Sustainable Consumption Practices Research Articles

Pricing and Coordinating the Lease-Oriented Closed-Loop Supply Chain for Construction Machinery in the Era of Carbon Tax

Promoting sustainable production and consumption practices in the construction machinery industry is crucial for achieving energy savings and reducing carbon emissions. However, there is a lack of targeted studies addressing the challenge of scaling up leasing and recycling while maximizing economic benefits for enterprises. To fill this gap, this paper presents a lease-oriented closed-loop supply chain model that incorporates a carbon tax policy to investigate the impact of the carbon tax rate and consumer preferences for remanufactured products on the supply chain and introduces a leasing compensation–cost apportioning combined contract to achieve supply chain coordination in the construction machinery sector. The model considers differential selling and leasing prices for new and remanufactured products, as well as the recovery rate, under both centralized and decentralized decision-making approaches. The study explores the interrelationships between various parameters through sensitivity analysis and numerical simulation. The results demonstrate that within a certain range of the cost apportioning proportional coefficient and leasing compensation proportional coefficient, the combined contract can lead the supply chain to achieve Pareto optimality. As the carbon tax rate increases, it was observed that the profits for all parties in the supply chain tend to decrease. However, due to the increased demand for remanufactured products, the product recovery rate improves, resulting in a reduction in total carbon emissions in the closed-loop supply chain of construction machinery. Moreover, the profits of all parties and the total supply chain profits initially decrease and then increase with an increasing preference coefficient for remanufactured products among consumers. By leveraging these factors and adopting effective strategies, such as enhancing consumer recognition of remanufactured products and optimizing pricing and cost allocation, it is indeed possible for the profits of all parties and the total profits in the supply chain to surpass the initial values, even in the face of increasing carbon tax rates. This demonstrates the potential for aligning sustainability objectives with economic benefits in the construction machinery industry.

Energy gamification: design and development of a user interface tool to upgrade social experience and energy literacy.

Gamification consists of applying typical elements of game-playing environments to other areas of activity. In various fields such as medicine, education, or business, gamification has been explored as an efficient vehicle to foster real-life predetermined targets or improve a real-life action's effectiveness. Amidst the current energy transition, gamification has emerged as a promising strategy to make the energy transition exciting to end-users, bridging information gaps, increasing learning, and motivating behaviour change. This study presents the design and development of a gamified solution as part of the Smart2B H2020 project. The primary objective is to create an excellent user-engagement experience while encouraging and fostering energy literacy and behaviour change. Leveraging the increasing digitalization of the energy sector, the developed gamified module will feature a user interface (UI) tool that promotes healthy competition between users, primarily driven by changes in energy consumption behaviour. The monthly and overall leader boards will translate energy savings into an in-game virtual point-based system, reinforcing the intrinsic value of energy conservation. The gamified elements and mechanisms, such as missions, interactive tasks or challenges, instant feedback, achievements, and badges, will progressively guide users in understanding their energy consumption patterns and how they can be improved. Drawing from social engineering and educational perspectives, the pilot sites within the Smart2B project will maximize user interaction and engagement to motivate real behaviour change. By highlighting the design and development aspects of our gamified solution, we aim to provide more insights into the process that was followed to create an effective and impactful tool for promoting sustainable energy consumption practices among end-users.

A Bibliometric Analysis of Sustainable Product Design Methods from 1999 to 2022: Trends, Progress, and Disparities between China and the Rest of the World

Effective product design strategies play a crucial role in promoting sustainable production, consumption, and disposal practices. In the literature, many such practices have been proposed by various researchers; however, it is challenging to understand which is more effective from the design point of view. This study employs bibliometric analysis and visualization software, CiteSpace, to comprehensively assess the literature on sustainable product design methods (SPDMs) from two major citation databases, namely, China National Knowledge Infrastructure and Web of Science, covering the period between 1999 and 2022. The objective of this review is to identify the latest research trends, progress, and disparities between China and the rest of the world in the field of SPDMs. The findings reveal that the development of SPDMs is characterized by a combination of multi-method integration and expansion, as well as qualitative and quantitative hybrids. However, research processes differ between China and other countries. Chinese studies focus on digital-driven development, rural revitalization, and system design, while research from other countries emphasizes a circular economy, distribution, additive manufacturing, and artificial intelligence. Nevertheless, both Chinese and international studies lack quantitative research methods in relation to socio-cultural sustainability. Future research should aim to deepen sustainable design methods and standards for specialized products, as well as to incorporate quantitative methods that address cultural and social sustainability dimensions. Open-source and shared SPDMs should be encouraged to promote methodological innovation that prioritizes multidimensional and systematic sustainable benefits, leveraging the strengths of new technologies.

