Sustainable Behavior Research Articles

They approve but they don't act: promoting sustainable minority behavior with (conflicting) social norm appeals.

Social norm appeals are effective in promoting sustainable majority behavior but could backfire when the target behavior is only performed by a minority of people. However, emphasizing that an increasing number of people have started engaging in the behavior or that the majority approve the behavior might prevent such negative effects. However, only a few studies have investigated the combination of descriptive minority and injunctive majority social norm appeals, with inconsistent results. Some studies of minority behavior suggest that the characteristics of recipients might determine the inconsistent results regarding the impact of minority social norm appeals and that social norm appeals could have a greater impact on individuals with weaker environment related dispositions. Two two-wave studies investigated how descriptive minority appeals, injunctive majority appeals, and their combination can be used to motivate sustainable minority behavior and what role environment related dispositions play in this context. In the first part, perceived social norms, environment related dispositions, behavioral intentions, and pre-attitudes were measured. Two weeks later, respondents participated in a 3 (descriptive social norm appeal: static vs. dynamic vs. absent) × 2 (injunctive majority social norm appeal: present vs. absent) between-subjects experiment and watched an explainer video on voluntary carbon offsets that included various social norm appeals. In both studies, we found that social norm appeals influenced perceived social norms. However, persuasive effects were only observed in the first study, and an injunctive majority appeal increased persuasive outcomes, but there were no differences between the descriptive conditions and no differences in their impact depending on individuals' environment related dispositions in either study. A single exposure may be insufficient to exert persuasive effects and the change in perceived social norms may first need to be internalized. In online explainer videos, the effects of social norm appeals could be amplified by algorithm-based suggestions and when social norm appeals draw attention to norm-conforming content. However, further research is required on the long-term effects and their possible amplification via social media.

Sustainable Behavior with Cultural Heritage: Study on Visitor Awareness

Gabriela Krist (Institute of Conservation) and Marie-Christine Pachler (Institute of Conservation) provide solutions for challenges in seemingly obvious everyday situations in their contribution "Sustainable Behavior with Cultural Heritage: Study on Visitor Awareness". This text provides insights and findings from a study of awareness-raising measures conducted at Schönbrunn palace. This site is particularly popular with tourists and must deal with the wear and damage of displayed objects. As conservators, the authors draw attention to the damage that visitors can cause, and examine different educational measures to improve awareness among tourists and staff members.

Host–Guest Interaction and Sustainable Consumption Behaviour on Sharing-Accommodation Platforms: Using a Big Data Analytic Approach

The rapid expansion of the sharing economy has ignited diverse perspectives regarding its sustainability implications. Nevertheless, a comprehensive study examining the influence of host–guest interactions on sustainable consumption behaviour is yet to be conducted. To fill the abovementioned gap, this research crawls online data and corresponding consumer reviews of 46,360 properties listed on Muniao Short Rent. Employing latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) to model sustainable consumption reviews and conducting subsequent regression analysis using SPSS, this research empirically demonstrates that the host–guest interaction frequencies and positive emotions during interaction positively influence guests’ sustainable consumption behaviours within the sharing-accommodation context. This research proposes the significance of the host–guest relationship for green consumers and argues that factors such as price and house type negatively moderate the host–guest interactions and guests’ sustainable consumption initiatives.

The Effect of Using Anchored Wake Time to Derive 24-h Device Measured Circadian Physical Behavior Patterns.

Tailoring physical activity interventions to individual chronotypes and preferences by time of day could promote more effective and sustainable behavior change; however, our understanding of circadian physical behavior patterns is very limited. To characterize and compare 24-h physical behavior patterns expressed relative to clock time (the standard measurement of time-based on a 24-h day) versus wake-up time in a large British cohort age 46. Data were analyzed from 4979 participants in the age 46 sweep of the 1970 British Cohort Study who had valid activPAL accelerometer data across ≥4 days. Average steps and upright time (time standing plus time stepping) per 30-min interval were determined for weekdays and weekends, both in clock time and synchronized to individual wake-up times. The mean weekday steps were 9588, and the mean weekend steps were 9354. The mean weekday upright time was 6.6 h, and the mean weekend upright time was 6.4 h. When synchronized to wake-up time, steps peaked 1 h after waking on weekdays and 2.5 h after waking on weekends. Upright time peaked immediately, in the first 30-min window, after waking on both weekdays and weekends. Aligning accelerometer data to wake-up times revealed distinct peaks in stepping and upright times shortly after waking. Activity built up more gradually across clock time in the mornings, especially on weekends. Synchronizing against wake-up times highlighted the importance of circadian rhythms and personal schedules in understanding population 24-h physical behavior patterns, and this may have important implications for promoting more effective and sustainable behavior change.

