Consumer Motivation behind the Use of Ecological Charcoal in Cameroon

Abstract

Climate change and global warming are amplified by pollution and deforestation. For this reason, governments around the world meet every year to find ways to reduce pollution and deforestation and ensure sustainable development. The use of clean energy, particularly ecological charcoal, appears to be an appropriate solution in developing countries. The main objective of this research is to assess the motivations for the consumption of ecological charcoal in Cameroon, using a quantitative approach based on Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Data were collected from 525 households in the cities of Yaoundé and Douala, Cameroon. The results show that the desire to protect the environment (ecological sensibility), the desire to reduce the energy costs of cooking (economic sensibility), the need to improve health and security, and the desire to enhance the quality of meals and to preserve the cleanliness of pots are all determinants in the consumers’ choice to use ecological charcoal. These results are refreshing. In Cameroon, in addition to its economic value, the massive consumption of ecological charcoal will contribute to a reduction in household waste management problems in cities and municipalities, while preserving the environment.