Ecological Responsibility of Students: Motivators and Demotivators of Their Environmental Behaviors

Abstract

Abstract-The purpose of the study was to answer the question to what extend young consumers behave environmentally responsible and what factors hinder and limit their environmental behaviors. The study included 342 students of the Rzeszów University of Technology. The direct survey method was applied. The study was conducted in January 2015. The results of the study showed that consumers had a positive attitude to environmental aspects, but a lot of inconsistencies in their statements could be noticed. On the one hand, they positively connote environmental issues and declare the possession of knowledge, and on the other hand, they use disposable plastic bags and save detergents weakly. A relatively small group of respondents declared buying organic products in their families. Laziness, lack of willingness to change existing habits and preference of values such as convenience, comfort, pleasure and aesthetics are the basic demotivators of ecological behavior of consumers. Consumers do not believe that their individual actions can improve the environment and they shift the responsibility to others.