Sustainable Consumption Practices Research Articles

Sustainable Consumption Practices of Students through Practice-Oriented Approach of Education for Sustainable Development

Sustainable consumption practice is an effective approach to educating the younger generation in how to achieve sustainability in the future in agreement with sustainable development principles. This article aims to examine Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) knowledge and sustainable consumption practices. This study has three areas of focus, namely, (i) to study the difference between ESD knowledge and sustainable consumption practices among genders; (ii) to assess the difference between ESD knowledge and sustainable consumption practices by location; and (iii) to analyse the relationship between the variables of ESD knowledge and sustainable consumption practices. This quantitative study was conducted by using a questionnaire instrument. Two types of sampling techniques have been used, namely stratified sampling technique for the selection of schools and random sampling technique to select respondents at the selected schools. This study finds that ESD knowledge among male and female students differs, while sustainable consumption practices are the same in both genders. Next, in terms of sustainable consumption practices, there are differences between male and female students. Findings in regard to the location show that there is no difference between the school students in urban and rural areas in terms of ESD knowledge, except for the sustainable consumption practices variable, which shows significant mean differences between the groups of students from urban and rural areas. Overall, the students had acquired ESD knowledge and sustainable consumption practices. However, when examining the location of the schools, it turns out that the ESD knowledge of the students is similar but in practice the urban school students are better at implementing it. Thus, all parties, especially the schools, local communities, government agencies and non-governmental organisations can expand sustainability practices towards all levels of age and all school locations.

The impacts of tourism on life quality in the community: Case of Cu Chi, Ho Chi Minh City

This research examines the impact of tourism and local residents support for development of tourism destination in the Cu Chi, Hochiminh City. The study conducts a survey by using a formal questionnaire with participation of 291 residents who are living in Cu Chi, five research hypotheses were proposed. The findings show that the economic impacts of tourism were most favorably behavioral control and socio-cultural factor. Tourism service generates great pressure on local resources, impact on energy consumption, food, and other raw materials requirements that are in shortage and unavailability. Besides that, tourism causes pollution and exhausts environment as any other industries. For long-term strategy of tourist development, tourism must incorporate the principles and practices of sustainable consumption.

The Governance Features of Social Enterprise and Social Network Activities of Collective Food Buying Groups

Collective food buying groups, such as community supported agriculture or self-organised citizen groups for delivery of food baskets, have emerged throughout the world as an important niche innovation for promoting more sustainable agri-food systems. These initiatives seek to bring about societal change. They do so, however, not through protest or interest-based lobbying, but by organising a protected space for learning and experimentation with lifestyle changes for sustainable food consumption and production practices. In particular, they aim to promote social learning on a broad set of sustainability values, beyond a focus on “fresh and healthy food” only, which characterizes many of the individual consumer oriented local food chain initiatives. This paper analyses the governance features of such local food buying groups by comparing 104 groups in five cities in Belgium. We find that the social networking activities of these groups, as compared to the social enterprise activities, have led to establish specific governance mechanisms. Whereas the main focus of the social enterprise activities is the organisation of the food provisioning logistics, the focus of the social network activities is the sharing of resources with other sustainable food initiatives, dissemination of information and broader discussion on sustainability issues.

Inside the sustainable consumption theoretical toolbox: Critical concepts for sustainability, consumption, and marketing

This article provides a foundation for future marketing research on sustainable consumption through the application of three prominent theoretical perspectives of consumer behavior: responsible consumption, anti-consumption, and mindful consumption. This article considers how each perspective can help researchers better understand how consumers can engage in sustainable consumption practices, and develops insights that emerge from the simultaneous examination of multiple theoretical perspectives.

Does shared consumption affect consumers' values, attitudes, and norms? A panel study

Shared consumption is proposed as a comparably sustainable consumption practice. However, little is known about effects of shared consumption on individuals. We build on the theory of planned behavior and the value-belief-norm theory using cross-lagged structural equation modeling based on a two-wave panel study with 168 consumers to examine the effects a shared consumption pattern has on consumers' values, attitudes, and norms. Our structural model explains a medium to large amount of variance in self-reported shared consumption. We find shared consumption has statistically significant positive cross-lagged effects on future altruistic values, attitudes, subjective norms, and personal norms. However, no statistically significant effects of shared consumption are found on consumers' future biospheric and egoistic values. Thus, the more consumers engaged in shared consumption, the more concerned they were for others, while it did not affect their concern for the environment or themselves. Theoretical and practical implications of our results are discussed.

