Search Results (923)

Rapid housing expansion exacerbates the urban heat island (UHI) effect, yet the influence of household-level awareness on sustainable housing decisions remains underexplored, particularly in tropical contexts. This study integrates the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) into a moderated-mediation model to examine how UHI awareness shapes the relationships among attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, socioeconomic factors, purchase intention, and willingness to pay (WTP) for heat-mitigating housing. Survey data from 441 homebuyers in Bandung City, Indonesia, were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (SEM). Results reveal that awareness fundamentally alters decision pathways: without awareness, subjective norms (β = 0.066, p-value = 0.007) and perceived behavioral control (β = 0.050, p-value = 0.005) significantly influence WTP via purchase intention; with high awareness, attitude becomes the sole significant predictor (β = 0.109, p-value = 0.035), while the effects of social pressure (β = −0.015, p-value = 0.130) and perceived control (β = −0.005, p-value = 0.376) diminish. The model explains 50.1% of the variance in purchase intention (R² = 0.501) but only 14.7% of the variance in WTP (R² = 0.147), reflecting the low-price premiums respondents are willing to pay (0–5%). These findings highlight that climate-specific awareness acts as a cognitive filter, guiding pro-environmental housing choices, and underscore the importance of awareness-driven interventions for promoting sustainable urban development in tropical cities. Full article

Understanding the psychological underpinnings of environmental decision-making is crucial for addressing climate change. Responsible consumption and pro-environmental behaviors often involve complex trade-offs between individual and collective outcomes, as well as between immediate and long-term consequences. Drawing on the Behavior Change Wheel and its core COM-B model—a comprehensive behavioral framework integrating Capability, Opportunity, and Motivation—this study systematically examines how the COM-B model has been applied in research on responsible consumption and environmentally relevant behavior. Using a combined bibliometric and content-analytic review of peer-reviewed studies indexed in the Web of Science between 2018 and 2026, we explore the focus, the behavior targets, and the contextual factors in existing COM-B applications. The findings reveal a focus on individual-level awareness, such as dietary behavior and sustainable lifestyles, while meso- and macro-level applications addressing institutional and policy mechanisms remain limited. By identifying a structural misalignment between the COM-B framework and its empirical applications, we contribute to behavioral science by highlighting the need to integrate structural determinants with individual processes to better understand and address the psychological mechanisms underpinning responsible decisions using this theoretical breadth. In this context, we emphasize the importance of aligning behavioral research priorities with the objectives of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 12. Full article

Background/Objectives: Nature-inspired therapeutic strategies that promote biological regenerative mechanisms and replicate the native structural microenvironment conductive to formation of healthy tissue are increasingly recognized as a promising platform for skin tissue regeneration and wound healing. This study proposes an innovative design of novel multifunctional scaffolds composed entirely of natural components—gelatin, L-ascorbic (ASA) acid and allantoin—as a bioinspired approach for skin tissue regeneration through pro-regenerative, antimicrobial, and keratinocyte-supportive properties. Methods: The biocompatible, skin-adhesive scaffolds were prepared via a simple and environmentally friendly heat-induced crosslinking of gelatin with varying ASA contents, and by enriching the system with allantoin. The influence of ASA content on scaffold properties was investigated through characterization of their morphology, porosity, swelling behavior, skin tissue adhesion, and allantoin release potential. Biocompatibility was evaluated in vitro using human keratinocyte (HaCaT) cells, while antibacterial activity was assessed against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Results: The scaffolds revealed a highly porous, interconnected structure with tunable porosity (87.37–92.39%) and soft-tissue-matched mechanical properties (0.81–1.47 MPa). Incorporation of allantoin into the scaffolds enhanced their mechanical performance and swelling capacity. All scaffolds demonstrated antibacterial activity against both tested bacteria, supported keratinocyte viability and provided sustained release of allantoin for up to 76 h, confirming their multifunctional pro-regenerative potential. Conclusions: The novel gelatin/ascorbic acid scaffolds enriched with allantoin combine a porous replicated structure of native extracellular matrix, fluid absorption capacity, soft-tissue-like mechanical properties, stable skin tissue adhesion, cytocompatibility and antibacterial functionality with the pro-regenerative properties of allantoin, thereby representing a multifunctional and biologically inspired platform for advanced skin tissue regeneration and wound-healing applications. Full article

Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) can support and strengthen responses to the environmental challenges faced today. However, the sustainability knowledge–action gap remains mostly unbridged. This article examines communication as a lever for learning and behavior change in sustainability education and compares the use of communication in conventional delivery and a narrative, dialogic and affective communication mode in secondary, university and community-based learning settings in a mixed-methods experimental study. Quantitative measures (pre-, post-, follow-up) included knowledge, systems thinking, emotional engagement, motivation and self-reported sustainable behaviors. Qualitative data, including interviews, observations and action research projects, were also collected to gain deeper insights into learner engagement with knowledge, systems thinking, emotional engagement and motivation. Results suggest that participants in the catalytic communication condition felt more cognitively and emotionally engaged than the control condition, and displayed more long-term pro-environmental behavior. Mediation analysis suggests that the increase in pro-environmental behavior may be driven by an increase in feelings of empathy and hope associated with the learning experience. This supports the understanding that tailored communication can help to reduce the knowledge–action gap in ESD and provides additional insights into the usefulness of cognitive, affective and behavioral dimensions of sustainability-oriented pedagogical approaches. Full article

The environmentally responsible behavior (ERB) of visitors within forested national parks is critical for balancing biodiversity conservation and sustainable recreation. While the Value–Belief–Norm (VBN) model has been widely used to explain ERB, it has rarely incorporated context-specific value perceptions, such as assigned value. This study extends the VBN model by integrating this construct and examines its role in shaping visitors’ pro-environmental intentions. Taking Qianjiangyuan National Park in China as a case study, we incorporate visitors’ perception of the social value derived from the park’s forest-based ecosystem services into an expanded VBN framework. Data were analyzed using partial least squares structural equation modeling. The results show that assigned value positively influences ERB intention; pro-environmental personal norms are the strongest direct predictor (β = 0.426); and biospheric value, egoistic value, and personal norms significantly foster assigned value formation, whereas altruistic value shows no significant effect. These findings highlight the importance of integrating situational, forest-specific value perceptions into behavioral models and offer management insights for promoting ERB intention through value-congruent communication in forest recreation settings. Full article

Despite sustained efforts in environmental education, a persistent value–action gap remains: gains in knowledge and attitudes do not necessarily translate into sustainable practices, particularly among school-aged children. This cross-sectional study examined the role of school-based social norms in shaping personal norms and self-reported recycling-related behavior among 214 sixth-grade pupils (aged 10–12) from three public schools in Évora, Portugal, including Eco-School and non-Eco-School contexts. Data were collected through self-report questionnaires assessing social norms, personal norms, preservation and utilization attitudes toward nature, and self-reported recycling-related behavior. Structural equation modeling showed a good overall fit and explained 53% of the variance in self-reported recycling-related behavior. Social norms had both direct effects on behavior and indirect effects through personal norms. Personal norms were the strongest predictor and partially mediated the influence of preservation attitudes. In non-Eco-Schools, the direct effect of social norms was stronger. Among children participating in environmental groups, the association between social norms and preservation attitudes was more pronounced. Utilization attitudes did not significantly predict behavior. Findings refer specifically to self-reported recycling-related behavior rather than pro-environmental behavior more generally and suggest that school norms may be associated with children’s recycling-related behavior at this age, particularly when internalized as personal norms. Full article

Sudden disruptions can destabilize everyday routines and open the door to pro-environmental behavioral change. This paper examines whether exogenous Moments of Change (MoC) with different temporal profiles—an acute nationwide power outage in Spain and the prolonged COVID-19 disruption—reshape employees’ workplace pro-environmental behavior (PEB) by weakening the relationship between habits and PEB. Study 1 surveyed 226 Spanish office workers 38 days after a brief blackout, while Study 2 followed 135 employees in Spain and the Netherlands longitudinally across the COVID-19 period. We found that, while reported PEB increased after both disruptions, the short-term blackout was insufficient to weaken the relationship between habits and behavior significantly, or to strengthen individual and organizational drivers of behavior. In contrast, the more prolonged COVID-19 disruption significantly weakened the influence of habits on PEB and strengthened the relationship between perceived corporate environmental responsibility and behavior. These findings suggest that the duration of a disruption is a critical factor. Specifically, brief shocks may elicit specific new behaviors; only prolonged disruptions appear sufficient to break established habits and enhance the influence of organizational factors on employees’ pro-environmental actions. Full article

