IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v17y2020i18p6607-d412007.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Why Do Consumers Make Green Purchase Decisions? Insights from a Systematic Review

Author

Listed:
  • Xiaoyun Zhang

    (School of Economics and Management, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China)

  • Feng Dong

    (School of Economics and Management, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China)

Abstract

In order to achieve sustainable development to protect the environment and society, an increasing number of scholars have conducted in-depth research on green marketing and green purchases. Although great achievements have been made in this field, there still is room for further progress. This study reviews 97 papers providing empirical research on green purchase behavior from 2015 to 2020. First, we review the widely used consumer theory and its extended application in recent years. Second, we divide the influencing factors of green purchase behavior into the following three categories and discuss them in detail: individual factors, product attributes and marketing, and social factors. Finally, we put forward the following possible directions for future research. (1) The authors can consider adjustment to the survey objects to weaken the subjectivity of the data. (2) Longitudinal research can be used to assess the impact of education and policies with a lagging effect on consumers. (3) The authors can broaden the research direction towards a cross-cultural background. (4) The behavior of various green products (such as recyclable tires, recycled glass containers, recycled paper) could be explored to enrich the research content. (5) It will be beneficial to combine a variety of consumer theories to explore the green purchase behavior of consumers and break through the existing linear hypothesis path to explore new research methods.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaoyun Zhang & Feng Dong, 2020. "Why Do Consumers Make Green Purchase Decisions? Insights from a Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-25, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:18:p:6607-:d:412007
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/18/6607/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/18/6607/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Tan, Chin-Seang & Ooi, Hooi-Yin & Goh, Yen-Nee, 2017. "A moral extension of the theory of planned behavior to predict consumers’ purchase intention for energy-efficient household appliances in Malaysia," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 459-471.
    2. Maria Vincenza Ciasullo & Gennaro Maione & Carlo Torre & Orlando Troisi, 2017. "What about Sustainability? An Empirical Analysis of Consumers’ Purchasing Behavior in Fashion Context," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-18, September.
    3. Yadav, Rambalak & Pathak, Govind S., 2017. "Determinants of Consumers' Green Purchase Behavior in a Developing Nation: Applying and Extending the Theory of Planned Behavior," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 134(C), pages 114-122.
    4. Johe, Miles H. & Bhullar, Navjot, 2016. "To buy or not to buy: The roles of self-identity, attitudes, perceived behavioral control and norms in organic consumerism," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 99-105.
    5. Cai, Zhen & Xie, Yi & Aguilar, Francisco X., 2017. "Eco-label credibility and retailer effects on green product purchasing intentions," Forest Policy and Economics, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 200-208.
    6. Zhang, Li & Sun, Cong & Liu, Hongyu & Zheng, Siqi, 2016. "The role of public information in increasing homebuyers' willingness-to-pay for green housing: Evidence from Beijing," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 129(C), pages 40-49.
    7. Kieran Mathieson, 1991. "Predicting User Intentions: Comparing the Technology Acceptance Model with the Theory of Planned Behavior," Information Systems Research, INFORMS, vol. 2(3), pages 173-191, September.
    8. Ajzen, Icek, 1991. "The theory of planned behavior," Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Elsevier, vol. 50(2), pages 179-211, December.
    9. Hsu, Chia-Lin & Chang, Chi-Ya & Yansritakul, Chutinart, 2017. "Exploring purchase intention of green skincare products using the theory of planned behavior: Testing the moderating effects of country of origin and price sensitivity," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 145-152.
    10. Gonçalves, Helena Martins & Lourenço, Tiago Ferreira & Silva, Graça Miranda, 2016. "Green buying behavior and the theory of consumption values: A fuzzy-set approach," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 69(4), pages 1484-1491.
