IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i12p5230-d1418417.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Unveiling Millennials’ Perceptions of Organic Products: A Grounded Theory Analysis in Ecuador and Peru

Author

Listed:
  • Oscar Ortiz-Regalado

    (Escuela Profesional de Ingeniería en Agronegocios, Universidad Nacional de Cajamarca, Cajamarca 06001, Peru)

  • Mary Llamo-Burga

    (Escuela Profesional de Ingeniería en Agronegocios, Universidad Nacional de Cajamarca, Cajamarca 06001, Peru)

  • Nelson Carrión-Bósquez

    (Departamento de Administración, Facultad de Economía y Administración, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta 1270709, Chile)

  • Harum Chávez-Gutiérrez

    (Departamento de Economía, Administración y Mercadología, ITESO, Universidad Jesuita de Guadalajara, San Pedro Tlaquepaque 45604, Mexico)

  • Wilson Guerra-Regalado

    (CENTRUM Catolica Graduate Business School, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú, Lima 15023, Peru)

  • Iván Veas-González

    (Departamento de Administración, Facultad de Economía y Administración, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta 1270709, Chile)

  • Wilfredo Ruiz-García

    (Escuela Profesional de Ingeniería en Agronegocios, Universidad Nacional de Cajamarca, Cajamarca 06001, Peru)

  • Cristian Vidal-Silva

    (Facultad de Ingeniería y Negocios, Universidad de Las Américas, Manuel Montt 948, Providencia, Santiago 7500975, Chile)

Abstract

In today’s society, the consumption of organic products presents both significant benefits and potential barriers, as evidenced by the intrinsic and extrinsic factors shaping consumer behavior among university-aged millennials. This study explores the motivators influencing consumer behavior toward organic product purchases and identifies barriers that may inhibit university-aged millennials from engaging in such consumption practices. Utilizing a qualitative research approach, data were gathered through semi-structured interviews with thirty-eight university students in Ecuador and Peru. The analysis employed Grounded Theory methods. The findings of this research indicate that intrinsic factors, including environmental awareness, eco-consciousness, habitual tendencies, health considerations, and personal values, in conjunction with extrinsic factors, such as familial and social influences and concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, are significant drivers of the adoption of organic goods. Conversely, challenges related to product availability, cost implications, and prevalent skepticism occasionally hinder the acquisition of these products. An innovative aspect of this study lies in its pioneering use of Grounded Theory in Ecuador and Peru. It sheds light on millennials’ perceptions of organic products and elucidates the factors influencing their purchasing decisions in the organic market.

