Factors that Influence Green Purchase Behaviour among Young Consumers

Abstract:

The worsening environmental issues have called for more thoroughgoing technological, institutional and social transformations taking place in the world. Green industry is seen as one of them. Investments and research development in green technology and green products are remedial actions to reduce environmental deterioration. The objective of this paper is to examine the factors that influence green purchase behavior among young consumers. A total sample of 204 green product users was collected through self-administrative questionnaires in Melaka, Malaysia. The results show that environmental concern, social influence and government and industry role are three independent variables that have relationship with green purchase behavior among consumers.

References

[1] Ninth Malaysia Plan, (2006). Promoting Environmental Stewardship, Kuala Lumpur : The Economic Unit Planning, Chapter 22, p.453 – 463.

[2] Mostafa, M. M. (2007). A hierarchical analysis of the green consciousness of the Egyptian consumer. Psychology & Marketing, 24(5) 445- 473.

DOI: 10.1002/mar.20168

[3] Tan, B. C. & Lau, T. C. (2010). Attitude towards the environment and green products: Consumers' perspective. Management Science and Engineering, 4(2), 27-39.

[4] Maloney, M., Ward, M., & Braucht, N. (1975). Psychology in action: A revised scale for the measurement of ecological attitudes and knowledge. American Psychologist, 30, 787-791.

DOI: 10.1037/h0084394

[5] Lee, K. (2008). Opportunities for green marketing: Young consumers. Journal of Consumer Marketing, 26, 573-586.

DOI: 10.1108/02634500810902839

[6] Aertsens, J., Verbeke, W., Mondelaers, K. &Van Huylenbroeck, G. (2009). Personal determinants of organic food consumption: a review. British Food Journal, 111(10), 1140-1167.

DOI: 10.1108/00070700910992961

[7] Arvola, A., Vassallo, M., Dean, M., Lampila, P., Saba, A., Lahteenmaki, L. & Shepherd, R. (2008). Predicting intentions to purchase organic food: The role of affective and moral attitudes in the Theory of Planned Behaviour. Appetite, 50, 443-454.

DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2007.09.010

[8] Alba, J. W. & Hutchinson, J. W. (1987). Dimension of consumer expertise. Journal of Consumer Research, 13, 411-454.

[9] Brucks, M. (1985). The effects of product knowledge on information search behaviour. Journal of Consumer Research, 12 (6), 1-16.

[10] Martin, B. & Simintiras, A. C. (1995). The impact of green product lines on the environment: does what they know affect how they fell? Marketing Intelligence and Planning, 13 (4), 16-23.

DOI: 10.1108/02634509510088991

[11] Fryxell, G., & Lo, C. (2003). The influence of environmental knowledge and values on managerial behaviours on behalf of the environment: An empirical examination of managers in China. Journal of Business Ethics, 46, 45–59.

[12] Elham, R. & Nabsiah, A. W. (2010). The Malaysian consumer and environment: purchase behaviour. Global Business and Management Research, 2(4), 323-336.

[13] Kalafatis, S. P., Pollard, M., East, R. & Tsogas, M. H. (1999). Green marketing and azjen's theory of planned behaviour: a cross market examination. Journal of Consumer Marketing, 16(5), 441-460.

DOI: 10.1108/07363769910289550

[14] Lascu, D.N. and Zinkhan, G. (1999). Consumer conformity: review and applications for marketing theory and practice. Journal of Marketing Theory & Practice, 7(3), 1-12.

DOI: 10.1080/10696679.1999.11501836

[15] Tsen, C. H., Phang, G., Hasan, H. & Buncha, M. R. (2006). Going green: A study of consumers' willingness to pay for green products in Kota Kinabalu. International Journal Business, 7, 40-54.

[16] Sinnappan, P. & Rahman, A. A. (2011). Antecedents of green purchasing behaviour among Malaysian consumers. International Business Management, 5(3), 129-139.

DOI: 10.3923/ibm.2011.129.139

[17] Ajzen, I. & Fishbein, M. (1980). Understanding Attitudes and Predicting Social Behaviour. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.