IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v14y2022i18p11699-d917975.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Three-Pillar Sustainability and Brand Image: A Qualitative Investigation in Thailand’s Household Durables Industry

Author

Listed:
  • Preechaya Chavalittumrong

    (Center for Research on Sustainable Leadership, College of Management, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand
    College of Innovation, Thammasat University, Bangkok 10200, Thailand
    10DK (Interior and Architectural Design), Bangkok 10110, Thailand)

  • Mark Speece

    (Center for Research on Sustainable Leadership, College of Management, Mahidol University, Bangkok 10400, Thailand)

Abstract

Many companies nowadays implement sustainable practices internally, and build brand images that communicate sustainability. However, there are different degrees of ‘sustainability’. This study examines the extent to which full three-pillar sustainability (environmental, social, economic) translates into a sustainable brand image among consumers in Thailand. Nine major companies producing household durables were scored based on their website information, using the Dow Jones Sustainability Index to identify those having high-, mid-, and low-level sustainability implementation. In-depth interviews were conducted with three managers in one company at each level, and three consumers who mainly buy household durables from each company were also interviewed. Manager interviews confirmed that the level of sustainability implementation evident on the website is fairly accurate. Consumers roughly translate this into brand image reflecting the degree of the company’s sustainability, but the mapping is not exact. Stronger communications about the company’s sustainability seem able to improve consumer perceptions somewhat. Consumers are quite aware of three-pillar sustainability, but often do not explicitly consider all three pillars in their product decisions. However, the long-term trend seems to be toward merging the separate market segments into a comprehensive, three-pillar sustainability-oriented segment.