Suggested Citation

  • Oscar Ortiz-Regalado & Mary Llamo-Burga & Nelson Carrión-Bósquez & Harum Chávez-Gutiérrez & Wilson Guerra-Regalado & Iván Veas-González & Wilfredo Ruiz-García & Cristian Vidal-Silva, 2024. "Unveiling Millennials’ Perceptions of Organic Products: A Grounded Theory Analysis in Ecuador and Peru," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(12), pages 1-16, June.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:12:p:5230-:d:1418417
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/12/5230/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/12/5230/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Nayeon Kim & Kyungtag Lee, 2023. "Environmental Consciousness, Purchase Intention, and Actual Purchase Behavior of Eco-Friendly Products: The Moderating Impact of Situational Context," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(7), pages 1-17, March.
    2. 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.
    3. Kumar, Bipul & Manrai, Ajay K. & Manrai, Lalita A., 2017. "Purchasing behaviour for environmentally sustainable products: A conceptual framework and empirical study," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 34(C), pages 1-9.
    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. Luigi Leclercq-Machado & Aldo Alvarez-Risco & Romina Gómez-Prado & Berdy Briggitte Cuya-Velásquez & Sharon Esquerre-Botton & Flavio Morales-Ríos & Camila Almanza-Cruz & Sarahit Castillo-Benancio & Mar, 2022. "Sustainable Fashion and Consumption Patterns in Peru: An Environmental-Attitude-Intention-Behavior Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-18, August.
    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. 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.
    4. Daniel K. Maduku & Steven Mbeya, 2024. "Understanding family takaful purchase behaviour: the roles of religious obligation and gender," Journal of Financial Services Marketing, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 29(2), pages 440-458, June.
    5. Erni Rusyani & Rambabu Lavuri & Ardi Gunardi, 2021. "Purchasing Eco-Sustainable Products: Interrelationship between Environmental Knowledge, Environmental Concern, Green Attitude, and Perceived Behavior," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-12, April.
    6. 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.
    7. 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).
    8. 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.
    9. Siyu Gao & Bilin Shao, 2022. "Why Do Consumers Switch to Biodegradable Plastic Consumption? The Effect of Push, Pull and Mooring on the Plastic Consumption Intention of Young Consumers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-23, November.
    10. Luigi Leclercq-Machado & Aldo Alvarez-Risco & Verónica García-Ibarra & Sharon Esquerre-Botton & Flavio Morales-Ríos & Maria de las Mercedes Anderson-Seminario & Shyla Del-Aguila-Arcentales & Neal M. D, 2022. "Consumer Patterns of Sustainable Clothing Based on Theory of Reasoned Action: Evidence from Ecuador," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-16, November.
    11. Manfei Cui & Yong Li & Shan Wang, 2024. "Environmental Knowledge and Green Purchase Intention and Behavior in China: The Mediating Role of Moral Obligation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(14), pages 1-13, July.
    12. Vishal Gupta, 2021. "Validating the theory of planned behavior in green purchasing behavior," SN Business & Economics, Springer, vol. 1(10), pages 1-19, October.
    13. Jhanghiz Syahrivar & Kenny Kusuma & Randy Azhary Pahlevi & Yuling Wei & Chairy Chairy & Genoveva Genoveva, 2023. "No longer look down: investigating second-hand clothing purchase in Indonesia," International Review on Public and Nonprofit Marketing, Springer;International Association of Public and Non-Profit Marketing, vol. 20(2), pages 319-339, June.
    14. Mosa Aseri & Zaid Ahmad Ansari, 2023. "Purchase Behaviour of Green Footwear in Saudi Arabia Using Theory of Planned Behaviour," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-17, March.
    15. Fatoki Olawale, 2020. "Factors Influencing the Purchase of Energy-Efficient Appliances by Young Consumers in South Africa," Foundations of Management, Sciendo, vol. 12(1), pages 151-166, January.
    16. Ahsan Siraj & Shilpa Taneja & Yongming Zhu & Hongbing Jiang & Sunil Luthra & Anil Kumar, 2022. "Hey, did you see that label? It's sustainable!: Understanding the role of sustainable labelling in shaping sustainable purchase behaviour for sustainable development," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(7), pages 2820-2838, November.
    17. Prakash, Gyan & Choudhary, Sangita & Kumar, Anil & Garza-Reyes, Jose Arturo & Khan, Syed Abdul Rehman & Panda, Tapan Kumar, 2019. "Do altruistic and egoistic values influence consumers’ attitudes and purchase intentions towards eco-friendly packaged products? An empirical investigation," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 163-169.
    18. Theresa Eichhorn & Oliver Meixner, 2020. "Factors Influencing the Willingness to Pay for Aquaponic Products in a Developed Food Market: A Structural Equation Modeling Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-19, April.
    19. Subburaj Alagarsamy & Sangeeta Mehrolia & Sonia Mathew, 2021. "How Green Consumption Value Affects Green Consumer Behaviour: The Mediating Role of Consumer Attitudes Towards Sustainable Food Logistics Practices," Vision, , vol. 25(1), pages 65-76, March.
    20. Farheen Naz & Judit Oláh & Dinu Vasile & Róbert Magda, 2020. "Green Purchase Behavior of University Students in Hungary: An Empirical Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-21, 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:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:12:p:5230-:d:1418417. 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.