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New Trends and Patterns in Consumer Behavior and Sustainable Consumption

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (1 February 2022) | Viewed by 46581

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Cinzia Castiglioni

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Leading Guest Editor

Department of Psychology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 20123 Milano MI, Italy
Interests: economic psychology; consumer behavior; charitable giving; nudging
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Edoardo Lozza

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Co-Guest Editor

Department of Psychology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 20123 Milano MI, Italy
Interests: economic psychology; consumer behavior; fiscal psychology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

A wide variety of factors at psychological, social, and economic levels can lead consumers towards (or against) sustainable choices/behaviors. Recent events that took place at an international level—for example, global economic crisis, marketing globalization, digitalization, climate change, and the most recent emergency related to the COVID-19 pandemic—have determined many changes in consumer attitudes, aspirations, and purchasing patterns. Such changes include, but are not limited to, new consumption strategies, decline of hyperconsumerism in favor of a new frugality, sustainable and ethical consumption (organic, fair trade, or second-hand products), increasing interest in “free-from” and functional food, and new relationships with brands. Such changes in consumption patterns might not be merely temporary but could leave a more permanent footprint on the psychology of consumers.

As each feature of the new socioeconomic situation has led the vast majority of consumers to look for new landmarks, understanding new patterns in consumer behavior is important because it can significantly help businesses and professionals fulfill consumers’ needs and meet their expectations. Besides helping businesses to attain their long-term goals, such understanding can also help minimize consumer disorientation and increase their general well-being.

This Special Issue will collect a selection of papers presenting original and innovative contributions to the study of new patterns in consumer behavior, focusing on both theoretical and pragmatic implications of the occurring changes. Articles dealing with changes in consumption patterns related to the COVID-19 pandemic are especially welcome.

Dr. Cinzia Castiglioni
Prof. Edoardo Lozza
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

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.

Keywords

consumer behavior
consumer psychology
new consumption patterns
consumption strategies
sustainable consumption
ethical consumption
COVID-19
health crisis
social crisis

Published Papers (12 papers)

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Research

25 pages, 797 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on the Sustainability of Channel Strategy Selection on the Overall Efficiency of Listed Retail Enterprises: Evidence from China

by Nuo Chen, Chong Ye and Jiaonan Wang

Sustainability 2022, 14(16), 9992; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14169992 - 12 Aug 2022

Viewed by 1191

Abstract

Appropriate channel strategies can help to improve the operational efficiency of retail firms and stimulate the domestic demand market. To study the sustainability of retail enterprises in the COVID-19 era, this paper uses the data of 29 Chinese listed retail enterprises from 2012 to 2021 as a sample, and uses data envelopment analysis (DEA) to evaluate and analyze the efficiency of the listed retail enterprises that implement different channel strategies. The results of the study show that: (1) The implementation of channel strategy will re-integrate the information flow, capital flow, commercial flow and logistics of enterprises, and affect the efficiency of enterprises through four paths: market demand, channel resources, channel technology and channel system. (2) The implementation of dual-channel strategy enterprises, in the short term, has greater technical efficiency than single-channel strategy enterprises. (3) The channel integration strategy of online ordering and store delivery has a significant positive impact on the overall efficiency of listed retail enterprises. (4) The inventory turnover rate has a significant positive impact on the overall efficiency of the listed retail enterprises. The level of accounts receivable, the level of retail technology, the level of investment in fixed assets and the size of enterprises have a negative impact on the overall efficiency of the listed retail enterprises. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends and Patterns in Consumer Behavior and Sustainable Consumption)

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19 pages, 1147 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Consuming to Conserve: A Multilevel Investigation of Sustainable Consumption

by Lei Chen, Hui Zheng and Vishal Shah

Sustainability 2022, 14(1), 223; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14010223 - 26 Dec 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3302

Abstract

As the world grapples with the ever-worsening specter of climate change, it becomes important for various nations/governments to develop mitigating measures. One of the ways to ebb the march of climate decline is to educate the population in respective countries about sustainable consumption that reduces carbon emissions. While prior research has explored the key factors of sustainable consumption in several industries, such as consumer knowledge and personal norm, it has played relatively little attention to them macro-level variables such as level of post-materialism and innovation. To this end, we study the interplay between individual-level factors and national-level variables using a hierarchical linear model on consumers’ perceived value for sustainable products and subsequent sustainable behavior. We used a dataset from the World Value Survey, which includes over 34 thousand respondents covering 40 different nations. The finding suggests that differences in individual-level sustainable consumption are explained by national-level factors. Post-materialist societies were willing to make financial sacrifices for sustainable consumption. Our findings also emphasize that the national-level factor Green Innovation modifies the relationship between Preserved Value and Sustainable Consumption at the individual-level. The findings not only sharpen our sustainability knowledge from a hierarchical view, but also provide useful guidelines for policymakers to promote sustainable consumption. Our study emphasizes that sustainable behavior is the consequence of the interplay between multilevel factors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends and Patterns in Consumer Behavior and Sustainable Consumption)

