The influences of the COVID-19 pandemic on sustainable consumption: an international study

Abstract

Background Sustainable production and consumption are two important issues, which mutually interact. Whereas individuals have little direct influence on the former, they can play a key role on the latter. This paper describes the subject matter of sustainable consumption and outlines its key features. It also describes some international initiatives in this field. Results By means of an international survey, the study explores the emphasis given to sustainable consumption during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the degree of preparedness in individuals to engage in the purchase of green and sustainably manufactured products. The main results indicate that the pandemic offered an opportunity to promote sustainable consumption; nevertheless, the pandemic alone cannot be regarded as a ‘game changer’ in this topic. Conclusions Apart from an online survey with responses from 31 countries, which makes it one of the most representative studies on the topic, a logit model was used to analyse the main variables that affect the probability of pro-environmental consumption behaviour because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The paper lists some of the technological and social innovations that may be needed, so as to guide more sustainable consumption patterns in a post-pandemic world.

News consumption and green habits on the use of circular packaging in online shopping in Taiwan: An extension of the theory of planned behavior

“…Even after the epidemic, personal selling may resume the use of environmentally friendly packaging, but packaging waste in online shopping may continue. Although there have been some studies on consumer behavioral changes in the use of plastic packaging during the pandemic ( Liu et al, 2021 ; Leal Filho et al, 2022 ), there is still a lack of similar research on consumers’ willingness to accept circular packaging for online shopping. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to explore which factors prompt consumers to accept and use circular packaging when they shopped online.…”

The primary drivers of private-sphere pro-environmental behaviour in five European countries during the Covid-19 pandemic

“…For example, Daryanto et al (2022) found, among Chinese adults, that individuals' beliefs that the pandemic had been caused by humanity's excessive intrusion into nature had a positive impact on their EA and this triggered a positive behavioural change towards the environment. Another study discovered that the pandemic was associated with an increase in pro-environmental consumption, particularly one's willingness to purchase green and sustainably manufactured products ( Leal Filho et al, 2022 ).…”

“…Furthermore, one of recent studies showed that the Covid-19 pandemic was also associated with an increase in PEB, whereby people attributed the cause of the pandemic to environmental factors such as climate change ( Daryanto et al, 2022 ). Another study discovered that the pandemic was associated with an increase in pro-environmental consumption, particularly one's willingness to purchase green and sustainably manufactured products ( Leal Filho et al, 2022 ).…”

Happiness and its relationship to expectations of change and sustainable behavior in a post-COVID-19 world

“…The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted a transition towards more sustainable consumption practices, as supported by scholarly research (Perkins et al, 2021). Different studies have shown an increase in PEB because of COVID: Italy (Dangelico et al, 2022), Spain (Li et al, 2021), the USA (Rodgers et al, 2021) and internationally (Leal Filho et al, 2022). According to Dangelico et al (2022), various changes regarding sustainable consumption have occurred during the pandemic.…”