Values influencing sustainable consumption behaviour: Exploring the contextual relationship

The purpose of this paper is to develop and test a theoretical model that explains that the influence of personal values on sustainable consumption behaviour is moderated by the cultural and consumption context in which the relationship is studied. Data is collected using survey questionnaires, conducted both online and offline, with diverse set of population and total 526 responses are used for assessing validity and reliability by applying PLS based structural equation modelling. The paper identifies fresh set of value dimensions that drive sustainable consumption practices. It is further seen that attitude is more likely to moderate the relationship for internally oriented values than externally oriented values. Thus, the paper significantly extends the previous research on the relationship between values and sustainable consumption behaviour. The findings of this paper have significant contributions for practitioners who wish to sell sustainable products in different cultural contexts.

IMPACT OF DEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES FOR PURCHASE OF GREEN PRODUCTS

As the concern for the environment is increasing day-by-day, a shift in consumption pattern can be witnessed among consumers. They are following sustainable consumption practice. The consumers are demanding the products which are pro-environmental in product production process, consumption process, communication process as well as disposable process. The manufacturers have also responded to the demands of consumers. The concept of the green marketing is evolving over a period of time in India and manufacturers are following green practices to make their product greener. The current study has focused on understanding the impact of demographic variables (gender, age, income, and education) on purchase of the green products among Indian consumers. The research methodology followed a survey method to collect data from 509 respondents from Delhi-NCR. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Multianalysis of Variance (MANOVA) was conducted to test the hypotheses and results were interpreted. Limitation of the study was discussed and future research scope was discussed.

Preferences on transformable dresses for sustainability

Purpose The purpose of this research is to investigate users’ expectations and preferences for transformable design functions of transformable party dresses to extend the life cycle of the clothing. With transformable design elements added to a party dress, a user can wear her one-event dress more than once, encouraging sustainable consumption. Rather than looking for a new dress, users can wear their party dress with one or even several new looks. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected through purposive sampling from female college students who had purchased at least one party dress. The survey questionnaire was self-developed based on the literature review and consisted of items that measured fashion behavior in relation to party dresses; shopping orientations, focusing on confident/appearance and fashion-consciousness, economic/price consciousness and convenience/time-consciousness; perceived importance of design and functional elements in party dresses; perceived reasons for the limited use of party dresses; perceived importance of design elements of transformable dresses; purchase intention for transformable dresses; and demographic characteristics. Findings As consumer groups of diverse shopping orientations demonstrated purchase intentions for transformable party dresses, transformable features may become an important component of party dresses. Considering the main reasons for users’ limited use of party dresses, designers need to improve the versatility of the dresses’ design and functional elements, focusing on style and occasion, dress length, size/fit, silhouette and color/pattern, so that users can wear their party dresses more than once and ultimately enhance their sustainable apparel consumption practices. Originality/value The findings regarding users’ expectations and preferences for transformable party dresses can help apparel designers and fashion businesses understand potential users when developing transformable dresses and develop strategies to help with sustainable apparel consumption.

Sustainable Consumption: Sacrificing for the Future

The present paper attempts to shed some light on the sustainable view of consumption. Particularly, this paper seeks to answer the following questions: (i) How does sustainable consumption vary from the conventional view of consumerism? (ii) What are the dictates regarding sustainable consumption? and (iii) What are the barriers to embrace sustainable consumption practices? Relevant literature is critically reviewed to answer the research questions. It is found that conventional view of consumerism greatly varies from sustainable consumption in five aspects: (i) focus, (ii) orientation, (iii) types of needs and wants to be fulfilled, (iv) compatibility with religious views, and (v) characteristics. Review of literature also suggests that there are five basic ordains of sustainable consumption, which include: (i) conscious attempts to meet basic needs, (ii) moderation in expenditure, (iii) focus on quality life rather than materialism, (iv) care for future generation, and (v) care for environmental consequences. Lastly, the possible reasons for the shortfall of present day consumers are also highlighted. The present paper contributes to the knowledge by discussing consumption phenomenon from sustainability perspective and by clearly distinguishing this view of consumption from traditional view of consumption. Furthermore, pointing on the necessity of sustainable consumption, the present research calls for more research to consider sustainability standards in order to promote sustainable consumption practices.