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15 pages, 885 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Are Credit-Based Internet Consumer Finance Platforms Sustainable? A Study on Continuous Use Intention of Chinese Users

by Ming Chen, Fan Yang and Yongrok Choi

Sustainability 2021, 13(24), 13629; https://doi.org/10.3390/su132413629 - 9 Dec 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3014

Abstract

Internet consumer finance platforms (ICFPs), as a new Internet financial model, have emerged and been widely adopted by Chinese as well as global online shoppers following the rapid growth of e-commerce. This emerging financial tool is, however, luring younger generations deep into debt. It jeopardizes the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 1—No poverty, bringing the sustainability of this consumer financial model into question. To aid the sustainable development of ICFP industry, this paper distinguishes two antecedents of continuous use intention for ICFP users: (1) satisfaction, as a sustainable determinant; and (2) impulsive buying, as a non-sustainable determinant. We found satisfaction (b = 0.452) has a larger positive effect on continuous use intention compared to impulsive buying (b = 0.229). Therefore, ICFPs should weigh heavier on technology innovation instead of seducing consumers’ impulsive buying behavior. We also found that credit limit misconception poses the largest impact (b = 0.483) on impulsive buying. In the near term, governments and ICFPs may initiate public programs to improve ICFP users’ financial literacy in order to restrain their unsustainable impulsive buying behavior and cultivate their sustainable satisfaction on ICFP technology and service. Market regulators may build up institutional frameworks to tighten the abuse of financial platforms on credit issuing power and better foster sustainable entrepreneurship in this new financial platform business. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends and Patterns in Consumer Behavior and Sustainable Consumption)

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16 pages, 304 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of Residents’ Online Consumption on Offline Consumption—An Ordered Probit Semi-Parametric Estimation Method

by Xianjin Tu, Victor Shi, Ming Zhang and Gangwu Lv

Sustainability 2021, 13(18), 10047; https://doi.org/10.3390/su131810047 - 8 Sep 2021

Viewed by 1686

Abstract

Online consumption not only is an economic phenomenon, but also has a profound impact on offline consumption. Under this context, this article analyzes the mechanism of how they influence offline consumption and puts forward research hypotheses. China Household Financial Survey (CHFS) data and a semi-parametric ordered probit estimation method are used empirical tests. The results indicate that consumers with online consumption experience are very likely to consume again. The scale of online consumption not only drives the increase of overall consumption, but also promotes the growth of offline consumption via capital effect, complementarity effect, and psychologic effect. In general, online consumption and offline consumption have achieved integrated development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends and Patterns in Consumer Behavior and Sustainable Consumption)

22 pages, 318 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Pandemic of Productivity: A Narrative Inquiry into the Value of Leisure Time

by Jessica S. Klaver and Wim Lambrechts

Sustainability 2021, 13(11), 6271; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13116271 - 1 Jun 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3942

Abstract

This study explored narratives derived from in-depth interviews to demonstrate how an increase in leisure time could positively affect both our subjective well-being, through a better balance of work and “self”, and the environment, through a change in consumption practices. Firstly, the analysis of the interviews provided insight into the social function of work. Work creates feelings of connection and belonging; however, it can also create the opposite, negatively affecting our experience of leisure time, our productivity, and our well-being. Participants described how paid work provided structure and routine, which resulted in an increased feeling of subjective well-being. However, a lack of structure and routine during the COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected feelings of “usefulness” and “productivity”. Secondly, an increase in leisure time created more opportunities for autonomy, leading to more unforced leisure activities and a better balance between work and self. Moreover, an increase in autonomy could be achieved through both increased work flexibility and a shorter working week. Lastly, this study aimed to demonstrate that more leisure time during lockdown periods can change how we spend our free time, therefore resulting in more pro-environmental consumer behaviour. This study intended to contribute to a gap in the literature: effects of leisure time on the balance between work and the “self”. The research setting offered limited opportunities for researching intentional, sustainable consumer behaviour, which provides an opportunity for further research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends and Patterns in Consumer Behavior and Sustainable Consumption)

20 pages, 540 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Interior Design with Consumers’ Perception about Art, Brand Image, and Sustainability

by Jeongah Kim and Wookjae Heo

Sustainability 2021, 13(8), 4557; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13084557 - 20 Apr 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4179

