natural ingredients; there is an urgent need to develop and propose innovative products to industry. In this study, the combined effect of various time of pre-incubation (30, 60 and 90 min) in vinegar and the addition of fucoxanthin (Fux) extracted from the brown alga Dictyopteris polypodiodes to the covering oil of sardine fillets was investigated during 3 months of refrigerated storage at 4°C. Compared to fresh sardines, biogenic amines (Bas) decreased significantly in all marinated lots (histamine <0.07 mg/100 g, cadaverine <0.0 mg/100 g) and remained far below the regulatory limit up to the end of storage indicating the inhibition of specific bacteria producing amines. This was confirmed by the psychrophilic bacteria count which remained low (<1 log CFU/g) in all marinated lots. The antioxidant effect of fucoxanthin was reflected by the significantly higher contents of polyunsaturated fatty acids and the lower levels of thiobarbituric acid (5.50 ± 0.24 mg MDA/kg) in the fucoxanthin-marinated sardine especially toward the end of storage. Among the six tested lots, and based on acceptance test, consumer identified the 60min-fucoxanthin-lot as the preferred product. Principal compound analysis allowed the distinction between lots treated with/without fucoxanthin during refrigerated storage indicating its clear preservative effect.

Fresh vegetables and fruit as a source of Salmonella bacteria.

Increased consumer awareness of the health aspects of the diet has influenced the increased consumption of fruit and vegetables. Due to the fact that these products are mainly consumed raw and are usually not subjected to processes that reduce their microbiological contamination, they become a source of infection and transmit pathogens causing food poisoning in humans. Salmonella bacteria are a serious treat to human health and remain a serious problem in many parts of the world. The aim of this study was to review the current state of knowledge regarding the prevalence of Salmonella bacteria on fresh fruit and vegetables. Attention is also given to the mechanisms by which these bacteria adapt to colonize plants. Methods that can prevent contamination of plant products by the bacteria are also analyzed. The review was based on data obtained from scientific articles published in the Science Direct and Pub Med database between 2007 - 2022, found with the use of the following keywords: Salmonella, fruit, vegetables, food contamination. Data from the literature report that fresh fruit and vegetables are a source of Salmonella contamination through contact with soil, manure, compost, water or staff. Actions targeting salmonellosis prevention should be undertaken by both the public and private sectors. Government regulations and stricter measures put in place can provide a framework that guides both domestic production and international imports. Periodic training of workers dealing with food is also important. Attention should be directed mainly to production control and less to the testing of final products. Education leading to increased awareness of salmonellosis should be indispensable.

Fabricating a Sanitary Napkin Performance Tester

ABSTRACT With more and more research happening in the various dimensions of all the sanitary napkin components, various sanitary napkins are available in the market with enhanced functionalities. The increasing consumer awareness on eco-friendliness and the demanding expectations on disposable products to maintain a healthy environment have been the driving forces to initiate the research on improving the eco-friendliness of disposable hygienic product and producing low-cost sanitary napkins. The reasons for non-penetration of sanitary napkins in all strata of Indian markets are mainly due to financial non-affordability, lack of awareness about health, and hygiene etc. The efforts by the Government in the form of creating awareness and offering subsidiaries and supplying raw materials at low cost, low cost sanitary napkins are now available in the market. All these efforts will together guarantee the low cost of the sanitary napkin but still the quality is not ensured, the main reason for this is the higher cost of the testing apparatus. This project focuses on fabricating an economic and indigenous instrument for the accurate evaluation of selected performance properties of sanitary napkin. Varieties of sanitary napkins have been tested in this fabricated performance tester (SANPER tester) and analyzed.