Sustainable Water Use and Public Awareness in Portugal

The degradation of available water quality is a consequence of pollution, environmental degradation, and/or climate change resulting from human activities. Designing strategies to foster the adoption of sustainable behaviors requires an awareness within populations regarding water quality, water availability, and the proper consumption of water. The goal of the present work was to assess the population awareness of sustainable water usage practices. The data collection involved administering a questionnaire to a sample of 1723 participants, encompassing individuals of both genders and aged between 15 and 84 years. The questionnaire includes five specific themes (i.e., water quality, water availability, water resources, water saving, and water reuse). The outcomes indicate that despite a higher awareness of sustainable water usage practices, participants reveal low levels of awareness regarding water reuse. Furthermore, measures of participants’ overall awareness and the potential for improving it are presented. These metrics are crucial in enabling the grouping of participants according to similar characteristics, thereby streamlining the design of targeted interventions.

“I’d like to carry the world sustainably” – examining sustainable consumption behavior using reusable shopping bags

PurposeIn this study, the authors developed a conceptual model to investigate sustainable consumption behavior, specifically the intention to use reusable bags, and its relationship with two crucial factors influencing the use of single-use plastic bags: cost savings and convenience. This study also aims to explore the mediating roles of environmental concern, guilt and self-efficacy.Design/methodology/approachA quantitative study using online survey involving 421 respondents was conducted, and data analysis performed using structural equation modeling.FindingsThe results indicate that self-efficacy influenced environmental concern and sustainable consumption, while perceived savings did not. Perceived convenience significantly influenced sustainable consumption behavior. Environmental concern had indirect effects on the relationships between perceived savings, perceived convenience and sustainable consumption behavior, whereas guilt did not moderate the relationship between environmental concern and sustainable consumption behavior.Originality/valueThe main contribution lies in the insights for promoting the sustainable use of reusable shopping bags, benefiting both theoretical understanding and practical applications in efforts to encourage sustainable consumption behavior.

Mapping Sustainable Marketing Using Bibliometric Analysis

Research on sustainable marketing is mapped using bibliometric analysis, which offers a thorough picture of the field's current condition and future directions. By means of bibliometric analysis using VosViewer and the collection of 1.385 articles, the study indicates a noteworthy increase in publications and citations concerning the subject matter during the last ten years. Several important clusters actively studying Sustainable Marketing, including sustainable consumer behavior, sustainability orientation, consumption patterns, market segmentation, and stakeholder roles, were found through analysis of author collaboration patterns. "Sustainable marketing research" is the core research area, and the bibliometric network visualization displays the essential terms and relationships between concepts. Though less thoroughly, subjects including customer capital, sustainable management, sustainable business, and digital marketing were also covered. This article's bibliometric analysis reveals some intriguing mapping findings. Collaboration in research articles is revealed by the author's analysis. The report also presents the findings from studies on sustainable consumer behavior. The study method on consumer sustainability challenges, including customer capital, spending, and behavior, is outlined by the bibliometric analysis. Bibliometric analysis, thus, offers a mapping of sustainability research, particularly in terms of offering significant insights on specific sustainability challenges like consumer difficulties.

