Green product attributes and green purchase behavior

PurposeNowadays, understanding green consumers has become very critical given its implications for marketers to understand and communicate green purchase patterns on the one hand, and to design and strategize both product offerings and customer services on the other hand. The purpose of this paper is to examine the interaction effect of product attributes on the degree of environment concern, the intention of green purchase and a series of green purchase proposed patterns. This paper is built on the theory of planned behavior, and expands it by replacing subjective norms and perceived behavioral control with respectively environmental knowledge and perceived consumer effectiveness, and also by extending purchase behavior to three types of purchase patterns, namely, unconditional purchase, conditional purchase and accidental purchase.Design/methodology/approachThe interaction effect is analyzed through ANOVA, whereas path analysis is used to understand path strengths of proposed model, which is assessed through standardized regression weights and significance throughp-value.FindingsOverall, this study reveals the importance of product attributes in the decision-making process of green purchasers.Research limitations/implicationsThis study deals with environmental behavior in general, and further research with a focus on specific behaviors is needed in this field investigating the rise of green consumption.Practical implicationsProduct attributes play a role in the decision making of consumers willing to buy green products, and both communication and promotion of green products should integrate product attributes accordingly.Originality/valueWorldwide, consumers are buying more and more green products, and this study leads to a better understanding of the decision-making process of consumers’ green products.

[1]  John B. Unipan,et al.  Green Buying: The Influence of Environmental Concern on Consumer Behavior , 1997 .

[2]  Heesup Han,et al.  An investigation of green hotel customers' decision formation: developing an extended model of the theory of planned behavior. , 2010 .

[3]  Kenneth G. DeBono,et al.  Individual Differences in Predicting Behavioral Intentions from Attitude and Subjective Norm , 1993 .

[4]  Nishikant Mishra,et al.  Integrated decisions for supplier selection and lot-sizing considering different carbon emission regulations in Big Data environment , 2019, Comput. Ind. Eng..

[5]  Harpreet Kaur,et al.  Heuristic modeling for sustainable procurement and logistics in a supply chain using big data , 2017, Comput. Oper. Res..

[6]  Nancy B. Kurland Sales Agents and Clients: Ethics, Incentives, and a Modified Theory of Planned Behavior , 1996 .

[7]  James A. Roberts,et al.  Environmental segmentation alternatives: a look at green consumer behavior in the new , 1999 .

[8]  Charbel José Chiappetta Jabbour,et al.  Industry 4.0 and the circular economy: a proposed research agenda and original roadmap for sustainable operations , 2018, Annals of Operations Research.

[9]  Clare D'Souza,et al.  Green Decisions: Demographics and Consumer Understanding of Environmental Labels , 2007 .

[10]  J. Thøgersen,et al.  The Dynamic Interaction of Personal Norms and Environment‐Friendly Buying Behavior: A Panel Study , 2006 .

[11]  Mamdouh T. Al Ziadat Applications of Planned Behavior Theory (TPB) in Jordanian Tourism , 2014 .

[12]  Jacob Cherian,et al.  Green Marketing: A Study of Consumers' Attitude towards Environment Friendly Products , 2012 .

[13]  G Godin,et al.  Predictors of smoking behaviour: an application of Ajzen's theory of planned behaviour. , 1992, British journal of addiction.

[14]  Amitai Etzioni Voluntary Simplicity: Characterization, Select Psychological Implications, and Societal Consequences , 2004 .

[15]  Kenneth John Peattie,et al.  Trappings versus substance in the greening of marketing planning , 1999 .

[16]  James S. Baxter,et al.  Intention to commit driving violations: An application of the theory of planned behavior. , 1992 .

[17]  J. Burgess,et al.  Environmental Communication and the Cultural Politics of Environmental Citizenship , 1998 .

[18]  Pratibha A. Dabholkar,et al.  Incorporating Choice into an Attitudinal Framework: Analyzing Models of Mental Comparison Processes , 1994 .