Suggested Citation

  • Preechaya Chavalittumrong & Mark Speece, 2022. "Three-Pillar Sustainability and Brand Image: A Qualitative Investigation in Thailand’s Household Durables Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-22, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:18:p:11699-:d:917975
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/18/11699/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/18/11699/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Won-Moo Hur & Hanna Kim & Jeong Woo, 2014. "How CSR Leads to Corporate Brand Equity: Mediating Mechanisms of Corporate Brand Credibility and Reputation," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 125(1), pages 75-86, November.
    2. Yves Doz, 2011. "Qualitative research for international business," Journal of International Business Studies, Palgrave Macmillan;Academy of International Business, vol. 42(5), pages 582-590, June.
    3. Page, Graham & Fearn, Helen, 2005. "Corporate Reputation: What Do Consumers Really Care About?," Journal of Advertising Research, Cambridge University Press, vol. 45(3), pages 305-313, September.
    4. Evropi‐Sofia Dalampira & Stefanos A. Nastis, 2020. "Mapping Sustainable Development Goals: A network analysis framework," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(1), pages 46-55, January.
    5. Carroll, Archie B., 1991. "The pyramid of corporate social responsibility: Toward the moral management of organizational stakeholders," Business Horizons, Elsevier, vol. 34(4), pages 39-48.
    6. Chi-Shiun Lai & Chih-Jen Chiu & Chin-Fang Yang & Da-Chang Pai, 2010. "The Effects of Corporate Social Responsibility on Brand Performance: The Mediating Effect of Industrial Brand Equity and Corporate Reputation," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 95(3), pages 457-469, September.
    7. Harrigan, Paul & Evers, Uwana & Miles, Morgan P. & Daly, Tim, 2018. "Customer engagement and the relationship between involvement, engagement, self-brand connection and brand usage intent," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 88(C), pages 388-396.
    8. Ragna Nilssen & Geoff Bick & Russell Abratt, 2019. "Comparing the relative importance of sustainability as a consumer purchase criterion of food and clothing in the retail sector," Journal of Brand Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 26(1), pages 71-83, January.
    9. Hee‐Chan Song, 2020. "Sufficiency economy philosophy: Buddhism‐based sustainability framework in Thailand," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 29(8), pages 2995-3005, December.
    10. Mihaela Simona Moise & Irene Gil-Saura & Maja Šerić & Maria Eugenia Ruiz Molina, 2019. "Influence of environmental practices on brand equity, satisfaction and word of mouth," Journal of Brand Management, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 26(6), pages 646-657, November.
    11. Irfan Hameed & Zeeshan Hyder & Muhammad Imran & Kashif Shafiq, 2021. "Greenwash and green purchase behavior: an environmentally sustainable perspective," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(9), pages 13113-13134, September.
    12. Shahid Bashir & Muddasar Ghani Khwaja & Yasir Rashid & Jamshid Ali Turi & Tariq Waheed, 2020. "Green Brand Benefits and Brand Outcomes: The Mediating Role of Green Brand Image," SAGE Open, , vol. 10(3), pages 21582440209, August.
    13. Arash Zandi & Reza Ramezanian & Leslie Monplaisir, 2020. "Green parallel machines scheduling problem: A bi-objective model and a heuristic algorithm to obtain Pareto frontier," Journal of the Operational Research Society, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 71(6), pages 967-978, June.
    14. Katja H. Brunk & Cara Boer, 2020. "Correction to: How do Consumers Reconcile Positive and Negative CSR-Related Information to Form an Ethical Brand Perception? A Mixed Method Inquiry," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 162(3), pages 733-733, March.
    15. Ferrell, O.C. & Harrison, Dana E. & Ferrell, Linda & Hair, Joe F., 2019. "Business ethics, corporate social responsibility, and brand attitudes: An exploratory study," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 491-501.
    16. Katja H. Brunk & Cara Boer, 2020. "How do Consumers Reconcile Positive and Negative CSR-Related Information to Form an Ethical Brand Perception? A Mixed Method Inquiry," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 161(2), pages 443-458, January.
    17. Sora Kim, 2019. "The Process Model of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Communication: CSR Communication and its Relationship with Consumers’ CSR Knowledge, Trust, and Corporate Reputation Perception," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 154(4), pages 1143-1159, February.
    18. Rubio, Francisco & Llopis-Albert, Carlos & Valero, Francisco & Besa, Antonio José, 2020. "Sustainability and optimization in the automotive sector for adaptation to government vehicle pollutant emission regulations," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 561-566.
    19. Sooksan Kantabutra, 2019. "Achieving Corporate Sustainability: Toward a Practical Theory," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(15), pages 1-39, August.
    20. Mehrnaz Ashrafi & Gregory M. Magnan & Michelle Adams & Tony R. Walker, 2020. "Understanding the Conceptual Evolutionary Path and Theoretical Underpinnings of Corporate Social Responsibility and Corporate Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-17, January.
    21. Becker-Olsen, Karen L. & Cudmore, B. Andrew & Hill, Ronald Paul, 2006. "The impact of perceived corporate social responsibility on consumer behavior," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 59(1), pages 46-53, January.
    22. Yu-Shan Chen, 2010. "The Drivers of Green Brand Equity: Green Brand Image, Green Satisfaction, and Green Trust," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 93(2), pages 307-319, May.
    23. Wanna Prayukvong & M. John Foster, 2014. "Buddhist economics meets corporate social responsibility," International Journal of Economics and Business Research, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 8(2), pages 175-192.
