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Article

Sustainable Consumer Behavior: Identifying Behavior Change Stages in Recycling in the USA

by
Jing Jian Xiao
1,* and
Feihong Xia
2
1
Department of Human Development and Family Science, University of Rhode Island, 2 Lower College Road, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
2
College of Business, University of Rhode Island, 7 Lippitt Road, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Recycling 2025, 10(3), 111; https://doi.org/10.3390/recycling10030111
Submission received: 28 February 2025 / Revised: 20 May 2025 / Accepted: 28 May 2025 / Published: 3 June 2025

Abstract

Sustainable consumer behavior refers to any behavior that benefits environmental protection and social justice. Previous research has shown that sustainable consumer behavior is positively associated with consumer wellbeing. Recycling behavior is a type of sustainable behavior that has been studied extensively. However, research on behavior change in recycling is limited. The purpose of this study is to identify the change stages for recycling behavior among American consumers. Using national data collected in the U.S. and under the guidance of the transtheoretical model of behavior change (TTM), the results showed that most Americans engage in recycling behavior, but a minority of them do not. Among them, 13% have never considered recycling in the near future. We also identified the differences in behavior change stages in terms of psychological, cognitive, socioeconomic, and environmental factors. The findings have implications for policy makers, business professionals, and consumer educators to develop strategies to encourage consumer recycling behavior.
Keywords: sustainable consumer behavior; behavioral change; recycling; transtheoretical model of behavior change (TTM) sustainable consumer behavior; behavioral change; recycling; transtheoretical model of behavior change (TTM)

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Xiao, J.J.; Xia, F. Sustainable Consumer Behavior: Identifying Behavior Change Stages in Recycling in the USA. Recycling 2025, 10, 111. https://doi.org/10.3390/recycling10030111

AMA Style

Xiao JJ, Xia F. Sustainable Consumer Behavior: Identifying Behavior Change Stages in Recycling in the USA. Recycling. 2025; 10(3):111. https://doi.org/10.3390/recycling10030111

Chicago/Turabian Style

Xiao, Jing Jian, and Feihong Xia. 2025. "Sustainable Consumer Behavior: Identifying Behavior Change Stages in Recycling in the USA" Recycling 10, no. 3: 111. https://doi.org/10.3390/recycling10030111

APA Style

Xiao, J. J., & Xia, F. (2025). Sustainable Consumer Behavior: Identifying Behavior Change Stages in Recycling in the USA. Recycling, 10(3), 111. https://doi.org/10.3390/recycling10030111

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