Search Results (397)

Growing environmental concerns and regulatory pressures are prompting firms to re-examine packaging design to advance sustainability. Focusing on eco-designed retail packaging in the new-style milk tea industry, this study investigates how specific attributes of eco-designed retail packaging influence consumers’ purchase intention. Data were collected from 425 university students in Wuhan. We measured eco-designed retail packaging (ECRP) with a six-dimension scale (functional, aesthetic, eco-materials, eco-information, eco-production, and innovation) and tested the mediating role of green perceived value (GPV) using structural equation modeling (SEM). Results show differentiated effects of ECRP dimensions on GPV and purchase intention. Functional design and clear eco-information increase both GPV and purchase intention, whereas using eco-materials while directly raising purchase intention reduces GPV. Aesthetics and innovation mainly operate through direct enhancement of purchase intention rather than via GPV. GPV mediates part of the effects of functional attributes, eco-materials, and eco-information on purchase intention. The findings imply that optimizing functionality, information clarity, and material choices in eco-designed retail packaging can simultaneously elevate GPV and purchase intention. As green packaging becomes an industry imperative, this study provides theoretical and practical guidance for sustainable packaging innovation and green industry development. Full article

According to the degrowth concept, it is necessary to reduce material consumption and the use of natural resources in order to achieve a more sustainable and equitable economy. Consumers in wealthy countries should consider reducing their consumption levels, which can be hard to accept in these societies. The objective of the current study is to examine the role of environmental self-efficacy in building intention to reduce consumption voluntarily. The analysis was based on data collected from 705 respondents across Poland and Spain. To test the hypotheses, we used the PLS-SEM algorithm and IPMA. The current research results showed that both environmental concern and social norms lead to the intention to reduce consumption through environmental self-efficacy. The mediating effect of self-efficacy in the case of environmental concern’s influence on intention to reduce consumption is stronger in Poland than in Spain, whereas the same effect in the case of social norms’ impact on intention to reduce consumption is similar in both countries. We also observed that the direct effect of social norms on intention to reduce consumption was noticeable in both countries separately but not found after combining both countries’ samples. Full article

The global demand for argan oil has grown considerably in recent years, creating economic opportunities while raising concerns about ecosystem degradation and the sustainability of production systems. To support long-term viability, several initiatives have promoted environmentally friendly practices and fair value-chain models. However, the effective market integration of these initiatives depends on understanding consumer behavior and preferences toward sustainable products. This study aims to identify the determinants influencing consumers’ purchase intention for sustainable argan oil using an extended framework of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). A structural equation modeling approach was applied to analyze responses from adult consumers with a minimum education level of secondary education. The results show that consumer attitude, perceived behavioral control, and willingness to pay have significant positive effects on purchase intention, while ecological literacy exerts an indirect influence through attitude, social norms, perceived behavioral control, and willingness to pay. In contrast, ecological literacy has no significant direct impact. These findings improve the understanding of behavioral mechanisms underlying green product consumption and offer insights into designing marketing strategies that align with sustainability values and promote responsible consumer choices. Full article

This study examines the socio-economic and behavioral factors influencing sustainable consumption through secondhand clothing purchases among young consumers in Hanoi, Vietnam. By addressing the changing consumption patterns, this research contributes to understanding how youth behavior supports the transition toward sustainability in emerging urban markets. This research integrates the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) with additional constructs such as perceived economic benefits, environmental concern, perceived risk, shopping experience, and gender differences to provide an integrated socio-economic framework. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered to university students and analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Results indicate that perceived economic benefits and subjective norms are the strongest predictors of purchase intention across both general and luxury secondhand fashion segments, emphasizing affordability and social acceptance. Environmental concern and attitude also positively influence general secondhand purchase intentions, while perceived behavioral control notably impacts luxury secondhand purchases. Contrary to prior studies, perceived risk was found to be insignificant, and male consumers exhibited a higher engagement rate than females in this context. These findings underscore the complex interplay of economic, social, and environmental dimensions shaping sustainable fashion consumption among youth. This study suggests targeted marketing and policy strategies to promote sustainable consumption and supports the expansion of circular economy practices in emerging urban markets. Limitations related to sample scope and self-reported data warrant further research to generalize the findings and explore additional moderating variables. Full article