[19]  T. Gärling,et al.  PSYCHOLOGICAL DETERMINANTS OF ATTITUDE TOWARDS AND WILLINGNESS TO PAY FOR GREEN ELECTRICITY , 2008 .

[20]  M. Zanna,et al.  Attitudes and Attitude Change , 1993 .

[21]  Marios Trigkas,et al.  Green marketing: The case of Greece in certified and sustainably managed timber products , 2010 .

[22]  B. Lehmann,et al.  Climate change, theory of planned behavior and values: a structural equation model with mediation analysis , 2011 .

[23]  ThE CirCUlAr,et al.  EU Action Plan for the Circular Economy , 2016 .

[24]  Yu‐Shan Chen,et al.  Towards green trust , 2013 .

[25]  P. Stern New Environmental Theories: Toward a Coherent Theory of Environmentally Significant Behavior , 2000 .

[26]  Jack Arbuthnot,et al.  A Comparison of French and American Environmental Behaviors, Knowledge, and Attitudes , 1975 .

[27]  I. Roozen,et al.  Attributes of Environmentally Friendly Consumer Behavior , 1998 .

[28]  G. Akehurst,et al.  Re‐examining green purchase behaviour and the green consumer profile: new evidences , 2012 .

[29]  Stefano Livi,et al.  Recycling: Planned and self-expressive behaviour , 2004 .

[30]  G. Miniero,et al.  Why not promote promotion for green consumption? , 2018, European Business Review.

[31]  John H. Antil Socially Responsible Consumers: Profile and Implications for Public Policy , 1984 .

[32]  Donghyun Choi,et al.  Pressures affecting green supply chain performance , 2013 .

[33]  S. Bamberg,et al.  Twenty years after Hines, Hungerford, and Tomera: A new meta-analysis of psycho-social determinants of pro-environmental behaviour , 2007 .

[34]  Miriam Borchardt,et al.  Motivations for promoting the consumption of green products in an emerging country: exploring attitudes of Brazilian consumers , 2015 .

[35]  Stuart Oskamp,et al.  Who recycles and when? A review of personal and situational factors , 1995 .

[36]  M. Song,et al.  Market competition, green technology progress and comparative advantages in China , 2018 .

[37]  R. Oliver,et al.  Crossover effects in the theory of reasoned action: A moderating influence attempt. , 1985 .

[38]  S. Schwartz Normative Influences on Altruism , 1977 .

[39]  Jayesh D. Patel,et al.  Predicting green product consumption using theory of planned behavior and reasoned action , 2016 .

[40]  José F. Molina-Azorín,et al.  Green management and financial performance: a literature review , 2009 .

[41]  G. Kok,et al.  The Theory of Planned Behavior: A Review of its Applications to Health-Related Behaviors , 1996, American journal of health promotion : AJHP.

[42]  Yu‐Shan Chen,et al.  Green organizational identity and green innovation , 2013 .

[43]  C. L. Gatch,et al.  Predicting exercise intentions: the theory of planned behavior. , 1990, Research quarterly for exercise and sport.

[44]  Harpreet Kaur,et al.  Flexible dynamic sustainable procurement model , 2019, Ann. Oper. Res..

[45]  P. Holland CAUSAL INFERENCE, PATH ANALYSIS AND RECURSIVE STRUCTURAL EQUATIONS MODELS , 1988 .

[46]  C. Gan,et al.  Consumers' purchasing behavior towards green products in New Zealand , 2017 .

[47]  Persada S.F INVESTIGATING THE CITIZENS’ INTENTION LEVEL IN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT PARTICIPATION THROUGH AN EXTENDED THEORY OF PLANNED BEHAVIOR MODEL , 2015 .

[48]  L. Steg,et al.  The value of environmental self-identity: The relationship between biospheric values, environmental self-identity and environmental preferences, intentions and behaviour , 2013 .