정기적 기부 예측에 관한 연구: 랜덤 포레스트 머신러닝 알고리즘과 로지스틱 회귀분석 비교를 중심으로

정기적 기부 예측에 관한 연구: 랜덤 포레스트 머신러닝 알고리즘과 로지스틱 회귀분석 비교를 중심으로

THE INFLUENCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL ACCOUNTING KNOWLEDGE, ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITY, AND CSR KNOWLEDGE ON ACCOUNTING STUDENTS ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY BEHAVIOR

This study aims to determine how the influence of environmental accounting knowledge (EAK), environmental sensitivity (ES) and corporate social responsibility knowledge (CSR-K) on the pro-environmental behavior of accounting students. Given that accounting has an important role in environmental management and how to implement CSR practices in the face of increasingly crucial environmental issues. Quantitative research approach using multiple linear regression analysis with a sample of accounting students at UTM based on purposive sampling technique. The results showed that EAK has no significant influence on pro-environmental behavior in accounting students. Meanwhile, ES and CSR-K have a significant influence on pro-environmental behavior in accounting students. This shows that environmental accounting knowledge has not been able to encourage sustainable behavior, environmental sensitivity factors and CSR knowledge play an important role in encouraging sustainable behavior. Therefore, it is important to increase environmental awareness, detailed understanding of environmental accounting and CSR in the education curriculum as a provision for students to enter the world of accountants or business.

Assessment of Waste Management Awareness and Practices among Par-ents: A Sequential Explanatory Study

This study explores parents’ awareness and practices on solid waste management. It shows the significance of solid waste segregation for parental involvement and how it influences parents' attitudes and behaviors in a barangay in Magalang, Pampanga. The parents benefit from this study by learning more about the practices and appropriate segregation within their community. In this study, which involved 100 parents, a mixed-method sequential explanatory technique was employed. The results indicate that parents are not aware of the relevant laws about solid waste management and the sources of information about it. In terms of practices, parents are productive at disposing of, reducing, and recycling solid waste, but they don't reuse and segregate the solid waste that much. Overall, the results highlight how crucial proper waste sorting, awareness-building, community involvement, resourcefulness, and sustainability are to improve waste management. Although there are challenges, such as a lack of awareness and inconsistent efforts, recycling and waste removal are mentioned as sources of satisfaction. Parents also emphasize the need for proper segregation, solid waste management regulations, and providing incentives to promote sustainable behaviors in the barangay.

KNOWLEDGE AND ATTITTUDES OF VETERINARY STUDENTS IN SERBIA TOWARD FARM ANIMAL WELFARE

In this study, veterinary students from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade and Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Novi Sad were surveyed to evaluate their knowledge and attitudes toward farm animal welfare. Data were collected from 431 students by survey consisting of 39 closed-ended questions divided into two parts (demographic characteristics and a five-point Likert scale). Results showed that female students, students aged 18 to 21 years, from veterinary high schools, from urban areas, with mixed diets, who own pets, were predominated. Younger students and students from the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University in Belgrade agree significantly higher (p<0.001) that animal welfare is necessary for sustainable agriculture, food safety, biological functioning, emotional state, and natural behavior, as well as zootechnical procedures and rearing systems impairing the welfare of farm animals compared with students of the final year of studies, and from Department of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture in Novi Sad. Female students, and younger students, from urban areas, who own pets, have more concerned attitudes regarding farm animal welfare (p<0.001). The findings of this study confirm that attitudes toward farm animal welfare are not homogeneous and are associated with students’ demographic characteristics. Also, results suggest that more attention should be paid to the curriculum and program to indirectly improve the welfare of farm animals.

Exploring barriers and facilitators to increase the engagement with a digital app (OLIO) for food/non-food sustainable consumption in citizens from Bogotá, Colombia

Engaging in sustainable behaviours is a key priority for environmental sustainability. Behavioural changes such as recycling, and food sharing are needed to achieve a zero-emissions society. Digital technologies can support engagement with these behaviours through publicly accessible digital platforms such as mobile apps which connect those with surplus items to those who need or wish to consume these items. However, very little research has examined the factors influencing engagement with mobile apps, particularly in the context of developing countries. This exploratory sequential mixed methods study used behavioural science models to identify factors influencing engagement with the Olio app, a mobile application for food and non-food items sharing in Bogota, Colombia. Influencing factors were analyzed and categorized as barriers or enablers using the Capability (C), Opportunity (O), and Motivation (M) model of behaviour (B) change (COM-B). Regarding barriers, two were strong influencers “perceived difficulty to use a mobile app” for donating items (physical opportunity, β = -.25, p < .001), and “lack of time to collect a used item in others’ location” (physical opportunity, β = -.18, p < .01). As to the enablers, the strongest predictor for collecting was “finding mobile apps to share used items to be widely disseminated on social media channels” (physical opportunity, β = .27, p < .001) and for donating “Knowing how to use mobile apps” (psychological capability, β = .19, p < .01). Findings are discussed along with implementation strategies that could potentially increase engagement with the Olio app to support sustainable consumption.