The global issue of food waste is a significant concern due to its extensive social, economic, and environmental repercussions. To attain our sustainable future objectives, we must confront the food waste challenge directly. This study, grounded on the Stimulus–Organism–Response (S-O-R) theoretical framework, examines the impact of AI-based stimuli—passion, usability, perceived personalization, and perceived interactivity—on users’ intentions of minimizing food waste. Social presence and psychological engagement signify internal organism (O) states, while self-efficacy acts as the moderating factor between these organism states and intention (R). Data were gathered via Computer-Assisted Web Interviewing (CAWI) in a stratified quota sample of 315 participants in Lithuania, concentrating on Generation Y and Millennial Generation Z consumers of the Samsung Food app, aimed at promoting food waste reduction. Participants were pre-screened and recruited via several means to guarantee an adequate sample. The results indicate that passion, usability, and perceived interactivity substantially influence social presence and psychological engagement. Nonetheless, these organism-level variables did not have an immediate impact on behavioral intention, and all indirect (mediated) effects from stimulus response were significantly rejected. Conversely, self-efficacy considerably influenced the association between social presence and psychological engagement with intention, indicating that enhanced user confidence enhances the possibility of turning engagement into behavioral responses. This study features generational differences between Y and Z and only found significant interaction between perceived personalization and social presence in Generation Y, as compared to Generation Z. This work extends the literature on AI-driven behavior modification by asserting that mere involvement is inadequate. Enabling consumers by enhancing self-efficacy is crucial for developing viable AI-based applications that encourage sustainable customer behavior. Full article

Environmentally friendly packaging has become a widely adopted food retail strategy, yet its impacts on consumer food perceptions (e.g., healthiness, taste, ethical concerns) remain fragmented. Notably, how it shapes healthiness perceptions is understudied. Across three studies, this study demonstrates that consumers often associate eco-friendly packaging with healthiness perception, driven by the heuristic associations of its original-ecology sensory cues, sustainable connotations, and morality signals, which further contribute to purchase intention. In addition, the effect of packaging eco-friendliness on purchase intention is moderated by environmental consciousness and food type. Specifically, the above positive effect of eco-friendly packaging is more prominent for consumers with higher environmental consciousness, and for hedonic (vs. utilitarian) food. The findings advance understanding of how eco-friendly packaging shapes food perceptions, and offer strategic insights for customized packaging design in food marketing. Full article

Increasing consumption of plant-based alternatives is promoted to reduce the environmental impact of food systems, yet adoption remains limited. The aim of this study was to identify distinct consumer segments and examine differences in their perceptions, consumption habits, and trial intentions concerning plant-based dairy alternatives (PBDAs). Conceptually, it advances PBDAs segmentation by jointly incorporating pro-dairy justifications, avoidance of animal-origin considerations, and self-reported PBDAs familiarity, capturing psychological defence mechanisms alongside knowledge-related influences on adoption. Data were collected in a nationwide cross-sectional CAWI survey of 1220 Polish adults responsible for household food purchasing, stratified and quota-matched by gender, age, region, and settlement size. Factor analysis of the segmenting variables was conducted using principal component analysis with varimax rotation, followed by two-step cluster analysis. Alternative cluster solutions were compared using the Bayesian Information Criterion based on the log-likelihood (BIC-LL). The selected five-cluster solution showed acceptable to good clustering quality, as indicated by silhouette-based measures of cohesion and separation. Given the cross-sectional CAWI design and reliance on self-reported measures, the findings do not allow causal inference and should be interpreted as context-specific to the Polish, dairy-centric food culture. Cluster analysis identified five segments that differed in PBDA-related beliefs, product image evaluations, consumption patterns, and trial intentions. PBDA-oriented segments, comprising a dairy-critical segment and a dual-consumption segment, exhibited higher perceived familiarity and stronger ethical and environmental concerns and showed greater PBDA use and willingness to try new products. The dual-consumption segment reported the highest use and trial readiness. In contrast, resistant segments showed stronger dairy attachment, lower perceived familiarity, and more sceptical evaluations of PBDAs’ healthfulness, naturalness, and sensory appeal, and rarely consumed plant-based alternatives. The findings highlight substantial heterogeneity in how Polish dairy consumers perceive PBDAs, emphasising the importance of segment-specific approaches for communication and product development. Tailored strategies can help address the diverse motivations and barriers of consumers, supporting a dietary shift toward more plant-based options. Full article

