Pro-Environmental Consumer Behavior: A Critical Review of Literature

Abstract

The damage to the environment caused by commercial activities and consumption behaviours has become a reason for concern in recent times. Sustainable consumption and drivers behind it was the main objective of the study. The study is a critical review of literature on pro-environmental behaviours with focus on theory, behavioural drivers and inhibitors. The review covered conceptual and empirical papers selected from peer reviewed articles with high citation index. Behaviour change theories including theory of reasoned action, theory of planned behaviour, norm activation theory and goal framing theory were reviewed. In light of theory, attitude, behavioural intention and perceived consequences are the major variables that cause pro-environmental behaviour. Nevertheless, norm activation theory fails to explain behaviour where people are in denial of responsibility for the consequences of their consumption. The study established that pro-environmental behaviour is caused by both intrinsic and extrinsic factors. Intrinsic factors include environmental awareness and knowledge, attitude, consumer age, education, and concern for the environment. Extrinsic factors including income, social network and culture bridge the gap between attitude and pro-environmental behaviour. Perceived high price and lack of trust for green products were the major barriers to sustainable consumption behaviours. The study concludes that interaction between consumer attitude and favourable contextual factors lead to pro-environmental behaviours.

Actitudes e intenciones ambientales en el comportamiento y su diferencia entre estudiantes de ingeniería e ingenieros activos.

“…Las ICA se refieren a las acciones o decisiones planificadas de un individuo relacionadas con el MA (Chao et al, 2021), y a su vez, estas intenciones están fuertemente influenciadas por las ACA de un individuo, las cuales se refieren a las creencias y sentimientos que tiene hacia el MA (Joseph, 2019). En este proyecto se empleó un cuestionario para recopilar información de estudiantes de ingeniería e ingenieros activos en la industria maquiladora de Cd.…”

Consuming Less as a Rational Choice: A Review of Applied Social Exchange Theory in Topical Research on Sustainable Consumption

“…The second biggest cluster are review / conceptual papers with five entries, and there are only two studies that can be considered purely theoretical, although the line between theoretical and review was sometimes hard to draw (e.g. Joseph, 2020). More significant than the methodical inclination is the main topic, with twelve out of 19 papers dealing with the phenomenon of sharing economy, the rest with consumer behavior, sustainable consumption in a particular sector or with ontological issues.…”

Areas of Individual Consumption Reduction: A Focus on Implemented Restrictions and Willingness for Further Cut-Backs

“…Overall, a study investigating consumption restrictions in Canadian students showed that the principles of the Theory of Planned Behavior are applicable, but overall intentions for restrictions are modest [37]. Instead, research about responsible consumption often focuses on minor aspects, such as plastic packaging [38], or general "green" buying behavior [39][40][41][42], even though limited consumption in terms of a sufficient lifestyle has a larger impact on footprint reduction than green consumerism [43]. Green consumerism, but not necessarily behaviors of higher importance, seems to be connected to sympathy for the environment [44].…”