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Sustainable consumption in China: New trends and research interests

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  • Jing Shao

Abstract

China is currently the largest CO2 emitter in the world and demonstrates one of the highest levels of energy consumption. The sustainable consumption behavior has increased in China, especially in urban cities. Some clear evidence of this includes food purchasing behavior. Recent studies have also suggested that considering full product information transparency, consumers are willing to pay premium prices for products. With this in mind, sustainable consumption must still be facilitated by related policies, regulations, and tools. This study focuses on sustainable consumption behavior in China and collects and analyzes the literature from the last decade (2007–2017) on the topic. In so doing, it highlights new trends and research topics against the background of circular economy development. The method of systematic review is applied. The review is categorized into several main groups: national policies and regulations, the green awareness of consumers, the definition of related concepts, the barriers between sustainable consumption and the circular economy, and the indicators for circular economy assessment in China. Future research directions are discussed. Furthermore, future challenges are addressed from three perspectives: sustainable consumption facilitating the circular economy, “cradle‐to‐cradle” practices, and the link between the European Union and China. This is a fundamental study in the research domain of sustainable consumption behavior. It provides added value that benefits both academic researchers and decision makers. It also sheds light on the further study of sustainable consumption behavior in China from a macroeconomic perspective.

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  • Jing Shao, 2019. "Sustainable consumption in China: New trends and research interests," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(8), pages 1507-1517, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:bstrat:v:28:y:2019:i:8:p:1507-1517
    DOI: 10.1002/bse.2327
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    2. Yuanbo Li, 2020. "Sustainable Drinking Bars in China: Evidence, Initiatives, and Guidelines Based on the 2030 Agenda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-29, January.
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    8. Julia Wojciechowska-Solis & Aleksandra Kowalska & Milena Bieniek & Monika Ratajczyk & Louise Manning, 2022. "Comparison of the Purchasing Behaviour of Polish and United Kingdom Consumers in the Organic Food Market during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-19, January.
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    10. Jing Shao & Wenchao Li & Cedric Aneye & Wei Fang, 2022. "Facilitating mechanism of green products purchasing with a premium price—Moderating by sustainability‐related information," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(3), pages 686-700, May.
    11. Jorge Alberto Vargas-Merino & Cristian Armando Rios-Lama & Miguel Humberto Panez-Bendezú, 2023. "Sustainable Consumption: Conceptualization and Characterization of the Complexity of “Being” a Sustainable Consumer—A Systematic Review of the Scientific Literature," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-23, May.
    12. Hye Jung Jung & Yun Jung Choi & Kyung Wha Oh, 2020. "Influencing Factors of Chinese Consumers’ Purchase Intention to Sustainable Apparel Products: Exploring Consumer “Attitude–Behavioral Intention” Gap," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-14, February.
    13. Nimni Pannila & Madushan Madhava Jayalath & Amila Thibbotuwawa & Izabela Nielsen & T.G.G. Uthpala, 2022. "Challenges in Applying Circular Economy Concepts to Food Supply Chains," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-24, December.
    14. Yue‐Jun Zhang & Wei Shi & Lin Jiang, 2020. "Does China's carbon emissions trading policy improve the technology innovation of relevant enterprises?," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(3), pages 872-885, March.
    15. Zivar Zeynalova & Natavan Namazova, 2022. "Revealing Consumer Behavior toward Green Consumption," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-20, May.
    16. Shehawy, Yasser Moustafa, 2023. "In green consumption, why consumers do not walk their talk: A cross cultural examination from Saudi Arabia and UK," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    17. Jiarong Shi & Zihao Jiang, 2023. "Willingness to pay a premium price for green products: does a reference group matter?," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(8), pages 8699-8727, August.
    18. Ahmad, Farhan & Bask, Anu & Laari, Sini & Robinson, Craig V., 2023. "Business management perspectives on the circular economy: Present state and future directions," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    19. Han, Myat Su & Hampson, Daniel Peter & Wang, Yonggui & Wang, Hong, 2022. "Consumer confidence and green purchase intention: An application of the stimulus-organism-response model," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    20. Bowen Qin & Ge Song, 2022. "Internal Motivations, External Contexts, and Sustainable Consumption Behavior in China—Based on the TPB-ABC Integration Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-19, June.
    21. Francesco Testa & Roberta Iovino & Fabio Iraldo, 2020. "The circular economy and consumer behaviour: The mediating role of information seeking in buying circular packaging," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(8), pages 3435-3448, December.

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