IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v13y2021i4p1984-d498118.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Impact of Ecological Knowledge on Young Consumers’ Attitudes and Behaviours towards the Food Market

Author

Listed:
  • Wiesława Kuźniar

    (Department of Marketing and Entrepreneurship, Institute of Economics and Finance, University of Rzeszow, 35-601 Rzeszow, Poland)

  • Tomasz Surmacz

    (Department of Marketing and Entrepreneurship, Institute of Economics and Finance, University of Rzeszow, 35-601 Rzeszow, Poland)

  • Bogdan Wierzbiński

    (Department of Marketing and Entrepreneurship, Institute of Economics and Finance, University of Rzeszow, 35-601 Rzeszow, Poland)

Abstract

The subject literature around the world puts a strong emphasis on the discrepancy between the positive attitude towards the idea of sustainability and consumer behaviour. These issues are the subject matter of this paper, which aims at both the identification and evaluation of selected aspects of knowledge, attitudes and eco-friendly behaviour of consumers connected with their choice of foods. The authors made an attempt of answering the question, to what extent do the level of knowledge and the declared eco-friendly attitudes have an impact on specific purchasing decisions. In the empirical observations, the conceptual model of the effects of the environment (knowledge, attitude, behaviour) on the customers’ ecological awareness was used. The analysis conducted on the basis of this model indicated that stimulating the demand for ecological products is implemented mainly by the processes of raising awareness, which leads to expanding the consumers’ knowledge concerning ecological farming and eco-friendly foods. In such a way the consumer awareness is built, especially by educational campaigns and promoting/endorsing the ecological foods targeted at young consumers.