Population aging and climate change are two long-term processes that increasingly intersect, yet their interrelationship remains insufficiently explored in Southeast Europe. This article examines how adults aged 50+ in Serbia and Bulgaria understand, perceive, and respond to climate risks, with the aim of identifying age-specific vulnerabilities as well as opportunities for climate action. We administered the ClimateMind50+ questionnaire to purposive national samples comprising 309 respondents in Serbia (CAPI, 82 municipalities) and 155 respondents in Bulgaria (CAWI, 74 municipalities). Socio-demographic differences were analyzed using descriptive statistics and χ² tests. The findings indicate moderate levels of self-assessed climate literacy, strong concern about the impacts of climate change on future generations, and heightened anxiety regarding extreme heat and prolonged dry periods. During climate-related emergencies, respondents rely predominantly on family networks rather than local institutions, and overall preparedness for extreme events remains limited. Adaptive and pro-environmental behaviors are modest and vary by gender, education level, and type of settlement. Population aging interacts with socio-economic vulnerability, energy poverty, regional decline, and governance constraints, shaping both exposure to climate risks and the capacity for behavioral adaptation. Climate strategies in both countries should therefore become more age-inclusive and socially responsive, recognizing older adults not only as a vulnerable group but also as active contributors to resilience. Full article

Integrating sustainability into luxury products poses fundamental challenges when brands introduce alternative materials made from recycled content that lack the intrinsic value of precious metals. This study investigates consumer perceptions and willingness to pay more for luxury jewelry made from alternative recycled materials among 357 consumers in the Bangkok Metropolitan Region. The conceptual framework examined five value dimensions (self-expression value, aesthetic value, social value, perceived natural rarity, and perceived sustainability) with pro-environmental self-identity as a moderating variable. The model explains 59.2% of the variance in willingness to pay more. Results confirm significant effects of all five dimensions, with aesthetic value as the strongest predictor. Pro-environmental self-identity significantly moderates the relationship between perceived sustainability and willingness to pay more. Despite high levels of sustainability awareness, the results reveal an attitude–behavior gap: environmental concern does not automatically translate into greater spending on sustainable luxury jewelry. This research contributes to the literature on sustainable luxury consumption by clarifying the relative importance of value dimensions and highlighting the conditional role of consumer identity in shaping the acceptance of price premiums. Full article

Prior research on tour guides’ influence on tourists’ pro-environmental behavior has largely emphasized informational content (e.g., interpretation) and communication tactics (e.g., humor), while leaving the social-influence role of guides’ emotional displays underexamined, especially with respect to simultaneous affective and cognitive mechanisms. Drawing on Emotions-as-Social-Information (EASI) theory, we develop a dual-path model in which tour guides’ environmental passion affects tourists’ pro-environmental behavior via an affective-reaction pathway (positive emotions) and an inferential pathway (self-protection motivation), with tourists’ self-construal moderating the first-stage effects. Using a seven-day experience sampling (intensive longitudinal) survey (873 day-level observations nested within 159 tourists) and estimating a 1-1-1 multilevel structural equation model with Monte Carlo confidence intervals, we find that guides’ environmental passion predicts tourists’ pro-environmental behavior both directly and indirectly through the two mediators, and these indirect effects are stronger among tourists with a more interdependent self-construal. The study extends EASI theory to guide–tourist interactions and advances tourism sustainability research by clarifying how emotional displays operate as social information in shaping tourists’ daily pro-environmental responses. Full article

Product waste in grocery supply chains remains a major concern for multiple stakeholders, particularly retailers, due to the direct financial losses it generates and the potential risks it poses to customer health and safety. In this context, digital technologies—especially artificial intelligence (AI)—offer promising opportunities to improve retail performance and reduce waste. Accordingly, this study aims to investigate the factors influencing retailers’ intentions to adopt AI-based solutions for product waste reduction. To achieve this objective, the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) was extended by incorporating three additional constructs (i.e., perceived ethical responsibility, product waste reduction-related knowledge, and perceived economic utility of AI for product waste reduction). Data were collected from a purposive sample of 214 grocery retailers operating in major cities in northern Algeria. Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was employed to test the proposed research model and hypotheses. The results indicate that retailers’ behavioral intentions to use AI for product waste reduction are significantly influenced by perceived economic utility of AI, AI for product waste reduction-related knowledge, perceived usefulness, and perceived ease of use. In contrast, perceived ethical responsibility for product waste reduction did not exhibit a statistically significant effect, although its relationship with behavioral intention was positive. This study contributes to the growing literature on AI adoption for waste reduction in the retail sector, particularly within developing country contexts, and offers practical insights for policymakers and industry stakeholders seeking to promote the adoption of digital technologies for sustainable supply chain management. Full article