A Preference Analysis for a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Electricity Trading Platform in South Korea

The Korean government is committed to advance the country’s energy transition to greener energy by increasing the share of renewable electricity to 20 percent by 2030 and to 30–35 percent by 2040. Achieving these goals will necessitate flexibility in energy markets as well as innovative business models and technological solutions. Peer-to-peer (P2P) electricity trading platforms (ETPs) are rapidly gaining traction, as they enable the integration of distributed energy sources into power systems. This study explores whether South Koreans are willing to participate in a hypothetical P2P ETP, which allows prosumers (who both consume and produce electricity) to trade electricity surpluses with their neighbours or with KEPCO (Korea Electric Power Corporation). We employ a choice experiment (CE) to examine respondent heterogeneous preferences and their willingness to pay (WTP) for a hypothetical P2P ETP in South Korea. Our findings indicate that two-thirds of total respondents in our CE are in favour of a P2P ETP if available. Cost savings and security play an essential role in respondent preferences for a P2P ETP business model. Respondents also prefer to trade renewable electricity with KEPCO rather than with other individuals. Per our statistical estimations, respondent WTP for a P2P ETP was estimated at USD 55.68/per month. Our analysis strongly recommends increasing consumer awareness of P2P ETPs to spur adoption. Energy trading platforms that are anchored in secure block chain technology can generate cost savings as well as support the country’s policy tilt toward green energy.

Pricing Policies of Green Dual-Channel Supply Chain with Fairness Concerns and Altruistic Preferences Based on Consumers' Environmental Awareness and Channel Preference.

Taking into consideration fairness concerns and altruistic preferences of manufacturers, this paper aims to propose a green dual-channel supply chain that incorporates consumers’ environmental awareness (CEA) and channel preference. The purpose of this work is to explore and further compare the optimal outcomes in a green dual-channel supply chain in three scenarios, which are the fairness-neutrality scenario (Model N), the manufacturer is concerned with fairness scenario (Model F), and the manufacturer has altruistic preference (Model A), respectively. The game-theoretical models with different fairness preferences, comparative, and numerical analyses are used to put forward the impacts of consumers’ channel preference and CEA on pricing, profits, and utilities, and to identify the differences in decisional outcomes between the three models. The results indicate that CEA always contributes to developing the green market while adversely affecting common products. Moreover, consumers’ channel preferences might enable the manufacturer and retailer to enhance profitability under certain conditions. The findings also reveal that manufacturer’s fairness concerns can possibly increase the demand for green products but impair the overall performance of the supply chain in general. Moreover, while the manufacturer’s altruistic preference benefits the retailer’s profits, it has a detrimental effect on the performance of the green supply chain. The practical implications of this research come to promote green consumption and increasing consumer awareness of environmental protection are effective ways to develop a green supply chain. It is also important to note that in order to maintain the durability and stability of the sup-ply chain, the manufacturer must maintain a moderate level of fairness preference behaviors so that downstream retailers will remain enthusiastic about establishing long-term relationships.

Water Footprint Assessment of Green and Traditional Cultivation of Crops in the Huang-Huai-Hai Farming Region

With the increasing consumer awareness and knowledge about safe and healthy food, it is imperative to develop ‘green’ crops with reduced fertilizer application for quality food production, environmental protection and sustainable agricultural development. This study systematically evaluated and compared the water footprint (WF) including WFblue, WFgreen and WFgrey of eight crops including wheat, maize, rice, sweet potato, soybean, millet, mung bean and sorghum under green and traditional cultivation in the Huang-Huai-Hai farming region. The data came from 252 onsite questionnaires conducted in 2018 for land under green and traditional cultivation by 19 green planting companies and farming cooperatives with green food production certification authorized by the government of China. The results revealed that, compared to traditional cultivation, green cultivation under reduced N fertilizer application (1) decreased crop yields by 3–13%; (2) reduced the average WFtotal by 29% to 1168 m3 t−1 and average WFgrey by 57% to 419 m3 t−1 with no significant differences in WFblue and WFgreen; (3) decreased the WFtotal of maize by 55%, rice by 41%, wheat by 27%, mung bean by 31%, sorghum by 24%, sweet potato by 19%, millet by 17% and soybean by 17%. The WFgrey proportion of WFtotal under green cultivation ranged from 27–57% and contributed the most to the decline in WFtotal. This study offers insight into the impact of green cultivation on water requirements and pollution relative to traditional cultivation. Precision N fertilizer application and improved N use efficiencies on-farm are important pathways to sustainable agricultural development.