From theory to practice: A study on sustainable consumption practices among university students in a region of Peru

Objective: In recent years, sustainable consumption has been promoted in order to preserve natural resources for present and future generations. In that sense, the objective of this research was to evaluate sustainable consumption practices in university students in the Amazon region of Madre de Dios, Peru. Method: The approach was quantitative, the design was non-experimental and the type, cross-sectional descriptive-comparative. The sample was made up of 357 students who answered the Questionnaire on Socially Responsible Sustainable Consumption Practices, an instrument with adequate levels of validity and reliability. Results: It was found that sustainable consumption practices of 46.8% of the students were not common, 35% were unusual and 18.2% were common. On the other hand, it was determined that sustainable consumption practices and informed purchase dimensions, responsible use, respect for people and animals and quality and territoriality were significantly associated with some sociodemographic variables. Conclusions: It was concluded that sustainable consumption practices in university students were not common, therefore, universities are suggested to implement environmental education in a transverse and integral way to concretize sustainable development objectives.

Development of a sustainable consumption measurement scale

AbstractSustainable consumption has been recognized since the 1990s; however, advances in the studies have been modest and have not yielded significant breakthroughs. The urgent need to adopt sustainable consumption has been emphasized by consumers, practitioners, and researchers, but despite efforts by social and government agencies, progress in relation to adoption remains insufficient. The multivariate nature of sustainable consumption is one reason for this insufficient progress. Previously developed literature‐based instruments have been univariate or limited in their dimensions and inadequate for measuring the phenomena they purport to measure. Hence, in this study, we develop a measurement scale to address this gap. The scale encompasses dimensions relevant to contemporary society and is informed by prior research and primary data. Data were collected through in‐depth interviews with sustainability specialists, a nominal group technique with engaged consumers, a survey of 255 students, and a survey of 808 consumers from diverse regions of Brazil, all resulting in a heterogeneous sample. The final data analysis included an exploratory factor analysis and a confirmatory factor analysis, which resulted in a final model that comprised eight dimensions: activism, personal sacrifice, communitarianism, environmental concern, healthy food, perceived consumer effectiveness, search for information, and social concern. Of these dimensions, personal sacrifice, environmental concern, and social concern are the archetypes of the present generation. The variables of these dimensions have not been accounted for in previous scales, making our new scale more comprehensive and contributing to a better understanding of sustainable consumption. This new comprehensive scale will aid future studies in sustainable consumption, contributing to a better understanding of this construct. We expect that this scale will help improve the monitoring of the progress made in sustainable behavior and the assessment of management practices of sustainable consumption. Future studies should be carried out to validate the dimensions in different cultural contexts.

Developing a Framework of Sustainable Consumption in Retailing Contexts

Over the years, the retail sector has been showing increasing interest in inculcating sustainable consumption practices and behaviors among their consumers. This study, accordingly, explores how retailers can contribute to addressing consumers’ various psychological dispositions to co-create sustainable consumption in the retail context. In that regard, the MAPED framework has been developed corresponding to White et al.’s SHIFT framework for exploring the process and mechanism of co-creating sustainable consumption in the retail sector. This comprehensive conceptual framework has been developed using a methodological approach of critical review and analysis of the extant academic literature on value co-creation and sustainable consumption. Accordingly, this study attempts to contribute to both sustainable consumption and value co-creation literature.

Circular economy in construction: A systematic review of knowledge gaps towards a novel research framework

The current growing interest in the circular economy (CE) offers extensive opportunities to promote the adoption of more sustainable consumption and production practices across industries, which is a top priority in achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. The construction sector’s shift towards circular models is key to reducing carbon emissions and resource depletion but brings along considerable complexities and challenges, given the industry`s fragmented and conservative nature. Research on CE in construction has been growing exponentially over the past few years, producing a substantial amount of new knowledge in a short time. This study conducted a systematic review to map and synthesise the reported knowledge gaps in the literature. The analysis included forty-one (41) articles published between 2017 and 2022. One hundred fifty-five (155) knowledge gaps were identified and categorised according to seven (7) CE research dimensions—economic, environmental, governmental, methodological, societal, sectoral, and technological—and twenty-six (26) thematic sub-clusters. Findings critically analyse knowledge gaps’ frequency of occurrence over time and across dimensions. A new framework for CE implementation is proposed to support critical discussion and identification of future research trajectories towards a systemic transition to a circular economy in the construction sector. The framework identifies three innovation domains: circular product, circular process, and circular platform.