As climate-driven disasters intensify globally, this study investigates how environmental volatility influences the pro-environmental initiatives of micro-entrepreneurs in Chile. While Chile possesses world-class seismic resilience, the 2020–2025 period marked a dramatic shift toward hydro-climatological extremes, including mega-fires and catastrophic flooding. Integrating construal level theory, protection motivation theory, and the concept of focusing events, this research examines the psychological and structural drivers of business adaptation. Results indicate that residing in disaster-prone regions is insufficient to trigger proactivity; instead, a stark distinction exists between abstract geographic proximity and the behavior triggered by personal exposure. Furthermore, mediation analysis provides mixed support for the role of business profit; while profit loss negatively mediated equipment efficiency and recycling, the magnitude was marginal. This coping gap suggests that resource-constrained actors favor low-cost survivalist tactics over systemic shifts due to depleted organizational slack. Ultimately, the study highlights that disasters are powerful but inefficient teachers; without addressing technical and financial barriers to mitigation, global supply chains remain fragile despite localized disaster experiences. Full article

This systematic review synthesizes empirical applications of the theory of planned behavior to employee green behavior, including only studies that are consistent with the theory’s assumptions and methodological requirements. In doing so, the review reconciles a fragmented, discipline-specific body of knowledge, provides a rigorous assessment of the TPB’s validity in organizational contexts, and clarifies standards for theory-consistent refinement and extension. Seventeen peer-reviewed articles published since 2011 were retained after independent screening. Findings indicate a marked increase in TPB-based research since 2020, predominantly in Asian contexts, and a strong reliance on extended models—most frequently including personal norm and seldom organizational factors—while relatively few studies implemented the traditional framework with measures of salient beliefs. Most investigations focused on resource-conservation behaviors defined at a high level of generality and relied on convenience samples of employees from heterogeneous organizational and industrial settings. Across studies, belief-based constructs were positively associated with intentions, with attitudes as the strongest antecedent, and intentions consistently predicted behavior. At the same time, many investigations relied on cross-sectional self-reports and assessments of either intention or behavior. Finally, most studies fail to provide theoretical and empirical justifications for including additional relationships. Implications for advancing TPB-based research on employee green behavior are discussed. Full article

This study investigates the impact of green organizational support and green self-efficacy on promoting employees’ pro-environmental behaviors, framed within Social Cognitive Theory and Social Exchange Theory. The direct and indirect impacts of green organizational support on employees’ green advocacy and pro-environmental behaviors remain insufficiently examined in the literature. This study aims to clarify the factors affecting pro-environmental behaviors within the workplace and to examine the relationship among green organizational support, green self-efficacy, green advocacy, and pro-environmental behavior. Data was gathered from 154 employees via a structured questionnaire, and the proposed model was analyzed using SmartPLS 4. The study findings demonstrate that both green organizational support and green advocacy directly and positively influence workplace pro-environmental behaviors. The impact of green self-efficacy on the eco-friendly behaviors of employees could not be validated. The results are useful for the development of sustainability strategies for organizations and the establishment of an environmentally conscious corporate culture. Full article

Overtourism has intensified socio-environmental pressures in popular destinations, raising concerns about ethical responsibility and sustainable behavior among tourism actors and visitors. In this study, we explored how environmental awareness and ethical values shape behavioral intentions under overtourism pressure by combining a systematic literature review with qualitative field data from Bali. Through a PRISMA-based review of 100 peer-reviewed journal articles published between 2015 and 2024, we synthesized evidence on environmental ethics, responsible tourism, and pro-environmental behavioral mechanisms. The review reveals that increasing scholarly attention is being paid to ethical norms, emotional engagement, and contextual constraints but shows that there is limited empirical understanding of how these factors are experienced in practice by local actors and domestic tourists. To address this gap, qualitative interviews were conducted with three key stakeholders, including accommodation and tourism service providers, and 10 domestic tourists. Thematic analysis identifies three interrelated mechanisms influencing behavioral intention: (a) recognition of environmental risk and destination vulnerability, (b) ethical reasoning and sense of collective responsibility, and (c) structural barriers shaped by convenience, economic pressures, and weak governance. While participants express strong environmental awareness and moral concern, behavioral intentions are often constrained by limited information, the perceived ineffectiveness of individual actions, and a lack of regulatory enforcement. This study contributes to the sociological literature on sustainable tourism by elucidating how ethics and awareness translate into intention under overtourism pressure. We report the practical implications for ethical communication, stakeholder collaboration, and participatory governance. Full article