Abstract

In this study, the main research purpose was to determine whether artistic components of interior design in a store lead consumers to have different perceptions of the store. There were three main research questions. The first was whether consumers perceived the artistic components in a store visually. Second, based on the first research question, this study explored whether the artistic displays at the show window, around the furniture, and around the stairs were associated with consumers’ perceptions of the store as environmental-friendly. The third research question explored how the consumers’ perceptions of artistic and environment-friendly components were associated with the conventional marketing performance of the store. The 2 Stages Probit Least Squares (2SPLS) method was utilized to answer the first and second research questions and the 2 Stage Least Squares (2SLS) method was utilized for the third research question. Findings indicated that consumers had significant emotional responses from seeing artistic components in a store. In addition, these perceived art elements were associated with marketing performances, including pro-environmental perception, store differentiation, brand image, and consumer satisfaction. The practical implications were included in the discussion. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends and Patterns in Consumer Behavior and Sustainable Consumption)

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17 pages, 1718 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Semantic Network Analysis to Explore the Concept of Sustainability in the Apparel and Textile Industry

by Chorong Youn and Hye Jung Jung

Sustainability 2021, 13(7), 3813; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13073813 - 30 Mar 2021

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 5354

Abstract

Consumers are becoming increasingly aware and sensitive to the negative environmental impact caused by the fashion industry and by consumers’ high consumption of fashion. This study analyzes people’s unfiltered comments and behaviors on social media sites related to the sustainability of fashion products. Recently, the number of social media data, called big data, has exploded, transcending the level that can be analyzed with existing tools. This study aims to identify consumers’ perceptions of sustainable fashion using the search words “sustainable fashion” to examine public opinion trends found in SNS big data. Text mining was employed to extract meaningful words from the SNS texts using semantic network analysis to analyze the connectivity and propagation trends. The text data were collected from Facebook using the Google search engine to detect tendencies in the occurrence of keywords related to sustainable fashion in SNS over the past five years (2016~2020). The results revealed that the keywords “eco-friendly”, “ethical”, and “recycle” had the highest frequency and centrality. As a result of grouping the keywords based on their correlations, sustainable fashion texts from the SNS data could be classified into four groups: “supply chain of sustainable fashion”, “circular fashion”, “fashion business concepts for sustainability”, and “academic importance of sustainable fashion”. This study strengthens the extent of research by using SNS big data and provides guidelines for product development and communication strategies for a sustainable fashion industry based on customers’ meaningful opinions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends and Patterns in Consumer Behavior and Sustainable Consumption)

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15 pages, 896 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Senior Consumer Motivations and Perceived Value of Robot Service Restaurants in Korea

by Min-Kyu Kwak, JeungSun Lee and Seong-Soo Cha

Sustainability 2021, 13(5), 2755; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13052755 - 4 Mar 2021

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 5639

Abstract

This research empirically tested a theoretical model by defining senior customers’ intentions to use robot service restaurants emerging in South Korea. Non-face-to-face services have become increasingly important for seniors. Therefore, restaurant marketers should cater to senior customers’ needs by sustaining robot service restaurants. The study analyzed 243 questionnaires to verify the reliability and validity of the measurement items. The research hypotheses were examined using structural equation modeling (SEM). The suggested model comprised three stages: motivated consumer innovativeness (MCI), perceived value, and planned behavior (attitude, intention to use). The results revealed that senior customers’ perceived values positively influenced attitude and were enhanced by hedonically MCI (hMCI) and socially MCI. Moreover, the hedonic and social elements of motivation improved the attitude and usage intentions of robot service restaurants for senior customers. However, these relationships differed in terms of the income level of the customer groups. For the low-income senior-level group, hMCI was more influential on the perceived value. This study is meaningful because it analyzes the effect of MCI of seniors on the perceived value of robot service restaurants, which are growing rapidly in South Korea. It has empirically proved the moderating effect of different income groups, providing practical implications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends and Patterns in Consumer Behavior and Sustainable Consumption)

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17 pages, 1270 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Factors Influencing Sustainable Purchasing Behaviour of Remanufactured Robotic Lawn Mowers

by Daan Kabel, Mattias Elg and Erik Sundin

Sustainability 2021, 13(4), 1954; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13041954 - 11 Feb 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3470

Abstract

The lack of consumer acceptance for remanufactured products is preventing the transition towards sustainable consumption. When knowledge about remanufacturing among consumers is limited, more insight is required into the consumer’s expectations. The purpose of this paper is to examine the consumer’s expectations and willingness to engage in sustainable purchasing behaviour when considering buying remanufactured robotic lawn mowers. The theory of planned behaviour and variables from green marketing help form the research model, which was tested empirically using survey data from 118 samples. The results indicate that sustainable purchasing behaviour of remanufactured robotic lawn mowers is primarily influenced by the consumer’s attitude and evaluation of the remanufactured product, and less so by external influences. Consumers expecting high product quality, low price, and low risk, had a positive evaluation and were therefore more willing to engage in sustainable purchasing behaviour of remanufactured robotic lawn mowers. More concisely, consumers value performance and price reductions, and worry about the time the remanufactured robotic lawn mower remains functional. Environmental knowledge among consumers is sufficient but cannot be fully translated into positive evaluations and sustainable purchases of remanufactured robotic lawn mowers. This research provides guidance for how remanufacturing firms can improve their circular marketing and remanufacturing strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends and Patterns in Consumer Behavior and Sustainable Consumption)