A model of sustainable entrepreneurial behavior

A model of sustainable entrepreneurial behavior

How the norm activation model explains the individuals’ response to Tradable Credit Schemes and reducing car use

This study explores how individuals respond to the Tradable Credits Scheme (TCS), a cap-and-trade approach aiming to reduce congestion, by introducing the norm activation model (NAM). The research utilized questionnaire data from 544 Chinese participants. First, we analyzed the credit proportion thresholds for shifting travel mode and the distribution of participants corresponding to five thresholds. Second, we developed the latent and explicit variable model, revealing that NAM could explain acceptability of TCS, with personal norms being crucial; specifically, personal norms could positively predict perceived effectiveness, attitude towards TCS, and behavior intention. Finally, we performed a moderated-mediation analysis, for which the findings suggested TCS's potential in promoting sustainable travel, with driving licenses and the frequency of weekly trips as significant behavior moderators. People with driving licenses and having less travels per week would be more likely to intensify their behavior intention by enhancing their recognition on TCS. This work contributes to understanding TCS as an innovative congestion policy and its influence on sustainable travel behaviors.

Does awareness of SDGs influence tourists’ behavior? An examination of the determinants of sustainable travel behavior considering the UN2030 Agenda

PurposeThis study aims to examine a comprehensive model for the concurrent effects of tourists’ sustainability concerns, social norms, frugality and awareness of the UN’s sustainable development goals (SDGs) on sustainable travel behavior (STB), with sustainability in this case extending beyond the environmental to include economic and socio-cultural aspects as well.Design/methodology/approachThe model is tested using a structural equation modeling technique based on data collected from 200 US respondents who traveled internationally in the past year.FindingsResults reveal that all aforementioned variables, namely, sustainability concerns, social norms, frugality and SDG awareness, when considered together each positively influenced STB. However, SDG awareness did not accentuate tourists’ sustainability concerns associated with travel and tourism, as initially hypothesized.Originality/valueUnlike previous studies that have mainly focused on the pro-environmental aspects of sustainability and failed to consider the aforementioned variables concurrently, the results from this study advance our understanding of the determinants of STB (more generally) while accounting specifically for the expected role of the UN SDG agenda.

Investigating Students’ Food Packaging-Related Challenges and Preferences in Europe and Asia

There is increasing pressure for everyone to adopt sustainable behaviours and typically this starts at-home via appropriate food-based disposal practices; however, this is associated with various barriers impacting compliance. Targeted education in college and/or the university environment could provide a viable approach to overcome such difficulties; yet, limited readily available resources exist to bring this forth. This paper explores students’ food packaging expectations and attitudes as well as information preferences in four countries (UK, France, India, and China). Students (n = 533) completed an online survey capturing food packaging purchase-based decisions, disposal-related challenges, and communication preferences. Students noted that food packaging had a dominant role in product choice. Fresh produce was considered an area for improvement, especially in the UK, India, and France, whereas snacks/baked goods were a priority in China. Disposal-related challenges were mostly associated with mixed materials. Students cited no clear information, limited choices, excessive packaging, and no nearby bins as common food packaging issues. This suggests that improving infrastructure (more bins, clearer signing) could be fundamental to encourage students to implement more sustainable food packaging behaviour. Furthermore, colleges and/or universities should consider students’ preferred information formats (infographics, videos) and develop targeted education (recyclability) which can be easily disseminated to promote engagement and sustainable food packaging knowledge and awareness.

The physical environment matters: room effects on online purchase decisions.

