In this study, the recycling behavior of consumers is examined using a model developed based on the goal framing theory (GFT). The GFT provides a holistic comprehensive framework amalgamating three popular psychological theories—theory of planned behavior (TPB), values‐beliefs‐norms (VBNs) theory, and theory on affect (TA). The purpose of this study is to analyze the factors that predict recycling behavior of consumers by examining the extent to which such behavior depends on moral considerations, affective responses, or self‐interest motives. A comprehensive multivariate model with 12 formulated hypotheses is tested with structural equation modeling (SEM) using survey data from 206 individuals. The results of the study indicate that GFT is an appropriate framework in explaining recycling behavior of consumers. The findings of the combined model suggest that while values (biospheric, egoistic), environmental concern, awareness of destructive consequences, ascription of responsibility to self, personal norms, subjective norms, attitudes toward behavior, perceived behavioral control, and intention do significantly predict recycling behavior, altruistic values do not explain behavior‐related intention. In particular, perceived behavioral control seems to be the strongest predictor of recycling intention. Variables of the TPB, which assess gain motives, seem to have the greatest explanatory power for recycling behavior of consumers when the combined model is examined. However, further comparative theory analysis indicates that the recycling behavior of consumers could be better explained by the VBN theory relative to the TPB or TA. The study offers important implications pertaining to environmentally sensitive consumer behavior that would be relevant for marketing managers and policymakers.

This study aims to examine the value of personal norms in addition to the theory of planned behavior (TPB) variables (i.e., attitude toward behavior, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, and behavioral intention) in explaining consumers’ pro-environmental purchasing behavior. The hypotheses and model were formulated and tested with structural equation modeling using the data from 281 consumers who are active members of a U.S.-based recycling company. Model fit statistics indicate a good fit of empirical data and model structure for pro-environmental purchasing behavior. The findings suggest that while personal and subjective norms, attitudes toward behavior, and intention explain consumers’ pro-environmental purchasing behavior, perceived behavioral control does not have any power in explaining behavior-related intention. Policy makers and marketing professionals are advised to adopt various social and sustainability marketing strategies that focus on communicating different normative aspects of purchasing decisions to promote pro-environmental consumer behaviors. The normative concerns covered in the environmental behavior studies are mostly limited to “subjective norms” as represented in the TPB, which has been widely adopted in the behavioral studies. By extending the TPB with “personal norms,” this study contributes to the better explanation of environmentally relevant purchase behaviors of consumers.

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Although research in marketing and consumer behavior has tried to portray sustainable consumers in many different ways, a clear, consistent, and granular identification of these consumers is still not available due to the complexity of sustainable consumption. This study adopts personas as a way to better explain and understand the holistic nature and complexity of sustainable consumer behavior in terms of its various stages (i.e. acquisition, usage, and postuse) within four key behavioral functions of mobility, housing, clothing, and food. Different sustainability related functions of personas are seen to be fundamental lifestyle components and could be fulfilled by a variety of sustainable actions. This exploratory study uses a qualitative methodology, involving data collection through multiple in-depth interviews across several countries. The results reveal three different consumer archetypes with distinct sustainable consumption strategies: holistic sustainable consumers, transitional sustainable consumers, and restricted sustainable consumers. Managerial and theoretical implications provide practical recommendations for marketing managers and public policy planners, as well as directions for continued research in this area. K E Y W O R D Sacquisition, personas, postuse, stages of consumer behavior, sustainable consumer archetypes, sustainable consumption, usage

Purpose Environmental behavior studies suggest that knowledge, in addition to other psychological and social factors, can play an important role in consumers’ environmental behavior change. The purpose of this paper is to understand the relationship between knowledge and various psychological factors which encourage consumers’ participation in pro-environmental behaviors. The relationships that link an individual’s attitudes toward science, environmental values, different types of knowledge (i.e. scientific facts, environmental facts, and subjective environmental knowledge), environmental risk perception, and willingness to pay (WTP) for the environment with pro-environmental behavior were examined. Design/methodology/approach Theoretically guided hypotheses and model were formulated and tested with multiple linear regression models. The study was based on measures and data obtained from the large-sample secondary database of the 2010 General Social Survey (n=2,044). Findings Results indicated that while attitudes toward science had direct effects on knowledge of scientific facts and knowledge of environmental facts, environmental values showed effects on knowledge of environmental facts and subjective knowledge on environmental issues. The results also indicated that from different types of knowledge, subjective knowledge on environmental issues had effects on both environmental risk perception and WTP for the environment. Knowledge on environmental facts, on the other hand, was able to predict only environmental risk perception. The scientific factual knowledge did not show an effect on mediator of pro-environmental behavior. Also, subjective knowledge indicated indirect effects on pro-environmental behavior through environmental risk perception and WTP for the environment. Originality/value Although research on understanding factors influencing pro-environmental behaviors and potential relations to individual knowledge has grown in recent years, there has been very little attempt at distinguishing between different types of knowledge and investigating their potential roles in the context of environmentally relevant behaviors. This study will help understand the functioning of different types of consumer environmental knowledge and their impacts on pro-environmental behaviors more in depth.