Gender, generation and sustainable consumption: Exploring the behaviour of consumers from Izmir, Turkey

Abstract

This study investigates the relationship between consumers' sustainable consumption behaviour and both gender and generation-related individual differences in a sample of Turkish consumers. A total of 393 participants from different generations and gender took part in the study. To measure sustainable consumption behaviour, we used four-dimensional sustainable consumption behaviour scale. The results showed that generation is associated with unneeded consumption as a dimension of sustainable consumption behaviour. Consumers who are Baby Boomers found to have the highest level of unneeded consumption behaviour while Gen-Zers have fewest. Additionally, data supported the association between gender and sustainable consumption behaviour. Women showed a higher level of sustainable consumption behaviour both in overall behaviour and tendency to reuse products. Taken together, the findings suggest that gender and generation of consumers can differentiate sustainable consumption behaviour. The implications of these findings, as well as the limitations and future directions, are also discussed. K E Y W O R D Ssustainable consumption behaviour, gender, baby boomers, gen X, gen Y, gen Z

Drivers of sustainable consumption in a developing Sub-Saharan African setting: Nigerian academic staff perspective

“…Wang further noted variations for countries along income levels for environmental governance being driver of sustainable consumption behaviour. Taken together, both Bulut et al (2017) and Wang confirmed that there are country-based differences on what motivates sustainable consumption at individual level. In the remaining section of this literature review, we explore the drivers of sustainable consumption and develop conceptual hypotheses.…”

“…Studies and reports on drivers of sustainable consumption have been country-specific with contradictory results (Bulut et al, 2017;Wang, 2016;Young et al, 2010;Zeegers and Clark, 2014). Therefore, there are no universally acceptable drivers of sustainable consumption.…”

“…For instance, a study by Young et al (2010) in the United Kingdom (UK) explored the micro-purchase process for green consumers in relation to consumer technology products, reported green labels, specialist information, wide availability, and feelings of guilt as the key facilitators of sustainable consumption within the consumer technology product domain. Bulut et al (2017) explored the potency of gender as driver of sustainable, indicating that women showed higher level of sustainable consumption behaviour. The study by Wang (2016) revealed that three factors of environmental attitude -environmental concern (EC), environmental efficacy, and perceived environmental effectiveness are common drivers of sustainable consumption behaviour at individual level within the countries examined.…”

“…This clarion call applies to both ecological debtor and ecologically creditor nations of the world. Again, literature is replete with conflicting findings and somewhat unresolved debate on drivers of sustainable consumption especially among different countries with favourable ecological status (Bulut et al, 2017). Relatedly, there is dearth of country-specific sustainability research particularly from Nigeria which is perceived as the arrowhead of SSA economy.…”

Are Gender Perspectives Included in Education for Sustainable Consumption and Waste Education Programs? A Systematic Literature Review

“…This is particularly true in the consumption field, though consumer choices are also influenced by income level, social status and biases, however, gender is still a significant driver (OECD, 2008;Schultz and Stieß, 2009). Women tend to have less resource-intensive (and therefore more sustainable) lifestyles and display more pro-environmental attitudes, whether rich or poor, while men's consumption patterns and ecological footprint are usually greater than women's (Bulut et al, 2017;Chant, 2006;OECD, 2008). In addition, the gendering of non-sex-differentiated products and services is a standard marketing tool used to assign gender characteristics and increase demand and consumption for given products (UNEP, 2016).…”