Elite and ethical: The defensive distinctions of middle-class bicycling in Bangalore, India

This article applies social practice theory to study the emergence of sustainable consumption practices like bicycling among the new middle classes of Bangalore, India. I argue that expansions of bicycling practices are dependent on the construction of defensive distinctions, which I define as distinctions that draw equally on lifestyle-based and ethics-based discourses to normalize bicycling among Bangalore’s middle classes. With their environmental discourses and signage, middle-class cyclists make claims to being ethical actors and ecological citizens concerned about global environments. Their high-end bicycles and special gear enable them to maintain their social status in personal and professional circles, despite adopting what is an essentialized and stigmatized mobility practice in a social context where personal automobiles are a dominant symbol of respectability and propertied citizenship. These defensive distinctions are anchored in communities that facilitate social learning, skill-building, and the creation of collective identities. I highlight the importance of considering the role of ethical discourses in consolidating “low-status” social practices among “high-status” class fractions and discuss the implications of promoting sustainable consumption through the othering of the poor. By applying a social practice analytic to study middle-class bicycling practices, this article makes a significant contribution to the growing literature that investigates the applicability of practice-based approaches to environmental behaviors and sustainable consumption in a novel context.

Small is green? Urban form and sustainable consumption in selected OECD metropolitan areas

This article examines the relationship between urban form and sustainable consumption practices across selected OECD metropolitan areas. Using resources available from the OECD database and the International Social Survey Programme, the research identifies factors associated with the stated frequency of making efforts to adopt a sustainable lifestyle across the selected areas. Results confirm that everyday sustainability practice is a function of personal factors, i.e. the socio-economic characteristics of the individuals and environmental concern, whereas the impacts of contextual factors related to urban form are modest. Residents living in compact developments are not more likely to drive less or reduce energy consumption as a means to mitigate their environmental impacts. The article discusses the implications for spatial planning and policy-making in terms of the primary effects of the built environment on sustainable consumption and the tension between urban density and greenspace provision.

Urban public transport companies and strategies to promote sustainable consumption practices

Development policy adopted by governments and companies increasingly pays attention to issues of sustainability. One dominant strategy emphasizes behavioural change vis-a-vis technological innovation. However, often attempts at changing individual and collective behaviour is ineffective. One of the main reasons for this failure is that policy makers do not consider the gap between values and practices. We propose to address this gap by using theories of practice, which give centrality to reflexivity in the analysis of practices and have long been applied in research on environmental behaviours. We will use the example of the transport sector, which has long been a major contributor to climate change and technological improvements have not been enough to make up for the growth of impacts. Focusing on the role of a transport company in promoting sustainability through behavioural change, the main goal of this article is to analyse transport practices from the supplier's perspective. Choices made by transport companies towards ‘green’ technologies are strongly limited by available economic resources, by the public policies and by the fuel market. Results also reinforce the idea that the economic dimension constrains the strategies to reduce environmental impacts.

Promoting sustainable consumption in China: a conceptual framework and research review

Various theories and approaches have been introduced in the debate on how to address sustainable consumption. In this study, we first discuss different theoretical perspectives on sustainable consumption, particularly developed in the fields of economics, social psychology and environmental sociology. We argue that neither an ‘individualist’ nor a system- or structural perspective alone is sufficient for understanding and analysing the transition towards sustainable consumption. Therefore, we propose to apply the Social Practices Approach (SPA) that combines both human agency and social structures to understand sustainable consumption issues. Following the SPA framework, we review and summarize research on sustainable consumption in China in particular on three consumption fields: food, housing energy and mobility. It is found that introducing more efficient production technology is commonly taken as the focal point in these sectors when sustainable consumption was introduced to China. Despite a rising interest in consumers' perceptions of products' sustainability in recent years, research has rarely paid any attention to consumers' behavioural change or to the transition dynamics towards sustainable consumption. In general, ‘individualist’ perspectives have largely dominated Chinese sustainable consumption research. This paper proposes to move attention to a better understanding of Chinese consumption issues by emphasizing the link between the provision of sustainable products and the diverse sustainable consumption practices. Also, images of food, energy, mobility and other consumption products that are undergoing transitions need to be considered in future research as these have consequences for socio-technical changes, material infrastructures and for ‘lifestyle’ innovations.

