IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v14y2022i9p5379-d805657.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Eating in Season—A Lever of Sustainability? An Interview Study on the Social Perception of Seasonal Consumption

Author

Listed:
  • Faustine Régnier

    (Université Paris-Saclay, INRAE, AgroParisTech, Paris-Saclay Applied Economics, 91120 Palaiseau, France)

  • Anne-Laure Dalstein

    (Eteicos, Institut d’études et de Conseil, 31 rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau, 93100 Montreuil, France)

  • Clémence Rouballay

    (Eteicos, Institut d’études et de Conseil, 31 rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau, 93100 Montreuil, France)

  • Louis Chauvel

    (Institute for Research on Socio-Economic Inequalities, University of Luxembourg, 11 Porte des Sciences, L-4366 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg)

Abstract

Seasonality is a lever of sustainability. However, very little is known about the social perceptions of “in season” food consumption. We aimed to explore different French social groups’ perceptions of seasonality, “in season” food choices, and their respective advantages or disadvantages. We interviewed 73 individuals (general population = 32, clients of short supply chains = 28, Etiquettable (a sustainability app) users = 13). In-depth, semi-structured interviews using open-ended questions were conducted. Content and thematic, textual, and quantitative analyses were performed. We found four clusters of interviewees who differed in social backgrounds and motivations for eating “in season.” A social divide between individuals for whom “eating seasonally” was a priority (upper strata), and those who “eat unseasonally” (lower strata) was highlighted. An analysis of motivations showed a contrast between individuals who were familiar with seasonal food rhythms and aimed to support the local economy and the older generation for whom seasonal products gave better value for money. The implications of public action on sustainable consumption are discussed with respect to the knowledge of seasonality, targeted segments of the population, and a combination of arguments to encourage seasonal consumption.

Suggested Citation

  • Faustine Régnier & Anne-Laure Dalstein & Clémence Rouballay & Louis Chauvel, 2022. "Eating in Season—A Lever of Sustainability? An Interview Study on the Social Perception of Seasonal Consumption," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-23, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:9:p:5379-:d:805657
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/9/5379/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/9/5379/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Régnier, Faustine & Caillavet, France & Badji, Ikpidi, 2019. "Saisonnalité et contre-saisonnalité pour une alimentation durable," INRAE Sciences Sociales, Institut national de recherche pour l'agriculture, l'alimentation et l'environnement (INRAE), Departement Sciences Sociales, Agriculture et Alimentation, Espace et Environnement (SAE2), vol. 2019(5-6), November.
    2. Saari, Ulla A. & Damberg, Svenja & Frömbling, Lena & Ringle, Christian M., 2021. "Sustainable consumption behavior of Europeans: The influence of environmental knowledge and risk perception on environmental concern and behavioral intention," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    3. Irene C. Kamenidou & Spyridon A. Mamalis & Stavros Pavlidis & Evangelia-Zoi G. Bara, 2019. "Segmenting the Generation Z Cohort University Students Based on Sustainable Food Consumption Behavior: A Preliminary Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(3), pages 1-22, February.
    4. Yamna Erraach & Fatma Jaafer & Ivana Radić & Mechthild Donner, 2021. "Sustainability labels on olive oil: A review on consumer attitudes and behavior," Post-Print hal-03476649, HAL.
    5. Georgiana-Raluca Ladaru & Diana Maria Ilie & Maria Claudia Diaconeasa & Ionut Laurentiu Petre & Florian Marin & Valentin Lazar, 2020. "Influencing Factors of a Sustainable Vegetable Choice. The Romanian Consumers’ Case," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-20, November.
    6. Yamna Erraach & Fatma Jaafer & Ivana Radić & Mechthild Donner, 2021. "Sustainability Labels on Olive Oil: A Review on Consumer Attitudes and Behavior," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-23, November.
    7. Niva, Mari & Jallinoja, Piia, 2018. "Taking a Stand through Food Choices? Characteristics of Political Food Consumption and Consumers in Finland," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 349-360.
    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. Giannis T. Tsoulfas & Panagiotis Trivellas & Panagiotis Reklitis & Anna Anastasopoulou, 2023. "A Bibliometric Analysis of Short Supply Chains in the Agri-Food Sector," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-46, January.