The rapid expansion of sustainability reporting under the EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) has intensified concerns about greenwashing, particularly in visual communication within ESG reports. Recent advances in multimodal artificial intelligence offer new possibilities for automated detection, yet their reliability in non-English corporate reporting contexts remains unclear. This study evaluates the greenwashing detection capabilities of three leading multimodal AI systems—ChatGPT 5.1, Claude 4.5 Sonnet, and Gemini 2.5 Flash—using a purposively selected sample of 20 Polish ESG reports benchmarked against ESRS-aligned performance scores from the national “Ranking ESG”. A standardized auditing prompt was applied across all tools to generate comparable assessments of visual greenwashing. Contrary to theoretical expectations and all four hypotheses, the models did not demonstrate negative correlations between performance and AI-detected greenwashing; instead, high-performing firms frequently received higher greenwashing scores. Dimensional analyses showed inconsistent and often contradictory evaluations across Environmental, Social, and Governance pillars, while inter-tool reliability proved extremely low (Krippendorff’s α ≈ 0). These findings indicate that current multimodal AI systems conflate communication sophistication with deceptive intent and lack sufficient contextual understanding for ESG assurance. The study highlights significant methodological limitations and outlines directions for developing domain-specific, ESRS-aligned AI tools for greenwashing detection. Full article

Despite growing technological and economic viability, the adoption of solar energy in the United States remains low. This research synthesizes 96 peer-reviewed publications from 2000 to 2024 to investigate how public perceptions, user psychology, institutional setups, and socioeconomic contexts shape solar energy adoption decisions in the United States. Drawing on a PRISMA systematic review of publications gathered from Scopus and Web of Science databases, the study reveals that solar adoption is influenced not only by environmental concern and perceived economic benefits but also by institutional trust, social norms, cognitive biases, and demographic characteristics. Key findings highlight that while higher income and education levels enable adoption, marginalized communities face persistent barriers, including institutional distrust, limited awareness, and constrained access to financing. Residential rooftop solar projects receive higher public approval than utility-scale developments, with agrivoltaics systems emerging as a promising middle ground. This review identifies critical gaps in public awareness and institutional credibility, calling for integrated policy responses that combine financial incentives with inclusive engagement strategies. By emphasizing the socio-behavioral dimensions of energy transitions, it offers actionable insights for policymakers, energy planners, and researchers aiming to broaden solar accessibility and equity. It underscores the need for future research on identity-driven adoption behavior, participatory energy planning, and depoliticized communication to bridge the intention-action gap and accelerate the just transition to solar energy. Full article

This systematic literature review explores the impacts of autonomous and connected mobility systems on sustainable road transportation. The evaluation process involves a multifaceted analysis, encompassing the assessment of their capacity to mitigate accidents, energy consumption, emissions, and urban traffic congestion. As a novel approach, this paper analyses the parameters of user acceptance of technology and how these are reflected in the overall impacts of automated and connected driving. Thus, based on a behavioral intention to use the new technology model, we aim to analyze the state of the art of the overall impacts that may be correlated with individual interests. To this end, a multi-factor approach is applied and potential interactions between factors that may arise are studied in a holistic and quantitative assessment of their combined effects on transportation systems. This impact assessment is a significant challenge, as numerous factors come into play, leading to conflicting effects. Since there is no significant penetration of vehicles with medium or high levels of automation, conclusions are often obtained through simulations or estimates based on hypotheses that must be considered when analyzing the results and can lead to significant dispersion. The results confirm that these technologies can substantially improve road safety, traffic efficiency, and environmental performance. However, their large-scale deployment will critically depend on the establishment of coherent regulatory frameworks, infrastructural readiness, and societal acceptance. Comprehensive stakeholder collaboration, incorporating industry, regulatory authorities, and society, is essential to successfully address existing concerns, facilitate technological integration, and maximize the societal benefits of these transformative mobility systems. Full article

To explore the mechanism of consumers’ battery electric vehicle (BEV) purchase behavior in depth and address research gaps related to insufficient consideration of psychological latent variables and neglect of consumer heterogeneity in existing studies, this study constructs a latent class model (LCM) that integrates personal attributes, vehicle attributes, and six psychological latent variables: perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, perceived risk, environmental awareness, purchase attitude, and purchase intention. Based on 1044 valid questionnaires collected from Urumqi, latent profile analysis (LPA) is used to classify consumers. The results indicate that BEV consumers can be divided into five distinct latent profiles with significant differences in purchase preferences: the risk-avoidance type, the moderate–low intention wait-and-see type, the utility-oriented and low environmental concern type, the high utility cognition and low-risk proactive type, and the all-dimensional high-intention core type. Socioeconomic and vehicle-related factors exert heterogeneous impacts on the psychological variables and purchase decisions of each profile. This study clarifies the intrinsic psychological mechanism of BEV purchase behavior, providing a theoretical basis and targeted strategy references for the government and enterprises to promote BEV adoption and advance sustainable transportation development. Full article