Sustainable consumption through social innovation: a typology of innovations for sustainable consumption practices

Social innovations are often assumed to have high potential for promoting sustainable development and transformation towards more sustainable consumption practices. Meanwhile, the spectrum of social phenomena that are labelled as socially innovative is quite diverse and heterogeneous, ranging from urban gardening projects to swapping and sharing platforms to Do-It-Yourself workshops. This article describes a research project where sixty-two cases of potential social innovations for sustainable consumption were analysed, based on a process model combining innovation and practice theory. Thorough document and case analyses revealed five distinguishable types of innovation: Do-It-Together, Strategic Consumption, Sharing Communities, Do-It-Yourself and Utility-enhancing Consumption. These are mainly characterised by differences along four dimensions – innovativeness, formality, communality and personal engagement – each of which is connected to potential problems and advantages in the process of initiation and stabilisation of innovative practices. Based on this typology, type-specific measures to overcome problems and strengthen advantages are presented which help practitioners in politics, administration, associations and foundations to support social innovations for sustainable consumption. For sustainability science the typology can add to a more thorough understanding of the multi-faceted field of social innovation for sustainable consumption. Thereby the study takes up theoretical and practical desiderata stressed by other authors in this field. However, we agree with other authors that further research is necessary to assess the ecological, social and economic impacts of social innovations for sustainable consumption.

What time to adapt? The role of discretionary time in sustaining the climate change value–action gap

The considerable gap between the individuals level of concern about climate change and the degree to which they act on these concerns is a major impediment to achieving more sustainable consumption patterns. We empirically investigate how the amount of discretionary time that individuals have at their disposal influences both what type of sustainable consumption practices they adopt and the size of this value–action gap. We contend that discretionary time has a twofold effect. Given fixed preferences, time-poor individuals tend to satisfy their preferences by adopting sustainable consumption practices that require relatively less time. Moreover, a lack of discretionary time also inhibits agents from developing preferences that actually reflect their underlying environmental concerns. Our findings support both of these hypotheses and suggest that increasing discretionary time is associated with significant reductions in the value–action gap. This suggest that policies which increase discretionary time, such as measures to improve the work–life balance, may thus help in fostering the emergence of pro-environmental preferences among consumers in the long run.

A Study on the Perception and Impact of Sustainable Green Consumption Practices of Women in Preserving Ecology with Special Reference to Chennai City

Environmental concerns are gaining prominence with the increased media coverage, increased awareness of environmental issues and increased pressure from environmental groups, stringent legislation thereby making people in general more concerned about their habits and the effect that it will have on the environment. In this study a new dimension is added to the issue of women and ecology and it tries to tap the inner potential of women who in their own way over the centuries have been preserving and conserving nature in their small way and create a reawakening in them that every decision they make for themselves and their family can take them closer to creating a positive impact on the mission to save earth. People are increasingly either purchasing or ignoring products, based on their environmental impact. Many organizations have responded to these changing consumer preferences through the introduction of green products. This study is an effort to impart sustainable practices, and create green consumers, one who is mindful of the environment in their every consumption, and thereby transform the community into a sustainable community i.e. a community that believes today's growth must not be achieved at tomorrow's expense.

Consumo sostenible y marketing social en la educación ambiental de jóvenes universitarios

El consumo de mercancías no es un tema novedoso; la manera en que se está educando hacia construir una conciencia de consumo, donde se centra la innovación de las propuestas del ya avanzado siglo XXI. Es tarea de las universidades implementar no sólo tendencias administrativas sobre el uso, consumo y desecho de residuos, sino intervenir de manera proactiva en las acciones y tácticas que logren establecer estrategias para la generación de recursos humanos capaces de discernir entre un consumo consciente y controlado y aquel que pueda llevar a un caos no sólo ambiental, sino social. La comprensión y práctica del consumo sostenible es quehacer del marketing social que se está logrando incluir dentro de los esfuerzos en educación ambiental que se llevan a cabo en México hacia una conducta transformadora que beneficie de manera global a la sociedad.