    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. Rizal Edy Halim & Shinta Rahmani & Gita Gayatri & Asnan Furinto & Yudi Sutarso, 2022. "The Effectiveness of Product Sustainability Claims to Mitigate Negative Electronic Word of Mouth (N-eWOM)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-18, February.
    2. Luis Pérez y Pérez & Azucena Gracia, 2023. "Consumer Preferences for Olive Oil in Spain: A Best-Worst Scaling Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(14), pages 1-14, July.
    3. Groth, Carolin & Wegmann, Christoph & Meyerding, Stephan G.H., 2023. "Perception of product sustainability: The case of processed tomatoes – A qualitative study in Germany," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 71(C).
    4. Zdenka Gyurák Babeľová & Augustín Stareček & Kristína Koltnerová & Dagmar Cagáňová, 2020. "Perceived Organizational Performance in Recruiting and Retaining Employees with Respect to Different Generational Groups of Employees and Sustainable Human Resource Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-23, January.
    5. Chaeyoung Lim & Jongchang Ahn, 2021. "Social Overload and Discontinuance Intention on Facebook: A Comparative Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-17, November.
    6. José Alberto Martínez-González & Carmen D. Álvarez-Albelo, 2021. "Influence of Site Personalization and First Impression on Young Consumers’ Loyalty to Tourism Websites," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-17, January.
    7. José Alberto Martínez-González & Eduardo Parra-López & Almudena Barrientos-Báez, 2021. "Young Consumers’ Intention to Participate in the Sharing Economy: An Integrated Model," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(1), pages 1-21, January.
    8. 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.
    9. Irene (Eirini) Kamenidou & Aikaterini Stavrianea & Christina Liava, 2020. "Achieving a Covid-19 Free Country: Citizens Preventive Measures and Communication Pathways," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-18, June.
    10. Irene (Eirini) Kamenidou & Aikaterini Stavrianea & Spyridon Mamalis & Ifigeneia Mylona, 2020. "Knowledge Assessment of COVID-19 Symptoms: Gender Differences and Communication Routes for the Generation Z Cohort," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-16, September.
    11. Michał Gazdecki & Elżbieta Goryńska-Goldmann & Marietta Kiss & Zoltán Szakály, 2021. "Segmentation of Food Consumers Based on Their Sustainable Attitude," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-28, May.
    12. Yaser Sobhanifard & Seyed Mohammad Saleh Hashemi Apourvari, 2022. "Environmental sustainable development through modeling and ranking of influential factors of reference groups on consumer behavior of green products: The case of Iran," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 30(5), pages 1294-1312, October.
    13. Piotr Kulyk & Mariola Michalowska & Lukasz Augustowski, 2020. "Sustainable Consumption in the Market of Food Production: The Case of Lubuskie Voivodeship," European Research Studies Journal, European Research Studies Journal, vol. 0(4), pages 225-240.
    14. Agnieszka Bitkowska & Joanna Moczydłowska & Krystyna Leszczewska & Karol Karasiewicz & Joanna Sadkowska & Beata Żelazko, 2022. "Young Consumers’ Perceptions of Family Firms and Their Purchase Intentions—The Polish Experience," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-19, October.
    15. Junaid Aftab & Monica Veneziani, 2024. "How does green human resource management contribute to saving the environment? Evidence of emerging market manufacturing firms," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(2), pages 529-545, February.
    16. Luigi Leclercq-Machado & Aldo Alvarez-Risco & Verónica García-Ibarra & Sharon Esquerre-Botton & Flavio Morales-Ríos & Maria de las Mercedes Anderson-Seminario & Shyla Del-Aguila-Arcentales & Neal M. D, 2022. "Consumer Patterns of Sustainable Clothing Based on Theory of Reasoned Action: Evidence from Ecuador," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-16, November.
    17. Huaquan Zhang & Yashuang Tang & Martinson Ankrah Twumasi & Abbas Ali Chandio & Lili Guo & Ruixin Wan & Shilei Pan & Yun Shen & Ghulam Raza Sargani, 2022. "The Effects of Ecological Public Welfare Jobs on the Usage of Clean Energy by Farmers: Evidence from Tibet Areas—China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-16, June.
    18. Tatjana Mamula Nikolić & Ivan Paunović & Mirjana Milovanović & Nenad Lozović & Marija Đurović, 2022. "Examining Generation Z’s Attitudes, Behavior and Awareness Regarding Eco-Products: A Bayesian Approach to Confirmatory Factor Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-16, February.
    19. Manuela Vega-Zamora & Manuel Parras-Rosa & Francisco José Torres-Ruiz, 2020. "You Are What You Eat: The Relationship between Values and Organic Food Consumption," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-13, May.
    20. Katherine Kent & Denis Visentin & Corey Peterson & Carmen Primo & Catherine Elliott & Margaret Otlowski & Sandra Murray, 2021. "The Perceived Importance and Intended Purchasing Patterns of Sustainable Foods in Australian University Students," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-17, October.

    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:14:y:2022:i:9:p:5379-:d:805657. 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.