Understanding the determinants of sustainable consumption behavior

Abstract

Consumer choices regarding sustainable products have been studied over decades, often seen as a means for individuals to mitigate environmental problems. However, the adoption of sustainable products remains below expectations, raising relevant questions about the determinants of these choices. Therefore, this study conducts a meta and weight analysis of 41 peer-reviewed studies published between 2008 and 2023, sourced from databases including Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. Due to the meta-analysis requirement, this study focuses only on 18 relationships, since only the ones examined three or more times can be considered. The meta-analysis identified 12 statistically significant predictors of sustainable products consumption, from which the weight analysis highlighted six as best predictors. Results reveal the theory of planned behavior as a major theoretical framework used in previous research, along with consumer-related factors and sociodemographic variables such as knowledge, environmental behavior, and past experience. From a product perspective, safety was also found to be a statistically significant predictor. By integrating findings from both analyses, this study provides a comprehensive overview of the key factors influencing sustainable consumption choices, offering insights into the current state of the field and identifying areas for future research.