    11. Cheung, Millissa F.Y. & To, W.M., 2019. "An extended model of value-attitude-behavior to explain Chinese consumers’ green purchase behavior," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 145-153.
    12. Liying Xu & Feng Yu & Xiaojun Ding, 2020. "Circular-Looking Makes Green-Buying: How Brand Logo Shapes Influence Green Consumption," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-13, February.
    13. Bin, Shui & Dowlatabadi, Hadi, 2005. "Corrigendum to "Consumer lifestyles approach to US energy use and the related CO2 emissions": [Energy Policy 33 (2005) 197-208]," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 33(10), pages 1362-1363, July.
    14. Li, Qianwen & Long, Ruyin & Chen, Hong, 2018. "Differences and influencing factors for Chinese urban resident willingness to pay for green housings: Evidence from five first-tier cities in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 229(C), pages 299-313.
    15. Long-Chuan Lu & Hsiu-Hua Chang & Alan Chang, 2015. "Consumer Personality and Green Buying Intention: The Mediate Role of Consumer Ethical Beliefs," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 127(1), pages 205-219, March.
    16. Xiaoyong Wei & Sojin Jung, 2017. "Understanding Chinese Consumers’ Intention to Purchase Sustainable Fashion Products: The Moderating Role of Face-Saving Orientation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-15, September.
    17. Xianchuan Yang & Lei Zhang, 2020. "Diagnose barriers to sustainable development: A study on “desensitization” in urban residents' green purchasing behavior," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(1), pages 143-154, January.
    18. Bin, Shui & Dowlatabadi, Hadi, 2005. "Consumer lifestyle approach to US energy use and the related CO2 emissions," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 33(2), pages 197-208, January.
    19. Park, Hyun Jung & Lin, Li Min, 2020. "Exploring attitude–behavior gap in sustainable consumption: comparison of recycled and upcycled fashion products," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 623-628.
    20. Liobikienė, Genovaitė & Mandravickaitė, Justina & Bernatonienė, Jurga, 2016. "Theory of planned behavior approach to understand the green purchasing behavior in the EU: A cross-cultural study," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 38-46.
    21. Yang, Defeng & Lu, Yue & Zhu, Wenting & Su, Chenting, 2015. "Going green: How different advertising appeals impact green consumption behavior," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 68(12), pages 2663-2675.
    22. Sheth, Jagdish N. & Newman, Bruce I. & Gross, Barbara L., 1991. "Why we buy what we buy: A theory of consumption values," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 22(2), pages 159-170, March.
    23. Hye Jung Jung & Yun Jung Choi & Kyung Wha Oh, 2020. "Influencing Factors of Chinese Consumers’ Purchase Intention to Sustainable Apparel Products: Exploring Consumer “Attitude–Behavioral Intention” Gap," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(5), pages 1-14, February.
    24. Sreen, Naman & Purbey, Shankar & Sadarangani, Pradip, 2018. "Impact of culture, behavior and gender on green purchase intention," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 177-189.
    25. Jaiswal, Deepak & Kant, Rishi, 2018. "Green purchasing behaviour: A conceptual framework and empirical investigation of Indian consumers," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 60-69.
    26. Kim, Juran & Kang, Seungmook & Lee, Ki Hoon, 2020. "How social capital impacts the purchase intention of sustainable fashion products," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 596-603.
    27. Wei, Shuqin & Ang, Tyson & Jancenelle, Vivien E., 2018. "Willingness to pay more for green products: The interplay of consumer characteristics and customer participation," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 45(C), pages 230-238.
    28. Joseph Agebase Awuni & Jianguo Du, 2016. "Sustainable Consumption in Chinese Cities: Green Purchasing Intentions of Young Adults Based on the Theory of Consumption Values," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 24(2), pages 124-135, March.
    29. Paul, Justin & Modi, Ashwin & Patel, Jayesh, 2016. "Predicting green product consumption using theory of planned behavior and reasoned action," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 29(C), pages 123-134.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Taneja, Shilpa & Ali, Liaqat, 2021. "Determinants of customers’ intentions towards environmentally sustainable banking: Testing the structural model," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 59(C).
    2. Jana Hojnik & Mitja Ruzzier & Tatiana S. Manolova, 2020. "Sustainable development: Predictors of green consumerism in Slovenia," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(4), pages 1695-1708, July.
