Sustainability and consumption structure: environmental impacts of food consumption clusters. A case study for Hungary

Abstract

Consumption of resource‐intensive food products is increasing in developed countries coupled with an increase of calorie intake. Although the quantity of food consumed is increasing in Europe, there are countries where food consumption is still in a transitional phase. In Hungary, the quantity of food consumed is decreasing compared with the previous decades. This tendency is favourable in environmental terms, although changes in consumption structure need to be analysed thoroughly in order to assess future possibilities. What seems to be favourable on aggregate level is not necessarily desirable on individual level. The paper focuses on food consumption, combining the analysis of food consumption structures and the related environmental impacts measured by the ecological footprint. The study is based on a national survey of a representative sample of 1012 Hungarian adults. Cluster analysis combined by multidimensional scaling resulted in six consumer segments regarding the food consumption structure. Evaluating the related ecological footprint of consumer groups, surprisingly those who consume more fruit, vegetables and dairy products do not have lower ecological footprints, regarding total food consumption. Consumers do not reduce their meat consumption in order to consume more healthy food and decrease the environmental impacts, but consuming more fruits and vegetables appears only to be supplementary. Understanding the revealed typology of food consumption structures in a Central European country can help to reach consumers when these food policy initiatives are undertaken to change the consumption structure and environmental impact of food consumption. Methodology and results of the article connect consumer segmentation and environmental impact measurement in order to discuss opportunities for more sustainable and healthier food consumption.

Determinants of how individuals choose, eat and waste: Providing common ground to enhance sustainable food consumption out‐of‐home

“…Besides, we find that physical‐environmental and personal determinants generally have gained attention by far more studies than social influences and that studies mostly focus on one exclusive dimension of influencing factors and not on the interactive effects (see Figure ). With respect to the explicit notion of interaction in Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory and in line with conclusions of different authors recommending on public policies and initiatives to enhance sustainable consumption (Reisch & Gwozdz, ; Spaargaren & Mol, ; Vetoné Mózner, ), it may be relevant to more intensively consider integrated frameworks of physical‐environmental, social and personal factors that determine individuals’ out‐of‐home food behaviours. These analyses may moreover substantially benefit from including perspectives on the macrolevel environment, that is, by extending analyses of individual food behaviours with regional or national comparisons.…”

“…These policies however also need to consider ongoing trends of lower relative overall household expenditures for food along with an increasing share of food consumed in out‐of‐home settings compared to in‐home consumption (European Commission, ; Gracia & Albisu, ; Paddock, Warde, & Whillans, ). Therefore, the out‐of‐home consumption sector and especially group catering, which provides food to individuals on a more regular basis than individual gastronomy, should be considered as a relevant setting in which interventions with the aim to facilitate and enable sustainable food behaviours of individuals seem promising (Vetoné Mózner, ; Wahlen, Heiskanen, & Aalto, ).…”

Carbon Footprints and Consumer Lifestyles: An Analysis of Lifestyle Factors and Gap Analysis by Consumer Segment in Japan

“…A recent study from Switzerland also applied the clustering method to identify major consumer segments and examined their characteristics in terms of environmental footprints [33]. Other compelling applications of cluster analysis include a study of dietary habits in Canada [34] and Hungary [35], and household appliances in Germany [36], but their scope is limited to particular consumption domains rather than being applicable to the environmental impact of lifestyles as a whole. Combining these two methods of factor analysis and cluster analysis was an approach taken by a previous comparative study, which concluded that using the results of exploratory factor analysis as inputs for cluster analysis improves the quality of clusters [37].…”

Using Imagination to Overcome Fear: How Mental Simulation Nudges Consumers’ Purchase Intentions for Upcycled Food

“…In the field of consumption, food consumption has the strongest influence on the environment [1]. Food waste, a serious problem that humans generally suffer [2], places a greater burden on the environment.…”