[49]  M. Conner,et al.  Efficacy of the Theory of Planned Behaviour: a meta-analytic review. , 2001, The British journal of social psychology.

[50]  Muzaffer Bodur,et al.  Environmental Sensitivity in a Developing Country , 2005 .

[51]  G. Foxall,et al.  Beyond the Intention–Behaviour Mythology , 2002 .

[52]  R. Borden,et al.  Who cares about ecology? Personality and sex differences in environmental concern. , 1978, Journal of personality.

[53]  Sejung Marina Choi,et al.  Antecedents of Green Purchase Behavior: an Examination of Collectivism, Environmental Concern, and Pce , 2005 .

[54]  Carlo Limonti,et al.  Energetic Valorization of Wet Olive Mill Wastes through a Suitable Integrated Treatment: H 2 O 2 with Lime and Anaerobic Digestion , 2016 .

[55]  M. Esposito,et al.  Introducing a Circular Economy: New Thinking with New Managerial and Policy Implications , 2018 .

[56]  I. Ajzen Nature and operation of attitudes. , 2001, Annual review of psychology.

[57]  S. Cotgrove A deeper shade of green , 1990, Nature.

[58]  Harpreet Kaur,et al.  Environmentally sustainable stochastic procurement model , 2018 .

[59]  F. Webster Determining the Characteristics of the Socially Conscious Consumer , 1975 .

[60]  N. Eisenberg,et al.  The relation of empathy to prosocial and related behaviors. , 1987, Psychological bulletin.

[61]  P. Ellen,et al.  The Role of Perceived Consumer Effectiveness in Motivating Environmentally Conscious Behaviors , 1991 .

[62]  Ricky Y. K. Chan,et al.  Antecedents of green purchases: a survey in China , 2000 .

[63]  Mohd Rosli Bin Mohamad,et al.  Intention and behavior towards green consumption among low-income households. , 2018, Journal of environmental management.

[64]  Martin Fishbein,et al.  Application of the theory of reasoned action to the National Park Service's controlled burn policy. , 1993 .

[65]  P. Holland Causal Inference, Path Analysis and Recursive Structural Equations Models. Program Statistics Research, Technical Report No. 88-81. , 1988 .

[66]  L. J. Shrum,et al.  The recycling of solid wastes: Personal values, value orientations, and attitudes about recycling as antecedents of recycling behavior , 1994 .

[67]  L. Steg,et al.  Normative, Gain and Hedonic Goal Frames Guiding Environmental Behavior , 2007 .

[68]  S. P. Singh,et al.  Modeling low carbon procurement and logistics in supply chain: A key towards sustainable production , 2017 .

[69]  J. Kimiecik,et al.  Predicting Vigorous Physical Activity of Corporate Employees: Comparing the Theories of Reasoned Action and Planned Behavior , 1992 .

[70]  G. Antonides,et al.  The Norm Activation Model: An exploration of the functions of anticipated pride and guilt in pro-environmental behaviour , 2013 .

[71]  P. Sparks,et al.  SELF-IDENTITY AND THE THEORY OF PLANNED BEHAVIOR - ASSESSING THE ROLE OF IDENTIFICATION WITH GREEN CONSUMERISM , 1992 .

[72]  Nina Mazar,et al.  Green Consumerism: Moral Motivations to a Sustainable Future , 2015 .

[73]  S. O'Neill,et al.  Green identity, green living? The role of pro-environmental self-identity in determining consistency across diverse pro-environmental behaviours , 2010 .

[74]  Silvia Grappi,et al.  Corporate Socially Responsible Initiatives and Their Effects on Consumption of Green Products , 2016 .

[75]  Ricky Y. K. Chan Determinants of Chinese consumers' green purchase behavior , 2001 .

[76]  Caroline Oates,et al.  Individual strategies for sustainable consumption , 2012 .