    3. Francesco Testa & Gaia Pretner & Roberta Iovino & Guia Bianchi & Sara Tessitore & Fabio Iraldo, 2021. "Drivers to green consumption: a systematic review," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(4), pages 4826-4880, April.
    4. Bhardwaj, Seema & Sreen, Naman & Das, Manish & Chitnis, Asmita & Kumar, Sushant, 2023. "Product specific values and personal values together better explains green purchase," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    5. Hsiao-Ping Chang & Chun-Chieh Ma & Han-Shen Chen, 2019. "Climate Change and Consumer’s Attitude toward Insect Food," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-17, May.
    6. Dangelico, Rosa Maria & Alvino, Letizia & Fraccascia, Luca, 2022. "Investigating the antecedents of consumer behavioral intention for sustainable fashion products: Evidence from a large survey of Italian consumers," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
    7. Alvino, Letizia & Dangelico, Rosa Maria, 2022. "Investigating the antecedents of consumer behavioral intention for sustainable fashion products: Evidence from a large survey of Italian consumers," Other publications TiSEM ed6b6a75-2a9f-4b6e-8076-9, Tilburg University, School of Economics and Management.
    8. Haj-Salem, Narjes & Ishaq, Muhammad Ishtiaq & Raza, Ali, 2022. "How anticipated pride and guilt influence green consumption in the Middle East: The moderating role of environmental consciousness," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
    9. Zohra Ghali-Zinoubi, 2022. "Examining Drivers of Environmentally Conscious Consumer Behavior: Theory of Planned Behavior Extended with Cultural Factors," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-17, July.
    10. Vibhava Srivastava & Amit Kumar Gupta, 2023. "Price sensitivity, government green interventions, and green product availability triggers intention toward buying green products," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 32(1), pages 802-819, January.
    11. Nekmahmud, Md. & Naz, Farheen & Ramkissoon, Haywantee & Fekete-Farkas, Maria, 2022. "Transforming consumers' intention to purchase green products: Role of social media," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 185(C).
    12. Xianchuan Yang & Shih‐Chih Chen & Lei Zhang, 2020. "Promoting sustainable development: A research on residents' green purchasing behavior from a perspective of the goal‐framing theory," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(5), pages 1208-1219, September.
    13. Moshood, Taofeeq D. & Nawanir, Gusman & Mahmud, Fatimah & Mohamad, Fazeeda & Ahmad, Mohd Hanafiah & AbdulGhani, Airin, 2022. "Why do consumers purchase biodegradable plastic? The impact of hedonics and environmental motivations on switching intention from synthetic to biodegradable plastic among the young consumers," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 64(C).
    14. Leibao Zhang & Yanli Fan & Wenyu Zhang & Shuai Zhang, 2019. "Extending the Theory of Planned Behavior to Explain the Effects of Cognitive Factors across Different Kinds of Green Products," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(15), pages 1-17, August.
    15. Saddam A. Hazaea & Ebrahim Mohammed Al-Matari & Khaled Zedan & Saleh F. A. Khatib & Jinyu Zhu & Hamzeh Al Amosh, 2022. "Green Purchasing: Past, Present and Future," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-28, April.
    16. Imran Hossain & Maria Fekete-Farkas & Md. Nekmahmud, 2022. "Purchase Behavior of Energy-Efficient Appliances Contribute to Sustainable Energy Consumption in Developing Country: Moral Norms Extension of the Theory of Planned Behavior," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-20, June.
    17. Changjoon Lee & Soyoun Lim & Byoungchun Ha, 2021. "Green Supply Chain Management and Its Impact on Consumer Purchase Decision as a Marketing Strategy: Applying the Theory of Planned Behavior," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-16, October.
    18. Zaremohzzabieh, Zeinab & Ismail, Normala & Ahrari, Seyedali & Abu Samah, Asnarulkhadi, 2021. "The effects of consumer attitude on green purchase intention: A meta-analytic path analysis," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 732-743.
    19. Jana Hojnik & Mitja Ruzzier & Maja Konečnik Ruzzier, 2019. "Transition towards Sustainability: Adoption of Eco-Products among Consumers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(16), pages 1-29, August.
    20. Yingxiu Hong & Abdullah Al Mamun & Mohammad Masukujjaman & Qing Yang, 2024. "Sustainable consumption practices among Chinese youth," Palgrave Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 11(1), pages 1-17, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:18:p:6607-:d:412007. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.