Sustainable Consumption in the Digital Economy: Second Edition

Dear Colleagues,

The modern economy is increasingly characterized by features of a digital economy, in which market participants must not only ensure product quality and sustainable consumption but also prioritize the efficient and sustainable flow of information and resources. Flexibility in responding to market needs and efficient service delivery to customers, contractors, and society at large are essential. Meeting these demands requires the development of appropriate infrastructure and procedures, as well as the cultivation of adequate attitudes and behaviors among market actors. Infrastructure development should incorporate solutions aligned with the principles of sustainable development.

Implementing a balanced economic policy necessitates the involvement of all stakeholders: governments, local authorities, businesses, and consumers. One direction of sustainable development is the digitalization of the economy, which has led, among other outcomes, to the proliferation of services available online. Increasingly important is the assessment of whether digital service offerings are keeping pace with consumer needs and the requirements of a globally sustainable economy.

The objective of this special issue of Sustainability is to identify the factors influencing the acceptance of digitally enabled services, to explore existing constraints, and to evaluate these phenomena from the perspective of sustainable consumption and the sustainable economy. Intensified consumerism is among the primary drivers of environmental degradation and the depletion of natural resources. Consumption has become a major contributor to the Earth's ecological imbalance, with corresponding negative effects on quality of life. The relentless pursuit of material goods, excessive consumption, waste generation, and the drive to maximize profits all undermine sustainability. Achieving a sustainable quality of life through sustainable consumption is influenced, among other factors, by the ecological behaviors of consumers.

According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), sustainable consumption (SC) refers to the use of products and services in ways that minimize environmental impacts while meeting the needs of current generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs. SC is embedded in Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production of the Global Sustainable Development Agenda.

In this context, the role of artificial intelligence (AI) is of particular importance. AI enables advanced consumer data analysis, personalized service delivery, and the optimization of economic processes in alignment with sustainability goals. It can assist consumers, businesses, and public institutions in making informed decisions by providing intelligent recommendations, monitoring the environmental footprint of products, and promoting responsible consumption models.

This special issue specifically addresses the following research questions:

1. (RQ1) Do changes in green consumer behavior reflect sustainable consumption and development?
2. (RQ2) Does the development of digital technologies foster sustainable consumption and development?
3. (RQ3) Has the digital economy reached a level of maturity in terms of sustainable consumer behavior in sustainable economies?
4. (RQ4) To what extent can artificial intelligence (AI) tools support sustainable consumption through service personalization, optimization of consumer decision-making, and environmental data analysis?

The editors of this special issue of Sustainability invite scholars and business practitioners from around the world to contribute. The scope of sustainable consumption within the digital economy remains a crucial field of academic inquiry. Submissions may include literature reviews (bibliometric analyses), quantitative studies, and conceptual models related to sustainable consumption in the context of a digital and sustainable economy.

Prof. Dr. Robert Wolny
Prof. Dr. Bożena Gajdzik
Prof. Dr. Magdalena Jaciow
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

• sustainable consumption
• digital economy
• digitalization
• e-consumer behavior
• consumer environmental behavior
• sustainable quality of life
• e-services
• artificial intelligence for sustainable consumption
• smart consumption
• sustainability