    24. Ching-Hsun Chang, 2011. "The Influence of Corporate Environmental Ethics on Competitive Advantage: The Mediation Role of Green Innovation," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 104(3), pages 361-370, December.
    25. Pan, Jeh-Nan & Nguyen, Hung Thi Ngoc, 2015. "Achieving customer satisfaction through product–service systems," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 247(1), pages 179-190.
    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. Cowan, Kirsten & Guzman, Francisco, 2020. "How CSR reputation, sustainability signals, and country-of-origin sustainability reputation contribute to corporate brand performance: An exploratory study," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 683-693.
    2. Rajesh Sharma & Vranda Jain, 2019. "CSR, Trust, Brand Loyalty and Brand Equity: Empirical Evidences from Sportswear Industry in the NCR Region of India," Metamorphosis: A Journal of Management Research, , vol. 18(1), pages 57-67, June.
    3. Alfredo Flores-Hernández & Ana Olavarría-Jaraba & Guadalupe Valera-Blanes & Rosario Vázquez-Carrasco, 2020. "Sustainability and Branding in Retail: A Model of Chain of Effects," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-15, July.
    4. Kara, Karahan & Yalçın, Galip Cihan & Akagün Ergin, Elif & Simic, Vladimir & Pamucar, Dragan, 2024. "A neutrosophic WENSLO-ARLON model for measuring sustainable brand equity performance," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    5. Gwarlann Kerviler & Nico Heuvinck & Elodie Gentina, 2022. "“Make an Effort and Show Me the Love!” Effects of Indexical and Iconic Authenticity on Perceived Brand Ethicality," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 179(1), pages 89-110, August.
    6. Kim, Yeonshin & Hur, Won-Moo & Lee, Luri, 2023. "Understanding customer participation in CSR activities: The impact of perceptions of CSR, affective commitment, brand equity, and corporate reputation," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 75(C).
    7. Jesús J. Cambra‐Fierro & J. Alfredo Flores‐Hernández & Lourdes Pérez & Guadalupe Valera‐Blanes, 2020. "CSR and branding in emerging economies: The effect of incomes and education," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(6), pages 2765-2776, November.
    8. Shu Wang & Ying-Kai Liao & Wann-Yih Wu & Khanh Bao Ho Le, 2021. "The Role of Corporate Social Responsibility Perceptions in Brand Equity, Brand Credibility, Brand Reputation, and Purchase Intentions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(21), pages 1-19, October.
    9. Agata Gurzawska & Markus Mäkinen & Philip Brey, 2017. "Implementation of Responsible Research and Innovation (RRI) Practices in Industry: Providing the Right Incentives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-26, September.
    10. Hsiu-Hua Chang, 2017. "Consumer Socially Sustainable Consumption: The Perspective toward Corporate Social Responsibility, Perceived Value, and Brand Loyalty," Journal of Economics and Management, College of Business, Feng Chia University, Taiwan, vol. 13(2), pages 167-191, August.
    11. Nick Lin-Hi & Igor Blumberg, 2018. "The Link Between (Not) Practicing CSR and Corporate Reputation: Psychological Foundations and Managerial Implications," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 150(1), pages 185-198, June.
    12. Swaen, Valérie & Demoulin, Nathalie & Pauwels-Delassus, Véronique, 2021. "Impact of customers’ perceptions regarding corporate social responsibility and irresponsibility in the grocery retailing industry: The role of corporate reputation," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 709-721.
    13. Kaur, Puneet & Talwar, Shalini & Madanaguli, Arun & Srivastava, Shalini & Dhir, Amandeep, 2022. "Corporate social responsibility (CSR) and hospitality sector: Charting new frontiers for restaurant businesses," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 1234-1248.
    14. Muhsina Jannat & Md. Mahmudul Haque & Mohammad Ashraful Ferdous Chowdhury, 2024. "Does Trust Mediate in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Brand Equity Nexus? Empirical Evidence from the Banking Sector," FIIB Business Review, , vol. 13(3), pages 340-355, May.
    15. Chuan Zheng & Munirah Khamarudin & Azanin Ahmad, 2024. "Mapping the Landscape of Brand Equity Research: A Bibliometric Analysis of SCOPUS Data (1993-2023)," International Review of Management and Marketing, Econjournals, vol. 14(5), pages 113-125, September.
    16. Syed Abdul Rehman Khan & Adnan Ahmed Sheikh & Mubeen Ashraf & Zhang Yu, 2022. "Improving Consumer-Based Green Brand Equity: The Role of Healthy Green Practices, Green Brand Attachment, and Green Skepticism," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-17, September.
    17. Anne-Kathrin Ulke & Laura Marie Schons, 2016. "CSR as a Selling of Indulgences: An Experimental Investigation of Customers’ Perceptions of CSR Activities Depending on Corporate Reputation," Corporate Reputation Review, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 19(3), pages 263-280, October.
    18. Arli, Denni & Grace, Anthony & Palmer, Janet & Pham, Cuong, 2017. "Investigating the direct and indirect effects of corporate hypocrisy and perceived corporate reputation on consumers’ attitudes toward the company," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 37(C), pages 139-145.
    19. Rojas-Lamorena, Álvaro J. & Del Barrio-García, Salvador & Alcántara-Pilar, Juan Miguel, 2022. "A review of three decades of academic research on brand equity: A bibliometric approach using co-word analysis and bibliographic coupling," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 1067-1083.
    20. J. Alfredo Flores‐Hernández & Jesús J. Cambra‐Fierro & Rosario Vázquez‐Carrasco, 2020. "Sustainability, brand image, reputation and financial value: Manager perceptions in an emerging economy context," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(4), pages 935-945, July.

    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:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:18:p:11699-:d:917975. 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.