Sustainable Consumption in the Digital Economy

Dear Colleagues,

Today's economy increasingly embodies characteristics of a digital economy, wherein market participants must not only ensure the production of quality products and sustainable consumption, but also prioritize an efficient, sustainable flow of information and resources. A flexible response to market needs and providing efficient service to customers, contractors, and, more broadly, citizens, is crucial. Fulfilling these tasks requires the establishment of suitable infrastructure and procedures, as well as an appropriate attitude and behavior on the part of market participants. Infrastructure development must incorporate solutions aligned with the concept of sustainable development. Implementing a balanced economy policy requires participation from all stakeholders: the government, local authorities, businesses, and consumers. One direction of sustainable development is the digitalization of the economy, which results, among other things, in the provision of services accessible via the Internet. The assessment of whether digital service offerings keep up with consumer needs and global sustainable economy requirements is becoming vital. The objective of this Special Issue of Sustainability is to identify the determinants of acceptance of digitally enabled services, identify constraints, and evaluate these activities in terms of sustainable consumption and sustainable economy.

Rampant consumerism is a driving force behind the progressive degradation of the environment and the depletion of its resources, making consumption a major cause of Earth's ecological imbalance, and consequently, leading to the deterioration of the quality of life. The pursuit of an ever-increasing quantity of material goods, overconsumption, waste generation, and the necessity to maximize profit undermine sustainability. Achieving a sustainable quality of life through sustainable consumption is influenced, among other factors, by the ecological behavior of consumers.

According to UNEP, sustainable consumption, sometimes abbreviated as "SC", is the use of products and services in a manner that minimizes environmental impact, fulfilling the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. SC is encapsulated in Goal 12: Responsible Consumption and Production, as part of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Therefore, this Special Issue aims to address the following questions:

1. (RQ1) Do changes in green consumer behavior illustrate sustainable consumption and sustainable development?
2. (RQ2) Does the development of digital technologies foster sustainable consumption and sustainable development?
3. (RQ3) Has the digital economy reached a level of maturity in terms of sustainable consumer behavior in sustainable economies?

The Guest Editors of this Special Issue of Sustainability invite academics and business practitioners from around the world to contribute. The extent of sustainable consumption in the digital economy is a significant research subject. Contributions (papers) may involve literature reviews (bibliometrics), quantitative analyses, and models of sustainable consumption in the digital and sustainable economy.

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

Manuscript Submission Information

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• consumer
• digitalization
• sustainability
• digital economy
• sustainable consumption
• e-consumer behavior
• digitization of the economy
• sustainable quality of life
• consumer environmental behavior
• e-services