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Promoting the Transition to a Circular Economy: A Study about Behaviour, Attitudes, and Knowledge by University Students in Portugal

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  • Márcia N. Alves

    (Católica Porto Business School, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, 4169-005 Porto, Portugal)

  • Carlos Seixas

    (Research on Economics, Management and Information Technologies (REMIT), Portucalense University, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal)

  • Alberto Castro

    (Católica Porto Business School, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, 4169-005 Porto, Portugal)

  • Alexandra Leitão

    (Research Centre in Management and Economics, Católica Porto Business School, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, 4169-005 Porto, Portugal)

Abstract

Younger and highly skilled generations are one of the major driving forces of a successful transformation to a circular economy (CE); therefore, this paper intends to assess the prevalent behaviour, attitudes, and knowledge of the CE by university students. The study focuses specifically on Portuguese students. Some new conclusions were added to the existent literature. Our conclusions show that, although students engage in several types of CE behaviour and have positive attitudes, these mostly include actions such as reducing food waste, recycling practices, or purchasing energy-efficient products. Circular consumption habits like remanufactured products, second-hand purchases, the sharing economy, and product-as-a-service systems (PSSs) still need further implementation. However, we determine that the level of knowledge of the CE goes beyond the conventional recycling premise. Moreover, we have included an innovative part, based on a probit model, by studying how knowledge of the CE affects students’ behaviour and attitudes and conclude that it positively influences them. Other variables such as age, gender, and level of education are also found to influence actions and attitudes. As a result, this study can significantly improve the overview of the current situation and provide a starting point for measuring the effectiveness of future policies to be defined.

Suggested Citation

  • Márcia N. Alves & Carlos Seixas & Alberto Castro & Alexandra Leitão, 2023. "Promoting the Transition to a Circular Economy: A Study about Behaviour, Attitudes, and Knowledge by University Students in Portugal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(1), pages 1-22, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2023:i:1:p:343-:d:1310457
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kirchherr, Julian & Reike, Denise & Hekkert, Marko, 2017. "Conceptualizing the circular economy: An analysis of 114 definitions," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 221-232.
    2. Yu Hao & Yingting Wang & Qiuwei Wu & Shiwei Sun & Weilu Wang & Menglin Cui, 2020. "What affects residents' participation in the circular economy for sustainable development? Evidence from China," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(5), pages 1251-1268, September.
    3. Hazen, Benjamin T. & Overstreet, Robert E. & Jones-Farmer, L. Allison & Field, Hubert S., 2012. "The role of ambiguity tolerance in consumer perception of remanufactured products," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 135(2), pages 781-790.
    4. Andrea Szilagyi & Lucian-Ionel Cioca & Laura Bacali & Elena-Simina Lakatos & Andreea-Loredana Birgovan, 2022. "Consumers in the Circular Economy: A Path Analysis of the Underlying Factors of Purchasing Behaviour," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-12, September.
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