Green Campaign of Food Waste Handling: Communicating the Food Sustainability

Several cities in Southeast Asia are dealing with a variety of issues related to food waste management. The rapid growth of fast food retail in Jakarta, Manila, and Bangkok has resulted in a high level of food waste. This food waste, if not properly processed, will be harmful not only to individual health but also to the environment. Food waste management, which is primarily the responsibility of retail companies, requires the use of effective strategies and tactics. Some of the tactics that can be used include increasing consumer awareness, changing the behaviours of corporate agents, and adjusting stores and items. Another strategic approach is to lobby the government to enforce food waste management regulations. The purpose of this study is to determine which communication channels are effective in communicating the dangers and environmental awareness of the impact of food waste, based on public perception in the Southeast Asian community. How do Southeast Asians handle food waste, manage food waste, and become aware of the dangers of food waste? This study employs a quantitative approach, with questionnaires distributed at random via Google Form to 400 respondents, including 198 Indonesians, 105 Filipinos, 73 Thais, and 24 Singaporeans. According to the study’s findings, the majority of respondents were aware of the food waste problem and took measures to address it effectively. The remaining respondents were already aware of the dangers posed by food waste, but chose to disregard the gravity of the situation. Some respondents, however, are completely unaware of their food waste. Another finding is that Singaporeans have the highest level of awareness in Southeast Asia, with more than 65 percent of Singaporeans aware of the environmental dangers posed by food waste.

Effects of information provision on public attitudes toward bioplastics in Japan

Bioplastics (i.e., bio-based and biodegradable plastics) are attracting attention as a sustainable alternative to conventional fossil-based plastics. However, their use in Japan, the fifth-highest per capita disposal of single-use plastics, has not become as widespread as planned by the Japanese government, and an increase in consumer awareness is necessary to promote the use of bioplastics and increase the demand for sustainable products. In addition, to promote social implementation, it is also necessary to understand the difference between bio-based and biodegradable plastics and use them correctly. Through an online questionnaire survey, this study found that the Japanese public's knowledge of bioplastics was low: there was a major difference between subjective and objective knowledge, but their perception of bioplastics was more positive than that of conventional plastics. However, they had little experience in using bioplastics. Therefore, we investigated whether providing information would promote the intent to use bioplastics. As a result, information provision is likely to be effective in increasing the willingness to use bioplastics in addition to promoting positive perceptions. The participants indicated a significantly greater willingness to pay a higher price for single-use plastics (such as a 500 ml bottle of water), but not for durable plastics (such as a three-color ballpoint pen).

Determination of Curcuminoids, Piperine, Boswellic Acids and Andrographolides in Food and Dietary Supplements by HPLC.

As use of functional food and herbal combination products is ever increasing, methods for quality control of such preparations are necessary. Moreover, low quality of products can cause either lack of benefit or harm to the consumer. In this work, determination of three curcuminoids, piperine, six boswellic acids and three andrographolides, often used in combination products, was carried out in raw materials and dietary supplements. After extraction optimization using Box-Behnken design, maximum active substance yields were obtained using 81.5% ethanol in hydroethanolic extraction solvent, 30 min sonication time and 60 °C extraction temperature. Afterwards, a high-performance liquid chromatography method was developed and validated, with special attention paid to selectivity, precision and robustness of the method. Lastly, 54 food and dietary supplement samples were analyzed. Most products were bought locally, from credible vendors and they all complied with relevant regulatory requirements. However, products obtained on the Internet contained little to no active substances (24% of samples contained less than 20% declared content), presumably showing no efficacy, or were either found to be likely adulterated or contained very high amounts of active substances, compromising safety in terms of dose-dependent adverse effects (one sample containing andrographolides) and pharmacokinetic interactions (one sample containing piperine). In conclusion, consumers should refrain from purchasing such products from the Internet and obtain them only from verified suppliers such as local pharmacies or health stores. This work demonstrates the first developed method for the analysis of aforementioned combination products, which are on the rise today. The method is simple and robust and can be adapted by most laboratories for routine quality control of the said products. Moreover, the work sheds light on the low quality of several products and signifies the need for increased consumer awareness of dangers of taking such products.