Suggested Citation

  • Wiesława Kuźniar & Tomasz Surmacz & Bogdan Wierzbiński, 2021. "The Impact of Ecological Knowledge on Young Consumers’ Attitudes and Behaviours towards the Food Market," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-20, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:4:p:1984-:d:498118
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/4/1984/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/4/1984/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ajzen, Icek, 1991. "The theory of planned behavior," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 50(2), pages 179-211, December.
    2. Dhir, Amandeep & Sadiq, Mohd & Talwar, Shalini & Sakashita, Mototaka & Kaur, Puneet, 2021. "Why do retail consumers buy green apparel? A knowledge-attitude-behaviour-context perspective," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    3. Han, Heesup & Hsu, Li-Tzang (Jane) & Sheu, Chwen, 2010. "Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior to green hotel choice: Testing the effect of environmental friendly activities," Tourism Management, Elsevier, vol. 31(3), pages 325-334.
    4. Kotchen, Matthew J. & Reiling, Stephen D., 2000. "Environmental attitudes, motivations, and contingent valuation of nonuse values: a case study involving endangered species," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 32(1), pages 93-107, January.
    5. Louise M. Hassan & Edward Shiu & Deirdre Shaw, 2016. "Who Says There is an Intention–Behaviour Gap? Assessing the Empirical Evidence of an Intention–Behaviour Gap in Ethical Consumption," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 136(2), pages 219-236, June.
    6. Diamantopoulos, Adamantios & Schlegelmilch, Bodo B. & Sinkovics, Rudolf R. & Bohlen, Greg M., 2003. "Can socio-demographics still play a role in profiling green consumers? A review of the evidence and an empirical investigation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 56(6), pages 465-480, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Bogdan Wierzbiński & Tomasz Surmacz & Wiesława Kuźniar & Lucyna Witek, 2021. "The Role of the Ecological Awareness and the Influence on Food Preferences in Shaping Pro-Ecological Behavior of Young Consumers," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-14, April.
    2. Maria Francesca Renzi & Veronica Ungaro & Laura Di Pietro & Roberta Guglielmetti Mugion & Maria Giovina Pasca, 2022. "Agenda 2030 and COVID-19: A Young Consumer’s Perception of Sustainable Consumption," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-20, November.
    3. Giacomo Staffolani & Deborah Bentivoglio & Adele Finco, 2022. "Consumers’ Purchasing Determinants Towards Mountain Food Products," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-15, July.
    4. Camila Kolling & José Luis Duarte Ribeiro & Donato Morea & Gianpaolo Iazzolino, 2023. "Corporate social responsibility and circular economy from the perspective of consumers: A cross‐cultural analysis in the cosmetic industry," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(3), pages 1226-1243, May.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Li, Zhengtao & Hu, Bin, 2018. "Perceived health risk, environmental knowledge, and contingent valuation for improving air quality: New evidence from the Jinchuan mining area in China," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 31(C), pages 54-68.
    2. Sreen, Naman & Purbey, Shankar & Sadarangani, Pradip, 2018. "Impact of culture, behavior and gender on green purchase intention," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 177-189.
    3. Kamonthip Maichum & Surakiat Parichatnon & Ke-Chung Peng, 2016. "Application of the Extended Theory of Planned Behavior Model to Investigate Purchase Intention of Green Products among Thai Consumers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(10), pages 1-20, October.
    4. Samah Ibnou-Laaroussi & Husam Rjoub & Wing-Keung Wong, 2020. "Sustainability of Green Tourism among International Tourists and Its Influence on the Achievement of Green Environment: Evidence from North Cyprus," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-24, July.
    5. Ho, Thi Thu & Huynh, Cong Minh, 2022. "Green Purchase Intention: An Investigation from Vietnamese Young Consumers," MPRA Paper 112355, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    6. Paul, Justin & Modi, Ashwin & Patel, Jayesh, 2016. "Predicting green product consumption using theory of planned behavior and reasoned action," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 123-134.
    7. Shuai Yang & Lei Li & Jiemin Zhang, 2018. "Understanding Consumers’ Sustainable Consumption Intention at China’s Double-11 Online Shopping Festival: An Extended Theory of Planned Behavior Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(6), pages 1-19, May.
    8. Ying Sun & Shanyong Wang & Jun Li & Dingtao Zhao & Jin Fan, 2017. "Understanding consumers’ intention to use plastic bags: using an extended theory of planned behaviour model," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 89(3), pages 1327-1342, December.
    9. Franky Varah & Mirinchonme Mahongnao & Balaram Pani & Sophayo Khamrang, 2021. "Exploring young consumers’ intention toward green products: applying an extended theory of planned behavior," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(6), pages 9181-9195, June.
    10. Jingyang Zhou & Yanjun Qin & Shaoze Fang, 2019. "Impacts of Consumers and Real Estate Enterprises on the Implementation of Prefabrication in Residential Buildings: The Moderating Role of Incentive Policies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-17, September.
    11. Guomin Li & Wei Li & Zihan Jin & Zhihao Wang, 2019. "Influence of Environmental Concern and Knowledge on Households’ Willingness to Purchase Energy-Efficient Appliances: A Case Study in Shanxi, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-18, February.
    12. Edwin Chukwuemeka Idoko & Chukwunonso Oraedu & Christian Chidera Ugwuanyi & Stephen Ikechukwu Ukenna, 2021. "Determinants of Smart Meter on Sustainable Energy Consumption Behavior: A Developing Country Perspective," SAGE Open, , vol. 11(3), pages 21582440211, July.
    13. Husted, Bryan W. & Russo, Michael V. & Meza, Carlos E. Basurto & Tilleman, Suzanne G., 2014. "An exploratory study of environmental attitudes and the willingness to pay for environmental certification in Mexico," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 67(5), pages 891-899.
    14. Nketiah, Emmanuel & Song, Huaming & Cai, Xiang & Adjei, Mavis & Adu-Gyamfi, Gibbson & Obuobi, Bright, 2022. "Citizens’ intention to invest in municipal solid waste to energy projects in Ghana: The impact of direct and indirect effects," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(PC).
    15. Heesup Han & Myong Jae Lee & Wansoo Kim, 2018. "Antecedents of Green Loyalty in the Cruise Industry: Sustainable Development and Environmental Management," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 27(3), pages 323-335, March.
    16. Bo-Kyeong Kim & Kyoung-Ok Kim, 2020. "Relationship between Viewing Motivation, Presence, Viewing Satisfaction, and Attitude toward Tourism Destinations Based on TV Travel Reality Variety Programs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-13, June.
    17. Chen, Shih-Chih & Hung, Chung-Wen, 2016. "Elucidating the factors influencing the acceptance of green products: An extension of theory of planned behavior," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 155-163.
    18. Lucia Reisch & Clive L Spash & Sabine Bietz, 2008. "Sustainable Consumption and Mass Communication: A German Experiment," Socio-Economics and the Environment in Discussion (SEED) Working Paper Series 2008-12, CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems.
    19. Hamid Mahmood Gelaidan & Abdullah Al-Swidi & Muhammad Haroon Hafeez, 2023. "Studying the Joint Effects of Perceived Service Quality, Perceived Benefits, and Environmental Concerns in Sustainable Travel Behavior: Extending the TPB," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-22, July.
    20. Hsu, Chia-Lin & Chang, Chi-Ya & Yansritakul, Chutinart, 2017. "Exploring purchase intention of green skincare products using the theory of planned behavior: Testing the moderating effects of country of origin and price sensitivity," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 145-152.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:4:p:1984-:d:498118. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.