Opinie studentów na temat konsumpcji mięsa i jej konsekwencji dla środowiska naturalnego

Abstract

The purpose of the paper is to recognize consumers’ opinions on the environmental aspects of meat consumption and the intention to limit meat consumption due to the negative influence of meat production on the environment. The objective of the paper was achieved through literature studies, information acquired from industry magazines and direct research. We adopted the research question whether consumers are willing to limit meat consumption due to the awareness of the consequences of meat consumption for the environment. The research was carried out in December 2019 using the online survey technique. The participants of the study were 457 representatives of young consumers — representatives of the generation which is most convinced of the harmful impact of mankind on the natural environment. The results of the research and analysis indicate that a significant proportion of young consumers have already reduced their meat consumption and a relatively significant (approx. 40%) intend to reduce meat consumption for environmental reasons, with the percentage of people who perceive the negative impact of industrial meat production on the environment is even higher and equals about 50%. Slightly less, approx. 35%, believe that limiting meat consumption can improve the state of the natural environment.

Limiting meat consumption in the view of the students of the Poznań University of Economics and Business

“…The negative effects of excessive meat consumption affect both the state of the environment and human health, as evidenced by the review of existing research in this area in the first part of the article. There is a trend among a growing group of consumers to consciously reduce meat consumption, which may be due to concerns for both the state of the environment (Borusiak & Kucharska, 2020) and their own health (Neff et al, 2018).…”

“…Furthermore, among those limiting their meat consumption, only 5% did so out of concern for the state of the planet (Marinova & Bogueva, 2019). A study conducted among Polish students (Borusiak & Kucharska, 2020) found that 42% of respondents limit their meat consumption. The most important reasons were concern for the environment (35% of respondents) and attitudes towards animals (32% of respondents).…”

“…Bearing in mind the issues raised so far, it is interesting to compare the negative effects (both on human health and the environment) of excessive meat consumption with the perception of this problem by PUEB students, who belong to an important group for the future implementation of sustainable development solutions in European Union Member States (European Commission, 2019). The present study is a somewhat elaborated version of the study conducted by Borusiak and Kucharska (2020), which did not address issues related to human health. Meanwhile, as demonstrated by Neff et al (2018), concern for one's own health can sometimes be the most important motive.…”