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Evolution of Polish E-Consumers’ Environmental Awareness and Purchasing Behavior over Ten Years

Author

Listed:
  • Bożena Gajdzik

    (Department of Industrial Informatics, Faculty of Materials Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, 40-100 Gliwice, Poland)

  • Kamila Bartuś

    (Department of Economic Informatics, Faculty of Economics, University of Economics in Katowice, 40-287 Katowice, Poland)

  • Magdalena Jaciow

    (Department of Digital Economy Research, Faculty of Economics, University of Economics in Katowice, 40-287 Katowice, Poland)

  • Radosław Wolniak

    (Faculty of Organization and Management, Silesian University of Technology, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland)

  • Robert Wolny

    (Department of Digital Economy Research, Faculty of Economics, University of Economics in Katowice, 40-287 Katowice, Poland)

  • Wiesław Wes Grebski

    (Penn State Hazleton, Pennsylvania State University, 76 University Drive, Hazleton, PA 18202, USA)

Abstract

With the development of e-commerce in Poland, consumer awareness has evolved. Buyers not only compared prices and assessed the quality of products but also began to take into account the impact of their purchases on the environment, which was previously an overlooked aspect. This growing environmental awareness is part of a broader effort to address environmental issues and support practices that promote sustainability. Currently, there is a noticeable increase in ecological awareness among society, government bodies, and the scientific community, strengthening human interaction with the natural environment. The aim of this study was to examine changes in ecological awareness and ecological attitudes among Polish e-consumers over ten years and their impact on online shopping behavior. This study explored how the ecological attitudes of Polish e-consumers have evolved over the last decade and what impact these changes in environmental attitudes have had on the online purchasing behavior of these consumers. Longitudinal studies were used to enable the analysis of changes over time. The research technique was based on repeated measurements of the same phenomena and features, carried out on diverse research samples from the same population, using the same methods and tools. This study was conducted twice, in 2010 and 2020, on a sample of 1150 people in each of these years. This research employed an online survey questionnaire, which included scales for assessing the personality traits of e-consumers and the determinants of online shopping. A significant change was found in e-consumers’ attitudes towards the natural environment and their purchasing preferences. This change has had a clear impact on purchasing behavior, including an increase in the importance of convenience, access to detailed product information, and a wide range of products offered, reflecting more conscious and convenience-oriented consumer behavior.

Suggested Citation

  • Bożena Gajdzik & Kamila Bartuś & Magdalena Jaciow & Radosław Wolniak & Robert Wolny & Wiesław Wes Grebski, 2024. "Evolution of Polish E-Consumers’ Environmental Awareness and Purchasing Behavior over Ten Years," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(11), pages 1-29, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:11:p:4686-:d:1406159
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Robert Wolny & Jakub Kol & Agata Stolecka-Makowska & Grzegorz Szojda, 2025. "Digital Consumer Behavior in Poland and Its Environmental Impact Within the Framework of Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-27, May.
    2. Shaema Ali Abdullah Al-Olfi & Yanan Song & Yazeed Mohammed Al-Hajj, 2026. "The Impact of Sustainable Supply Chain Strategies on E-Commerce Consumer Purchasing Behavior: Considering the Moderating Effect of Big Data Analytics," Journal of the Knowledge Economy, Springer;Portland International Center for Management of Engineering and Technology (PICMET), vol. 17(1), pages 364-399, February.

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