[77]  Thomas C. Kinnear,et al.  Ecologically Concerned Consumers: Who are They? , 1974 .

[78]  Rudolf R. Sinkovics,et al.  Can socio-demographics still play a role in profiling green consumers? A review of the evidence and an empirical investigation , 2003 .

[79]  Seema P. Joshi,et al.  Green consumerism: overview and further research directions , 2017 .

[80]  Harpreet Kaur,et al.  Sustainable procurement and logistics for disaster resilient supply chain , 2019, Ann. Oper. Res..

[81]  Icek Ajzen,et al.  From Intentions to Actions: A Theory of Planned Behavior , 1985 .

[82]  I. Ajzen The theory of planned behavior , 1991 .

[83]  M. Walker Does green management matter for donation intentions , 2013 .

[84]  Ida E. Berger,et al.  Perceived Consumer Effectiveness and Faith in Others as Moderators of Environmentally Responsible Behaviors , 1992 .

[85]  K. Kaida,et al.  Facilitating Pro-environmental Behavior: The Role of Pessimism and Anthropocentric Environmental Values , 2016 .

[86]  I. Ajzen,et al.  Choice of Travel Mode in the Theory of Planned Behavior: The Roles of Past Behavior, Habit, and Reasoned Action , 2003 .

[87]  Suhong Li,et al.  A cross-country comparison of green initiatives, green performance and financial performance , 2018 .

[88]  Mei‐Fang Chen Extending the theory of planned behavior model to explain people's energy savings and carbon reduction behavioral intentions to mitigate climate change in Taiwan–moral obligation matters , 2016 .

[89]  J. M. Hines,et al.  Analysis and synthesis of research on responsible environmental behavior: A meta-analysis. , 1987 .

[90]  James Blake Overcoming the ‘value‐action gap’ in environmental policy: Tensions between national policy and local experience , 1999 .

[91]  Hui-Ju Wang A brand-based perspective on differentiation of green brand positioning , 2017 .

[92]  S. Roper,et al.  Managing a Complex Global Circular Economy Business Model: Opportunities and Challenges , 2018 .

[93]  Surakiat Parichatnon,et al.  Application of the Extended Theory of Planned Behavior Model to Investigate Purchase Intention of Green Products among Thai Consumers , 2016 .

[94]  Yu‐Shan Chen,et al.  Enhance green purchase intentions , 2012 .

[95]  T. Domenech,et al.  Transition Towards a Resource Efficient Circular Economy in Europe: Policy Lessons From the EU and the Member States , 2017, Ecological Economics.

[96]  Stavros P. Kalafatis,et al.  Green marketing and Ajzen’s theory of planned behaviour: a cross‐market examination , 1999 .

[97]  K. Kaida,et al.  Pro-environmental behavior correlates with present and future subjective well-being , 2016, Environment, Development and Sustainability.

[98]  R. Shepherd,et al.  Predicting intentions to purchase organic food: The role of affective and moral attitudes in the Theory of Planned Behaviour , 2008, Appetite.

[99]  P. R. Warshaw A New Model for Predicting Behavioral Intentions: An Alternative to Fishbein , 1980 .

[100]  Robert J. Lavidge,et al.  The Socially Conscious Consumer , 1972 .

[101]  L. Potvin,et al.  Diet and exercise profiles of 30- to 60-year-old male smokers: Implications for community heart health programs , 1996, Journal of Community Health.

[102]  Axel Franzen,et al.  The Wealth of Nations and Environmental Concern , 1999 .

[103]  Steven J. Greenland,et al.  Pro-environmental purchase behaviour: The role of consumers' biospheric values , 2016 .

[104]  I. Ajzen The theory of planned behaviour: Reactions and reflections , 2011, Psychology & health.

[105]  Afzaal Ali,et al.  Environment Friendly Products: Factors that Influence the Green Purchase Intentions of Pakistani Consumers , 2016 .