People as individual consumers are regularly targeted in sustainability campaigns or communications with the hope of enhancing sustainable behavior at an individual level, with subsequent sustainability transformation at a larger societal scale. However, psychological motivation is complex and campaigns need to be based on an understanding for what individual, and contextual, factors support or hinder sustainable behavioral choices. In a discrete choice experiment, participants made hypothetical online purchases in each of three rooms designed to evoke associations to hedonic, gain, and normative goal frames. Participants were shown a campaign message intended to prime sustainable textile consumption prior to the purchase. For each product (t-shirt or bananas) hedonic (comfort/look), gain (price), and normative (organic/ fairtrade) attributes were varied in an online choice experiment. Preferences for the normative attribute of t-shirts increased in the normative room compared to the room with gain associations. No effect of the rooms with hedonic or gain priming was observed on the choice. The study supports the hypothesis that the physical room can enhance goal frame activation and behavioral choice but concludes that such priming effect is sensitive to specificity of the prime.

Circular Economy Adoption: The Mediating Role of Attitudes in the TPB (Theory of Planned Behavior) Model

This study aims to enrich the understanding of circular economy adoption in rural areas using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) as the foundational framework. Through the developed conceptual model, the study explores the mediating role of community attitudes towards circular economy adoption, by expanding attitude variables involving the dimension of caring for maslahah as an aspect of Islamic economics, beliefs, and knowledge. By collecting data from 200 respondents using Simple Random Sampling in the Barebbo District of Bone Regency, the analysis results using Partial Least-Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). This research reveals that beliefs and knowledge play a central role in shaping individual attitudes towards circular economy adoption in accordance with the principles of Islamic economics. The lack of attitude mediation effects between caring for maslahah as an aspect of Islamic economics, beliefs, knowledge related to circular economy adoption indicates that awareness of the benefits of such practices has not fully driven sustainable economic behavior. This study highlights that knowledge is the strongest force, motivating changes in economic, social, and environmental behavior with positive impacts across dimensions. The study provides a pioneering contribution to the literature, opening insights into the complex interaction between community attitudes and circular economic behavior in rural areas.

Effects of online customer reviews on sustainable clothing purchase intentions: The mediating role of perceived diagnosticity

AbstractOnline customer reviews play a vital role in evaluating product or service performance and serve as an important reference for other customers' purchase decisions. This study explores the influence of online customer reviews on sustainable clothing purchase intention through text mining and survey‐based methodologies. The results showed that online customer reviews focused on four dimensions: material ecology, clothing fashion, clothing functionality, and price reasonableness. Online customer reviews have a positive impact on consumers' sustainable purchase intentions, and perceived diagnosticity mediates the relationship between online customer reviews and purchase intentions. In addition, customers' prior sustainability knowledge moderates the relationship between material ecology, price reasonableness, and perceived diagnosticity. This study further enriches theoretical research on sustainable consumption within the context of online apparel retailing and helps sustainable apparel brands more accurately grasp the influencing variables of customers' sustainable consumption behaviours and formulate precise electronic word‐of‐mouth marketing strategies.

Pro-Environmental Behavior of Visitors to National Parks in India: Role of Recreation Involvement and Environmental Activism

This study investigates the impact of recreational involvement and environmental activism in forming pro-environmental behavior in tourists visiting national parks. The objective is to understand how tourists spend time with nature and their level of environmental contribution to their willingness to adopt pro-environmental behavior within the National Park. In addition, it aims to examine the mediating role of environmental satisfaction between tourists’ pro-environment behavior and their place attachment. Based on the theory of Place Attachment, which asserts that humans form feelings of association with specific locations, the authors intend to understand how tourist attachment to the national park affects their attitudes and actions related to the environment. Visiting a national park is a recreational involvement for tourists, allowing them to sense responsibility toward the environment. In addition, environmental activism is featured as an individual involvement to protect the environment. Three hundred and fourteen national park visitors in India participated in the current study. WarpPLS (7.0), a variance-based structural equation modeling (SEM), was used to test the research model. By revealing the factors impacting pro-environmental behavior in a national park in India, findings provide an understanding to the national parks authorities in designing interventions and education programs that promote recreation involvement and environmental activism to foster sustainable tourist behavior toward conservation and preservation of national parks in India.