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Guidelines for Designing Green Products Considering Customers’ Cultural Preferences

Author

Listed:
  • Ihwan Ghazali

    (Faculty of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering Technology, Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka, Hang Tuah Jaya, Durian Tunggal 76100, Malaysia)

  • Salwa Hanim Abdul-Rashid

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
    Center for Product Design and Manufacturing, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia)

  • Siti Zawiah Md Dawal

    (Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
    Center for Product Design and Manufacturing, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia)

  • Nurul Huda

    (Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu 88400, Malaysia)

  • Amir Husni Mohd Shariff

    (Faculty of Food Science and Nutrition, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu 88400, Malaysia)

  • Safarudin Gazali Herawan

    (Industrial Engineering Department, Faculty of Engineering, Bina Nusantara University, Jakarta 11480, Indonesia)

  • Fu Haw Ho

    (Department of Manufacturing Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia, Batu Pahat 86400, Malaysia)

  • Novita Sakundarini

    (Department of Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Jalan Broga, Semenyih 43500, Malaysia)

Abstract

The increasing customer awareness of environmental sustainability during the last decade has had an influence on many manufacturers to produce green products. However, issues arise regarding the actual preferences of customers for green products, which often differ depending on cultural influences. Cultural values can affect the decisions of designers to determine detailed design specifications that relate to customer preferences. Currently, few guidelines consider cultural values as an aspect of green product design. Thus, the aim of this study is to develop a guideline that incorporates the influence of cultural values on green product design. Malaysia was selected as the location of this study. The sources of data to establish a guideline were obtained from customer perspectives on green products. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to identify cultural influences and preferences on green product characteristics as the input strategies for the proposed guideline. Professional designers from different profiles were asked to identify the applicability of the guideline. Based on the results, the designers agreed that the influence of cultural values is an important aspect that should be considered in the development of green products. The implication of the guideline is discussed in this paper to accelerate decisions of designers in developing green products.

Suggested Citation

  • Ihwan Ghazali & Salwa Hanim Abdul-Rashid & Siti Zawiah Md Dawal & Nurul Huda & Amir Husni Mohd Shariff & Safarudin Gazali Herawan & Fu Haw Ho & Novita Sakundarini, 2021. "Guidelines for Designing Green Products Considering Customers’ Cultural Preferences," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-27, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:2:p:673-:d:479021
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