Background/Objectives: This study investigates how consumers decide to adopt alternative proteins—specifically insect-based, cultured meat, and plant-based options—as part of a transition towards environmentally sustainable diets. Building on an extended Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), the analysis adds personal moral norms and environmental concerns to better capture the ethical and normative drivers of food choice. Methods: Survey data from 948 residents of the Campania region (southern Italy) were analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) to assess the relationship among classical TPB constructs, personal moral norms, environmental concerns, and behavioural intention towards alternative protein consumption. Results: Personal moral norms emerge as the strongest predictor of behavioural intention, directly and indirectly influencing attitudes and environmental concerns. Subjective norms also affect intention, primarily by reinforcing moral norms and perceived behavioural control, although their direct impact is not significant. Classical TPB constructs show limited direct effects. Conclusions: The findings suggest that consumers’ sustainable food intentions are more strongly shaped by moral identity and the surrounding social context than by attitudes alone. The evidence supports the development of culturally sensitive strategies designed to strengthen moral and normative motivations and foster the adoption of alternative proteins. Full article

Public attitudes toward renewable energy sources (RES) have been widely studied at the household level. However, less is known about how citizens differ in their broader perceptions, knowledge, and behavioral orientations toward renewable energy. This study explores such heterogeneity within Polish society using survey data from a representative sample of 974 respondents. An exploratory factor analysis identified six dimensions of renewable energy attitudes: environmental concern, knowledge and awareness, social and economic support, perceived ease of use, perceived benefits, and behavioral intentions. Using these attitudinal dimensions, cluster analysis revealed two distinct consumer segments that differ in their overall level of engagement with renewable energy. The first cluster comprises pro-green and engaged individuals who express strong concern for environmental issues, have a greater awareness of the benefits of renewable energy, and are more ready to adopt such technologies. The second cluster represents respondents who are less engaged or skeptical, with weaker environmental and behavioral commitment. The comparison of sociodemographic characteristics across clusters showed no statistically significant differences in gender, age, education, or place of residence, and only a marginal effect for income. The findings suggest that support for renewable energy in Poland is not driven by demographics but somewhat shaped by cognitive and value-based factors, offering valuable insights for policymakers and communication strategists promoting the energy transition. Full article

This paper examines the effects of AI-based digital nudges on consumers’ sustainable purchase intentions and behaviors, using an integrated framework that combines the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Nudge Theory. Previous studies have demonstrated that digital nudges can stimulate eco-friendly behavior. However, the interaction between personalization, timing, message framing, cognitive variables like perceived usefulness, and psychological variables such as environmental concern has not been explained. The study employs quantitative research based on SEM-PLS, which explores the relationships between these constructs with a valid response of 810 samples. Personalization, timing of nudges, and framing enhance perceived utility and sustainable purchase intention. Perceived usefulness mediated the relationship between digital nudging and sustainable purchase intention, moderated by environmental concern as a psychological catalyst. These results support the validation of the combined TAM Nudge model, illustrating the role of technology and behavior in fostering sustainability. The implication of the study can support policymakers, marketers, and digital designers in creating ethical AI-based interventions to meet SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) and SDG 13 (Climate Action), transforming sustainability awareness into a quantifiable behavioral change. Full article

Energy plays a crucial role in the development of societies, yet increasing demand and pressure for production pose significant environmental challenges. This study addresses the critical need for renewable energy, particularly solar power, in light of the projected 50% increase in global energy consumption by 2050 and the European Union’s goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. While Albania predominantly relies on hydropower for electricity generation, which constitutes 95% of its capacity, the variability in hydropower underscores the necessity for diversifying energy sources, especially to harness the country’s solar potential. This research aims to assess industrial awareness and the influence of government subsidies and financial incentives on investment intentions through data gathered from questionnaires conducted in 2023. The findings reveal a substantial interest in solar energy, reflecting a gap in the existing literature which primarily focuses on developed economies. By contributing insights into renewable energy awareness in Albania, this paper addresses a significant gap in research concerning transition countries in the Western Balkans. The study ultimately emphasizes the importance of industrial awareness and environmental protection in adopting sustainable energy practices in a region characterized by abundant solar resources. The findings of the study highlight that there is a significant awareness–action gap regarding solar panels. Therefore, financial support and technical assistance are necessary for businesses to adopt solar energy technologies. Full article