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16 pages, 795 KiB

Open AccessArticle

An Empirical Study into Consumer Acceptance of Dockless Bikes Sharing System Based on TAM

by Jie Lyu and Jing Zhang

Sustainability 2021, 13(4), 1831; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13041831 - 8 Feb 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 1994

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to propose an extension model that integrated a technology acceptance model (TAM) with dockless bike-sharing (DLBS) features in order to investigate acceptable behavior when using DLBS. In total, 412 participants from China participated in the study. We used a structural equation model to test our research hypotheses. The research results showed that the extended TAM model provided a more comprehensive understanding of the behavior associated with this context. We observed that perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, subjective norms, and facilitating conditions played an important role in the intention to use DLBS. Moreover, DLBS features played an important role in perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use. The use intention also had an important effect on use behavior. Surprisingly, the three traits of perceived usefulness did not affect perceived usefulness. As such, this study explored, from a consumer’s perspective, why sharing products are accepted. This study offers significant contributions to the relevant literature of the sharing economy. The research results offer enlightening findings for enterprises, as they encourage consumers to adopt the DLBS. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends and Patterns in Consumer Behavior and Sustainable Consumption)

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23 pages, 501 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of Susceptibility to Global Consumer Culture on Commitment and Loyalty in Botanic Cosmetic Brands

by Jae Kwang Hwang, Eun-Jung Kim, Sae-Mi Lee and Yong-Ki Lee

Sustainability 2021, 13(2), 892; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13020892 - 17 Jan 2021

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4770

Abstract

Given that the market is becoming more competitive, it is imperative to understand what influences purchasing decisions of global consumers as consumer trends change regarding botanic cosmetics for anti-aging, maintaining appearance and skin health. This study considers and examines susceptibility to global consumer culture (SGCC) (conformity to consumer trend, social prestige, and quality perception) and its effect on affective commitment, which in turn influences behavioral commitment and loyalty in the context of the botanic cosmetic industry. In addition to examining the structural relationships among the variables, we test whether purchase experience moderates the proposed relationships. The results are as follows. First, conformity to consumer trends has a significant effect on emotional commitment, but is not positively associated with behavioral commitment. Second, social prestige has no significant direct effect on either emotional or behavioral commitment. Third, quality perception has a significant impact on emotional commitment, but no positive impact on behavioral commitment. Fourth, both emotional commitment and behavioral commitment affect brand loyalty, and behavioral commitment in particular has a significant effect on brand loyalty. Finally, through the analysis of the moderating effect on the cosmetic purchasing experience, first, it was confirmed that the less purchasing experience, the stronger the effect of conformity to consumption trend (CCT) on emotional commitment and behavioral commitment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends and Patterns in Consumer Behavior and Sustainable Consumption)

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23 pages, 761 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Country Differences in Determinants of Behavioral Intention towards Sustainable Apparel Products

by Hye Jung Jung, Kyung Wha Oh and HaeJung Maria Kim

Sustainability 2021, 13(2), 558; https://doi.org/10.3390/su13020558 - 8 Jan 2021

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 6143

Abstract

Increased demands for sustainable apparel products require research to understand better how to encourage sustainable buying behavior effectively, especially in the understudied areas of cross-cultural research. This study, which includes respondents from the UK, US, and China (total n = 711) who completed an online survey, explores determinants of behavioral intention toward sustainable apparel products (SAP). This paper contributes to examine both consumer characteristics (shopping values, consciousness of sustainability, perceived consumer effectiveness, and environmental knowledge) and marketing perspective (evaluation criteria of SAP) determinants for encouraging sustainable apparel consumption behaviors. Significant country differences also emerged, indicating the positive impact on behavioral intention to sustainable apparel products across three countries. Results of structural equation modeling analysis demonstrated there were differences and similarities in the effect of consumers’ characteristic factors and marketing perspective factors on SAP behavioral intention among three countries. The results validate that differentiated marketing strategies in the sustainable apparel industry are required when targeting global consumers to boost sustainable apparel consumption and successfully help to remedy the crisis facing our planet and further generation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends and Patterns in Consumer Behavior and Sustainable Consumption)

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