Consumers’ Adoption of Electric Vehicles for Sustainability: Exploring the Role of Personality Traits

This study investigates the influence of the Big Five personality traits which include extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness in molding the adoption intention of consumers regarding electric vehicles (EVs) in India. This study also looks at Behavioral Economics as an explanatory theory on the diffusion of electric vehicles in India. The study comprised two stages. In the first stage, 150 users and non-users of electric vehicles were surveyed. Results pointed to a significant effect of all Big Five personality traits on adoption intention, with the exception of the trait of neuroticism. There was no significant difference in the adoption intention based on the differences in personality traits between men and women. In the second stage, the study used an expert-opinion based survey that was conceptualized based on the Diffusion of Innovation theory combined with the idea of memetics in new product diffusion. The results from the first stage of the research were bolstered by the fact that the second stage indicated that product attributes influencing diffusion would have a negative influence on adoption intentions of persons with high neuroticism. The study provides useful insights into consumer behavior based on personality for marketers of electric vehicles and policymakers interested in bringing about sustainable consumption practices.

How sustainable are daily medicine consumption practices? The case of a fragile coastal area, Arcachon Bay (SW,France)

The potentially negative environmental effects of pesticides and antibiotics are a source of concern for public health. Many studies in recent years have focused on so-called “emerging micropollutants” emanating from domestic activity and found primarily in cleaning products, cosmetics, and medicines. This awareness of potential risks to the natural environment has evolved considerably since the 1970s. Sustained population growth in urban areas has forced public policy makers to pay more attention to the links between health and the environment, and specifically to the complexity of medicine consumption. Using a practice theory approach, this article aims to identify how sustainable daily medicine consumption practices are. Our research is based on the analysis of medicine consumption in relation to four interdependent elements: prescription, treatment, unused medication, and representations of environmental issues. First, the background of practice theory and sustainable medicine consumption are discussed. This approach is then applied to quantitative data from a questionnaire survey on consumers that we conducted in a French coastal area subject to specific demographic pressure and micropollution of the water. A multivariate statistical exploratory analysis of the data set highlights the structure of the practices concerned, and the extent to which environmental issues are considered when unused medication is disposed of. We conclude by highlighting the relevance of our approach in understanding the complex nature of sustainable medicine consumption, which involves diverse communities of practice. We also underline the need for public policy to target all stakeholders in the medicine consumption process, from medical professionals to end users.

Beyond sustainable consumption practices: Linking organic food consumption to hedonic and eudaimonic well-being

The organic food industry has significantly gained currency due to consumers being increasingly health conscious. However, more insight is needed to decipher the impact of organic food consumption on consumer well-being. Quantitative methods using a cross-sectional design were applied to collect data from 578 organic food consumers residing in South Africa. The results revealed that organic food consumption plays a central role in providing pleasure, positive emotions, a sense of accomplishment and personal growth to consumers. Moreover, the findings indicate that consumers' health consciousness significantly influences the interplay between dimensions of well-being. These findings shed important light on the scholarly debate around the influence of sustainable consumption on well-being. The study also provides crucial insights into new strategies that actors in the organic food industry as well as policymakers will use to effectively promote sustainable consumption and a healthy lifestyle.

A Study on Consumer Attitude and Perception towards usage of Recycled Products in Tamil Nadu

This study examines the consumer attitude and perception towards the usage of recycled products in Tamil Nadu, India. Through a mixed-methods approach involving surveys and interviews with 150 participants, the research reveals that consumers in Tamil Nadu generally exhibit a positive attitude towards recycled products, perceiving them as environmentally friendly and sustainable. However, concerns about product quality and performance act as potential barriers to adoption. The study emphasizes the importance of consumer education, effective marketing strategies, and clear product labelling to enhance consumer awareness and address quality concerns. The findings have significant implications for policymakers, manufacturers, and marketers, highlighting the need for collaborative efforts to promote sustainable consumption practices and contribute to environmental conservation in Tamil Nadu

