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The Influence of Religion on Sustainable Consumption: A Systematic Review and Future Research Agenda

Author

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  • Anabel Orellano

    (Environmental Ethics Chair, Department of Geology, Geography and the Environment, University of Alcalá, C/Colegios, 2, 28801 Alcalá de Henares, Spain)

  • Carmen Valor

    (E-SOST Research Group, Marketing Department, Management School, Universidad Pontificia Comillas, c/Alberto Aguilera, 23, 28015 Madrid, Spain)

  • Emilio Chuvieco

    (Environmental Ethics Chair, Department of Geology, Geography and the Environment, University of Alcalá, C/Colegios, 2, 28801 Alcalá de Henares, Spain)

Abstract

Background: Due to the current environmental crisis, sustainable consumption (SC) behaviour and its drivers has gained significant attention among researchers. One of the potential drivers of SC, religion, have been analysed in the last few years. The study of the relationship between religion and adoption of SC at the individual level have reached mixed and inconclusive results. Methods: Following the PRISMA guidelines, a systematic review of articles published between 1998 and 2019 was conducted using the Web of Science and Scopus databases. Search terms included sustainable consumption, green consumption, ethical consumption, responsible consumption, pro-environmental behaviour and religion. Results: This systematic review reveals that contradictory results are due to methodological and theoretical reasons and provides a unifying understanding about the influence of religion on SC practices. Results highlight the role of religion as a distal or background factor of other proximal determinants of environmental behaviour. Conclusions: This paper contributes to the literature concerning SC by synthesising previous scholarship showing that religion shapes SC indirectly by affecting attitudes, values, self-efficacy, social norms and identity. The review concludes with a research agenda to encourage scholars the study of other unexamined mediating constructs, such as beliefs in after life, cleansing rituals and prayer, moral emotions, moral identity, the role of virtues and self-restrain.

Suggested Citation

  • Anabel Orellano & Carmen Valor & Emilio Chuvieco, 2020. "The Influence of Religion on Sustainable Consumption: A Systematic Review and Future Research Agenda," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(19), pages 1-21, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:19:p:7901-:d:418482
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    3. Yugang He & Jingnan Wang & Baek-Ryul Choi, 2021. "Religious Participation: Does It Matter for Sustainable Culture and Entertainment Consumption?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-16, July.
    4. Murtaza Haider & Randall Shannon & George P. Moschis, 2022. "Sustainable Consumption Research and the Role of Marketing: A Review of the Literature (1976–2021)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-36, March.
    5. Amin, Saqib & Mehmood, Waqas & Sharif, Arshian, 2022. "Blessing or curse: The role of diversity matters in stimulating or relegating environmental sustainability—a global perspective via renewable and non-renewable energy," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 189(C), pages 927-937.

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