Sustainable Development in the Digital Economy: Impact on Consumer Behavior

Dear Colleagues,

In the new economic context characterized by the digitalization of the global economy, sustainable development is gaining increased attention, particularly regarding its effects on consumer behavior. The digital economy, driven by technologies such as artificial intelligence, e-commerce, blockchain, and data analytics, is reshaping the way consumers interact with products and services. At the same time, these technological advancements offer new opportunities for promoting sustainable development by enabling a more efficient use of resources, reducing waste, and fostering conscious consumerism.

With all this, the intersection between digital transformation and sustainable consumption remains underexplored. In this context, this Special Issue aims to investigate how digital technologies influence consumer behavior toward sustainability and how businesses and policymakers can leverage these trends, promoting sustainability practices.

Furthermore, a special focus will be put on the ways in which digital tools can reduce environmental impacts, create transparency in supply chains, and empower consumers to make informed, eco-conscious decisions.

Also, the digital economy offers both challenges and opportunities for sustainability: while online consumption and rapid technological advancement may contribute to resource depletion and overconsumption, new digital solutions have the potential to enhance consumer awareness, supporting sustainable production practices and the global sustainable development goals (SDGs), with a particular emphasis on SDG 12, on Responsible Consumption and Production.

This Special Issue aims to address a series of questions such as, but not limited to, the following:

• (RQ1) How does digitalization impact consumer behavior toward sustainable consumption?
• (RQ2) What is the role played by digital platforms and technologies in fostering responsible consumption and sustainability?
• (RQ3) How can the digital economy support the transition to a circular, sustainable economy while mitigating overconsumption?

Through the Special Issue, we would like to invite scholars and practitioners to contribute research that explores the interaction between digital technologies and sustainable consumption. Thus, we welcome a wide range of contributions, including empirical research, case studies, literature reviews, bibliometric analyses and conceptual papers.

Kind regards,

Prof. Dr. Corina Ioanăș
Dr. Camelia Delcea
Guest Editors

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