Android-Based Protrainer Application Development to Support Personal Trainer Services

Changes in communication technology, the development of education and people's income have increased consumer awareness to get good service. Personal trainer services that suit consumers' wishes are the main thing to attract consumers to use personal trainer services. The purpose of this research is to produce an android-based protrainer application to support personal trainer services. This research is a research and development research and development (R&amp;D). The research data that have been collected are then processed and analyzed by qualitative and quantitative descriptive analysis. The product resulting from this research is an android-based protriner application that has been developed with the need to improve personal trainer services. Based on the validation process carried out by experts who have assessed the android-based protrainer application product to improve personal trainer services from the usability aspect, information aspect, and appearance aspect, it is very feasible. The validation of media experts that have been developed based on aspects of media usability, aspects of media information, and aspects of media appearance is very feasible. Based on the effectiveness test, which was measured by assessing consumer satisfaction factors from tangibles, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, empathy to personal trainer services, most of them were in the satisfied category.

Prioritized Attributes on Black Rice Product Development: Kano Model Application

Black rice is a functional food that contributes to its increasing of popular for consumption and the increasing consumer awareness of health. However, the quality of black rice products still needs to be improved to meet consumer needs. This research was conducted to determine how black rice consumers voice the attributes of black rice products circulating in the market and what priorities need to be made to develop black rice products. The research data was collected through a survey of 50 black rice consumers. The survey was conducted using a questionnaire prepared according to the Kano Model. Data analysis was carried out using the Kano Model, which was developed with the preparation of the House of Quality to determine the priorities that need to be carried out in developing black rice. The results show that the attributes of black rice are divided into two categories: attractive and indifferent. Attributes included in the attractive category are organic black rice, vacuum packaging, nutritional values , and cooking methods on the packaging. Other attributes fall into the indifferent category. Product development priorities focus on attributes that are in the attractive category. The priority for developing black rice products is planting with organic and certified methods, vacuum packaging, new packaging designs that include nutritional values , and cooking methods.

Cantaloupe -A Food safety concern: Mini-Review

Historically, the United States has positioned itself as one of the leading producers and consumers of melons in the world with a 2020 production value of over $295 million (excluding watermelons). It has been estimated that on average the per capita consumption of melons in the U.S. is about 24 pounds each year [1]. Increased consumer awareness of healthy diets, sensory attributes of melons, enhanced year-round availability, marketing techniques and improved cultivars contribute to explaining the higher demand for melon consumption [2].

Circular bioeconomy for olive oil waste and by-product valorisation: Actors’ strategies and conditions in the Mediterranean area

The circular economy and bioeconomy can contribute to transitioning towards more sustainable production and consumption in the olive oil sector. This article is the first to analyse multi-actor strategies and multi-level socio-economic conditions for olive oil waste and by-product valorisation in the Mediterranean area using circular bioeconomy principles. Government policies, the strategies of corporations and farmers and consumers’ perceptions are discussed, and various methods are applied, such as desk reviews, case studies and quantitative and qualitative surveys. The findings show strong aspirations for improved sustainability in the olive industry. Furthermore, waste and by-product valorisation strategies foster the creation of innovative practices. However, a common regulatory framework, public financial measures, new circular business models using innovative technologies, multi-actor collaboration and increased consumer awareness of the circular economy and new olive oil waste-based products are necessary for more efficient and sustainable use of olive resources. The policy and management recommendations presented in this study may aid in improving and innovating frameworks and practices for better sustainable management of valuable olive resources.