An analysis of sustainable consumption practices through the role of the consumer behavior in the circular economy

AbstractSustainable consumption analyses the choice of products to address environmental issues. In recent years, the circular economy model () has offered strategies as possible solutions to address the growing demand for action on climate justice. The success of a business model depends on understanding the consumer's role. The power of individual consumer actions is vital for minimizing the adverse impacts of climate change. Although the effectiveness of in the business sector has been studied, the literature has ignored the role of consumers in sustainable consumption practices through. Thus, using a survey technique, this quantitative study analyzed part of the theoretical model of Mostaghel and Chirumalla to analyze how awareness and consumer attitude significantly impact purchase intention and ethical purchasing behavior. The data analyzed through PLS‐SEM reflected several theoretical implications in the forms of consumer behavior, a topic that has not been addressed in the literature.

The Role of Souvenir in Tourism Indonesia: a Thematic Review

This systematic literature review aims to explore the relationship between souvenir and tourism. The review identified 20 relevant studies published between 2012 and 2023, which were analyzed using a thematic approach. Thematic analysis is a useful method for identifying and analyzing themes and patterns in qualitative data related to souvenirs and tourism. The findings suggest that souvenir serve as important symbols of identity and culture, promoting cultural exchange and understanding between different groups of people, and contributing to the preservation and promotion of local heritage and traditions. And the recommendation for future research could develop more effective strategies for promoting sustainable souvenir consumption practices.

Exploring the Moderating Role of Environmental Education in Promoting a Clean Environment

Environmental education plays a significant role in improving environmental knowledge and shaping the eco-friendly lifestyles of young people. Young people’s daily actions and habits will determine the future of the Earth as a planet. The literature regarding youths’ environmental knowledge, climate change awareness, environmental attitude, and their impact on pro-environmental intentions and sustainable household consumption practices is very scarce. Therefore, this study explored the relationship between environmental knowledge, climate change awareness, environmental attitude, and the pro-environmental intentions of university students. The study also assessed the moderating effect of environmental education on pro-environmental behavior and sustainable household consumption practices, providing a comparative analysis of students with and without environmental education, which is unique in the literature. The data were collected from 2137 Chinese university students selected through a purposive and random sampling method through survey questionnaires. Descriptive statistics and partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) were used to analyze the collected data. The findings revealed that environmental knowledge, climate change awareness, and environmental attitudes of the students positively affected their pro-environmental intentions. Moreover, pro-environmental intentions also positively affected the adoption of sustainable practices. The result also showed that the impact of pro-environmental intentions on sustainable consumption practices was greater for those whose education included environmental courses than for those whose education did not. Therefore, it is suggested that environment-related courses be incorporated into the study plans of each discipline as a compulsory subject for promoting green intentions and shaping eco-friendly lifestyles for environmental sustainability.

The Influence of Education, Consumer Awareness, and Government Regulation on Sustainable Consumption Behavior: A Case Study on Ciawitali Market in Garut Regency

The present study examines the complex relationship that exists among education, consumer consciousness, governmental oversight, and sustainable consumption practices in the vicinity of Ciawitali Market, Garut Regency. Insights regarding the demographic profiles, educational attainment, consumer awareness, perception of government regulation, and sustainable consumption behavior of 195 participants were obtained from the sample. The relationships between these variables were analyzed utilizing Structural Equation Modeling-Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS). Positive correlations were found between education and sustainable consumption behavior, consumer awareness and sustainable consumption, and government regulation and both consumer awareness and sustainable consumption behavior, according to the findings. The model demonstrated a strong correspondence with the data, underscoring the importance of effective government regulations, consumer education, and consumer awareness in promoting sustainable practices. By utilizing these insights, policymakers, educators, and market stakeholders can effectively develop focused interventions that promote sustainable development in the Ciawitali Market.

Consumer Perceptions of Food Packaging in Its Role in Fighting Food Waste

Consumers are vital stakeholders in creating and reducing food waste. However, limited research into consumers’ perceptions of food waste and food packaging is available to inform research, packaging design or policy so that sustainable consumption practices among consumers might be better encouraged and enabled. By applying multivariate linear modelling to a sample of 965 Australian consumers, this study investigated consumers’ perceptions of packaging and packaging’s relationship to food waste. Overall, consumers perceived packaging waste as a more serious environmental issue than food waste. Most consumers did not consider food waste as an extreme environmental issue. Consumers’ perceptions of the seriousness of food waste also influenced their perceptions of packaging designed to reduce food waste. Significant differences between men and women and older and younger consumers were found regarding the relationship between packaging and food waste as well as food waste as an environmental issue. This study provides a detailed understanding of consumers and packaging, and it alerts designers and decision-makers to the differing attitudes towards food and packaging waste as well as the likelihood of consumers taking up more sustainable consumption practices.

