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Consumers Towards the Goals of Sustainable Development: Attitudes and Typology

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  • Grzegorz Maciejewski

    (Department of Market and Consumption, Faculty of Economics, University of Economics in Katowice, 1 Maja 50, 40-287 Katowice, Poland)

  • Dawid Lesznik

    (Department of Market and Consumption, Faculty of Economics, University of Economics in Katowice, 1 Maja 50, 40-287 Katowice, Poland)

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to determine the level of knowledge of the categories of sustainable development and consumers’ attitudes towards concept, assumptions, and principles of sustainable development in Polish society. The article also attempts to distinguish homogeneous clusters of consumers, based on their attitudes toward the sustainable development goals (SDGs). The text is based on the results of the original empirical research carried out by the authors in November 2020 on a sample of 1045 adult consumers from all over Poland. The research used an online survey technique. To determine the types of consumers, 17 diagnostic variables (goals of sustainable development) were adopted. Cluster analysis was used to distinguish the types of consumers, whereas the number of clusters was determined using the hierarchical Ward method with the square of the Euclidean distance. The individual objects were classified into clusters with the help of the non-hierarchical k-means method. The conducted analyses enabled the authors to distinguish three relatively homogeneous types of consumers based on their attitudes towards the sustainable development goals, namely: informed apologists, moderate supporters, and uninformed critics. The consumer types described in the article may constitute the basis for market segmentation for companies offering consumer goods and services. The article also presents the level of awareness of the sustainable development goals in Polish society and the level of their acceptance. In addition, the presented research results conducted in Poland may constitute the basis for implementation of similar research in other countries. In the case of many countries and societies, there is a lack of knowledge about the types of consumers based on their attitudes towards the idea of sustainable development; therefore, it can be concluded that the presented research results contribute to the theory of consumer behavior.

Suggested Citation

  • Grzegorz Maciejewski & Dawid Lesznik, 2022. "Consumers Towards the Goals of Sustainable Development: Attitudes and Typology," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-17, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:17:p:10558-:d:896477
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Piotr Zientara & Paulina Bohdanowicz-Godfrey & Claire Whitely & Grzegorz Maciejewski, 2020. "A Case Study of LightStay (2010–2017)—Hilton’s Corporate Responsibility Management System," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-22, May.
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    3. Sarah Cummings & Barbara Regeer & Leah de Haan & Marjolein Zweekhorst & Joske Bunders, 2018. "Critical discourse analysis of perspectives on knowledge and the knowledge society within the Sustainable Development Goals," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 36(6), pages 727-742, October.
    4. Grzegorz Maciejewski & Mirosława Malinowska & Barbara Kucharska & Michał Kucia & Beata Kolny, 2021. "Sustainable Development as a Factor Differentiating Consumer Behavior: The Case of Poland," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(3), pages 934-948.
    5. Sachs,Jeffrey D. & Kroll,Christian & Lafortune,Guillame & Fuller,Grayson & Woelm,Finn, 2022. "Sustainable Development Report 2022," Cambridge Books, Cambridge University Press, number 9781009210089, September.
    6. Jacek Pietrucha & Grzegorz Maciejewski, 2020. "Precautionary Demand for Cash and Perceived Risk of Electronic Payments," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-25, September.
    7. Moyer, Jonathan D. & Hedden, Steve, 2020. "Are we on the right path to achieve the sustainable development goals?," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).
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    2. Monika Spychalska-Wojtkiewicz & Monika Klein, 2023. "The Importance of Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals in the Opinion of Customers," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(2), pages 118-137.
    3. Jun Deng & Eun-Young Nam, 2022. "Effects of Chinese Firms’ Innovation on New Energy Vehicles Purchases," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-16, September.
    4. Francesca Bassi, 2023. "European Consumers’ Attitudes towards the Environment and Sustainable Behavior in the Market," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-20, January.

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