Consumer-driven strategies towards a resilient and sustainable food system following the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic and associated public health restrictions temporarily disrupted food supply chains around the world and changed the way people shopped for food, highlighting issues with food systems resilience and sustainability. The aim of this study was to explore consumer-driven strategies towards a more resilient and sustainable food system in Australia, learning from experiences during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodsDuring May–June 2020, a cross-sectional, online survey was conducted in Tasmania, Australia in a non-random sample of adults aged 18 years and over. The survey collected demographic data and posted the open-ended question: “How could Tasmania’s food system be better prepared for a disaster in the future?” Descriptive statistics were used to analyse the demographic data and thematic analysis was employed to analyse the qualitative data.ResultsSurvey respondents (n = 698) were predominantly female (79%), over 55 years of age (48%), university educated (70%) and living with dependents (45%). Seven key themes were identified: (i) balance food exports with local needs; (ii) strengthen local food systems; (iii) increase consumer awareness of food supply chains; (iv) build collaboration and connection in the food system; (v) embed clear contingency arrangements; (vi) support community capacity building and individual self-sufficiency; and (vii) the food system coped well.ConclusionsThe consumer-driven strategies identified indicate multiple opportunities to increase resilience and sustainability in the food system to avoid future supply disruptions. Our findings indicate that considerable popular support for more resilient, local and sustainable food systems may be emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Green Marketing: Reviewing Aspect of Communication Tools

This article explores one of the functions of green marketing is communication that needs to be maintained from the company to consumers. Brand Trust is usually used in reference to a thought that serves as the main determinant of consumer decision-making. The application of green marketing is very important to support brand trust in Indonesian Industrial Properties. In addition, this study aims to identify variables that have a relationship with communication tools on brand trust. Furthermore, a conceptual model has been proposed as well as information collected through a survey of 400 consumer sample sizes, and the AMOS structural equation model (SEM) was used in this investigation. The results showed that of the 6 proposed variables, there were 4 significant variables that supported communication tools, namely advertising, direct marketing, personal selling, and interactive marketing. In particular, in green marketing-related communication tools that promote brand trust, research can contribute to scientific understanding. And it can be a recommendation for business actors who use green marketing to instill brand trust that can increase consumer awareness of the environment.

Metabolic Food Waste as Food Insecurity Factor-Causes and Preventions.

The Metabolic Food Waste MFW (kg of food) first developed in 2016 as a new indicator by Serafini and Toti, indicates the amount of food consumed above the nutritional requirements, and the impact of this overconsumption on the environment. It is necessary to identify the causes and to develop potential methods to prevent and reduce MFW, at the same time as increasing consumer awareness about unsustainable diets and changing diet habits towards more environmentally conscious consumption patterns. This study was conducted by collecting and analysing existing reports and studies regarding nutritional requirements, consumer behaviour related to food consumption and food waste, environmental impacts of food waste, and the concept of Metabolic Food Waste. The process of data collection involved searching the studies available online, using keywords related to the subject of MFW and overconsumption. The references in the initial studies consulted were also analysed in order to further identify new data relevant to overconsumption and MFW. The materials studied and analysed related to the environmental impact of MFW were published by E. Toti and M. Serafini in 2016 and 2019; additionally, in order to understand the causes of overconsumption numerous studies were reviewed regarding consumer behaviour, the relationship between economic development and overconsumption, mental health and dietary habits, physical context and dietary habits, genetic predisposition, also childhood and early adulthood environment. By analysing and corroborating external data available for food waste, nutritional requirements, and the environmental impact of food waste and consumer behaviour, we identified as primary causes for MFW the lack of nutritional education and little understanding of the nutritional requirements amongst all categories of consumers, poor access to appropriate food resources or reduced availability of fresh produced food. We conclude that for the quantification of the negative impact of MFW on both the environment and human health we need decisive action to raise consumer awareness for healthy and sustainable diets, together with a uniform worldwide distribution system for nutritious food.