Adolescents' sustainability concerns and reasons for not consuming sustainably

AbstractMany consumers report being concerned about sustainability but they do not necessarily consume in a sustainable manner. Understanding why this occurs is vital to encouraging sustainable consumption practices. Understanding the phenomenon in relation to adolescents is particularly important. In addition to being a significant segment of current consumers, adolescents are learning consumption habits and preferences that they will carry into adulthood. This research contributes to the domain by fulfilling two research objectives. The first objective was to develop and use a scale for measuring adolescents' sustainability concerns (ASC). The second objective was to identify and examine adolescents' reasons for not consuming sustainably. The research used a three‐stage multi‐method design that included small group interviews and two online surveys with adolescents aged 12 to 17 years. The ASC scale that we produced identifies 14 key sustainability concerns across the dimensions of environment, well‐being and society. The reasons for not consuming sustainably varied across these dimensions. For example, the most frequently reported reasons in the environmental dimension included cost and convenience whereas peer pressure and hedonic preferences were the dominant reasons for well‐being. More broadly, three groups of reasons for unsustainable consumption emerged. These included (i) limited application of sustainability concerns across consumption; (ii) deviating from concerns due to competing priorities; and (iii) limiting or eliminating personal responsibility. The contributions of this research have theoretical, methodological and practical implications for consumer researchers, social marketers and policy makers.

‘Nobody cares about the environment’: Kyrgyz' perspectives on enhancing environmental sustainable consumption practices when facing limited sustainability awareness

AbstractWithin Western societies, the detrimental consequences of mass consumption on the environment have long been identified. Consumers have developed sustainability consciousness in accordance with research and policies. In non‐Western societies, however, experiences with mass consumption have not been so long standing. Furthermore, the extent of mass consumerism is not as wide ranging as in many of the richer countries in the world. In central Asian countries, a soviet history adds to this the concept of resource depletion and sustainability impacting industrialization as an ideological taboo. Currently, central Asian countries such as Kyrgyzstan are embarking on enacting sustainability policies. Kyrgyz consumers are also developing sustainability awareness. This awareness sometimes leads to either new practices or changes in existing practices. However, consumption practices are too complex to assume that only consciousness will lead to increasingly sustainable practices. Furthermore, there is no control over the content of such awareness. The case of emergent sustainable consumption in Kyrgyzstan demonstrates how sustainability values become integrated with locally existing knowledge, meanings and material circumstances. The intent of this study is to investigate how Kyrgyz consumers perceive sustainable consumption and whether and how they integrate sustainability awareness into practices and with other values. Our data consist of 50 structured interviews that were conducted during the summer of 2013 in the Kyrgyz capital of Bishkek. Closed questions were analysed employing descriptive statistics, whereas a qualitative content analysis was applied to the results of open questions. The results provide an insight into the way in which emerging sustainability awareness is able to develop and how such awareness becomes integrated into existing practices and values.

Status consciousness and knowledge as potential impediments of households' sustainable consumption practices of fresh produce amidst times of climate change

AbstractClimate change is an issue recognized not only by developed countries but also emerging economies such as South Africa (SA). With the number one trend for 2014, ‘limiting food waste’ is proclaimed key in curbing climate change. In SA, 31% of food, mostly fresh produce, is wasted annually notwithstanding that more sustainable consumption of this commodity could address local food security and combat the global challenge of climate change. The purpose of this study was to produce evidence that an improvement of SA consumers' level of knowledge of climate change and subsequent consumption practices in this basic product category has great potential to mitigate climate change. A self‐completion survey was used to collect data from 560 Tshwane households (a major urban area in SA). Among other issues relating to climate change and irresponsible consumer behaviour, the survey also addressed the pertinent influence of consumer knowledge (tacit and explicit) and personal values such as status consciousness during respondents' fresh produce consumption. Findings confirmed the influence of status consciousness when purchasing fresh produce among young consumers. This is alarming if one considers this groups' role in future endeavours. In terms of consumers' knowledge, evidence suggests that much can still be done to educate all consumers not only about climate change per se but also about possible avenues that could be utilized to amend unsustainable consumption. Although findings conclusively confirmed that consumers fail to comprehend the implication of their unrealistic demands on retail, it was also evident that the mitigation of unsustainable behaviour could benefit from more support from retail and government.