Which products are bought second-hand and by whom?: Analysis of consumer-preferred acquisition modes by product type

This study investigates the preferred acquisition modes for various daily products and categorizes consumers based on these modes, to confirm the possibility of expanding secondhand product use as a general method of consumption. Assuming that product acquisition modes may differ based on the product type, a consumer survey was conducted with Japanese residents to capture the product consumption details for 196 target products; it yielded three major findings. First, consumers acquire certain irregularly used hobby goods secondhand, as they are purchased for functional efficiencies and the product features can be used over time without concerns about technical obsolescence. Second, the conflicting income statuses of the two respondent groups preferring “obtaining secondhand products” suggested that secondhand products are not only consumed for cost-saving purposes, contrary to the suggestions by prior studies. Third, consumers who prefer to obtain secondhand products may contribute to sustainable consumption practices in resource circulation.

Should We Continue to Sell Green Products? A Case Study of Willingness to Pay More for Green Furniture Products

The growing global demand for environmentally friendly products necessitates an in-depth examination of the factors influencing consumers’ willingness to pay a premium. This study focuses on the furniture industry and aims to identify the key determinants that shape consumers’ willingness to pay more for environmentally friendly furniture. Data were collected from 153 Indonesian consumers interested in purchasing household furniture products. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analysis, utilizing smartPLS software, was employed to analyze the data and derive insights. The findings revealed that the perceived value of green products and individuals’ green attitudes significantly and positively influenced the desire to pay more for environmentally friendly furniture. Conversely, the green marketing mix did not significantly impact consumers’ willingness to pay more for such products. These results highlight the importance of communication, outreach, public policy, and education in shaping the nation and state’s positive perception and attitude towards green products. The implications of these findings are discussed in the context of promoting sustainable consumption practices and fostering a greener economy.

How perceived life control shapes sustainable consumption: The role of outcome efficacy

AbstractSustainable consumption helps solve today's critical environmental problems, but such behavior tends to be altruistic, mainly benefiting the environment and other people. Thus, understanding precursors that drive a consumer to engage in sustainable consumption is important for scholars and green product marketers. This study examines how perceived life control—a factor not directly related to environmental decisions—influences sustainable purchase. Data from two waves of the World Value Survey indicate that perceived life control is positively associated with pro‐environmental attitudes (which is a precondition for sustainable purchases). Five subsequent studies consistently show that perceived life control increases purchase intention for green products, and this happens because consumers with greater life control believe their purchases will be more effective in solving environmental problems (i.e., outcome efficacy). We further reveal that framing the benefits of a green product as temporally present (vs. future) attenuates the observed effect. These findings suggest that the practice of sustainable consumption may be explained by perceived life control in individuals and provide insights for environmental communication regarding the alignment between sustainable product appeals and individual differences.

From locked-down to locked-in? COVID-induced social practice change across four consumption domains

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted everyday living and social practices, prompting questions of whether more sustainable consumption patterns are emerging and the likelihood of their long-term retention. To examine these questions, we apply a practice-based approach to a quantitative study of COVID-driven practice changes in the domains of food, material consumption, housing, and mobility conducted in four global North countries (Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States). We discuss the trends emerging from our analysis from a sustainability perspective and address the role of social practice elements – materials, meanings, competences – in the establishment and discontinuation of sustainable consumption practices. Observed sustainability gains in specific practices and domains (such as a decrease in material consumption and more sustainable food practices and diets), may be offset by other practices, particularly a renewed desire for air travel and larger housing. The uptake and lock-in of sustainable practices are driven by a combination of meaning and material-related practice elements such as the alignment with interests and personal values; the availability of labor, energy, or time; and the ability to routinize practices. However, new policies to support emerging lifestyle shifts, as well as the development of businesses catering to and encouraging low-impact practices, may ultimately determine the formation of a more sustainable “new normal.” We also reflect on the strengths and limitations of using quantitative research methods in studies of sustainable consumption informed by social practice theories.