Multi-Objective Sustainable Closed-Loop Supply Chain Network Design Considering Multiple Products with Different Quality Levels

International laws and increasing consumer awareness have led to drastic changes in traditional supply chain network designs. Moreover, because of environmental and social requirements, traditional supply chain networks have changed to sustainable supply chain networks. On the other hand, reverse logistics can be effective in terms of environmental and economic aspects, so the design of the supply chain network as a closed loop is necessary. In addition, customers have a demand for different products with different quality levels. Considering different types of customers with a variety of consumption trends can be a challenging issue, and is addressed in this study. The main contributions of this research are considering different quality levels for products as well as different tendencies of customers towards environmental issues. In this study, a sustainable closed-loop supply chain model is designed that seeks to balance economic, environmental, and social responsibilities. In this paper, costs and customer demands for different types of products at different quality levels are considered under uncertain conditions using a robust possibilistic programming method. The proposed multi-objective model is solved using the Augmented Epsilon Constraint (AEC) method that provides an efficient set of solutions for all decision-making levels. The results show that the robust possibilistic programming method is more effective in dealing with uncertainties than the possibilistic programming method.

Natural pigment from Monascus: The production and therapeutic significance.

The present review highlights the advantages of using natural colorant over the synthetic one. We have discussed the fermentation parameters that can enhance the productivity of Monascus pigment on agricultural wastes. Food industry is looking for natural colours because these can enhance the esthetic value, attractiveness, and acceptability of food while remaining nontoxic. Many synthetic food colours (Azorubine Carmoisine, quinoline) have been prohibited due to their toxicity and carcinogenicity. Increasing consumer awareness towards the food safety has forced the manufacturing industries to look for suitable alternatives. In addition to safety, natural colorants have been found to have nutritional and therapeutic significance. Among the natural colorants, microbial pigments can be considered as a viable option because of scalability, easier production, no seasonal dependence, cheaper raw materials and easier extraction. Fungi such as Monascus have a long history of safety and therefore can be used for production of biopigments. The present review summarizes the predicted biosynthetic pathways and pigment gene clusters in Monascus purpureus. The challenges faced during the pilot-scale production of Monascus biopigment and taming it by us of low-cost agro-industrial substrates for solid state fermentation has been suggested. Keeping in mind, therapeutic properties of Monascus pigments and their derivatives, they have huge potential for industrial and pharmaceutical application. Though the natural pigments have wide scope in the food industry. However, stabilization of pigment is the greatest challenge and attempts are being made to overcome this by complexion with hydrocolloids or metals and by microencapsulation.

Design and Development of Web-based Commerce for SMEs in East Jakarta

This activity is a “Design and Development of a Web-Commerce-based Strategy for Promotion of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises for SMEs in the East Jakarta Region.” This is motivated by various obstacles experienced by SMEs when they are not sufficiently competitive with competitors in the market. The disruptive era has driven changes in various aspects of life, including market behavior. It is undeniable that business digitization plays a very important role in business activities. For this reason, this program aims to make SMEs especially those in the East Jakarta area able to be competitive through the designed Web-Commerce, which is named lapaksenggol.com. The lapaksenggol.com web-commerce is a promotional media that can be used optimally by SMEs in the East Jakarta area to make it easier to expand market share and get closer to consumers. In addition, in the long term, the existence of lapaksenggol.com Web-Commerce will increase consumer awareness of the existence of SMEs, build networking with other business units, and increase market confidence in SMEs. As a result of the collaboration with the East Jakarta Regional Cooperative, SMEs and Trade Sub-Department, the soft launching of the lapaksenggol.com web-commerce was carried out on June 22, 2021, and the socialization of lapaksenggol.com to SMEs in East Jakarta on August 19, 2021.