Segmentation of young university students according to their environmental consciousness. A Spain and Mexico cross-cultural analysis

Authors

  • Antonio Chamorro Mera University of Extremadura, Spain
  • José Manuel García-Gallego University of Extremadura, Spain

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8021843

Keywords:

green consumer, green marketing, cross-cultural research, marketing segmentation, young consumers

Abstract

The deterioration of the environment is a scientific fact that has been playing an increasingly important role in political and corporate agendas since the 1970s. We need to move to an economic model that encourage responsible consumption and the purchase of green products, growing the green consumer segment. If these strategies are to be effective, we need to understand more about consumer behaviour. Among the whole population, young university students are important because they will play the leading roles in politics and business. Through a sample of 420 Mexican students and 404 Spanish students, a survey has been conducted to describe their level of environmental consciousness. Three different segments have been identified in each country. Important similarities between the two countries can be identified, but also some differences. The results of this study can serve as a guide to design effective marketing strategies for companies and governmental organizations.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Akehurst, G., Alfonso, C. & Martins Gonçalves, H. (2012). Re-examining green purchase behavior and the green consumer profile: New evidences. Management Decision, 50(5), pp. 972–988. https://doi.org/10.1108/00251741211227726

Al-Swidi, A., & Saleh, R.M. (2021). How green our future would be? An investigation of the determinants of green purchasing behaviour of young citizens in a developing Country. Environ Dev Sustain 23, 13436–13468. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-020-01220-z

Antil, J. H. (1984). Socially Responsible Consumers: Profiles and Implications for Public Policy. Journal of MacroMarketing, 4 (2), 18–39. https://doi.org/10.1177/027614678400400203

Blose, J.E., Mack, R.W., Pitts, R.E & Xie, H.I. (2020). Exploring Young U.S. and Chinese Consumers’ Motivations to Recycle. Journal of International Consumer Marketing, 32 (1), 33-46, https://doi.org/10.1080/08961530.2019.1618776

Chamorro A., Rubio S. & Miranda F.J. (2009). Characteristics of research on green marketing. Business Strategy and the Environment, 18(4), 223-230. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.571

Cleveland, M., M. Kalamas, & M. Laroche. (2012). It’s Not Easy Being Green’: Exploring Green Creeds, Green Deeds, and Internal Environmental Locus of Control. Psychology and Marketing, 29, 293–305. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/mar.20522

Correia, E., Sousa, S., Viseu, C. & Leite, J. (2022). Using the theory of planned behavior to understand the students’ pro-environmental behaviour: a case-study in a Portuguese HEI. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 23 (5), 1070-1089. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-05-2021-0201

Coşkun, A. & Yetkin Özbük, R.M. (2019). Environmental segmentation: young millennials’ profile in an emerging economy. Young Consumers, 20(4), 359-379. https://doi.org/10.1108/YC-12-2018-0912

De Pelsmacker, P. & Janssens W. (2007). A model for fair trade buying behaviour: the role of perceived quantity and quality of information and of product-specific attitudes. Journal of Business Ethics, 75, 361–380. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-006-9259-2

Dinh, C.T., Uehara, T. & Tsuge, T. (2021). Green Attributes in Young Consumers’ Purchase Intentions: A Cross-Country, Cross-Product Comparative Study Using a Discrete Choice Experiment. Sustainability 13(17) 9825. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13179825.

Durif, F., Boivin, C., Rajaobelina, L. & Francois-Lecompte, A. (2011). Socially Responsible Consumers: Profile and Implications for Marketing Strategy. International Review of Business Research Papers, 7(6), 215-224.

Ellen, P. S., Wiener, J. & Cobb-Walgren, C. (1991). The role of perceived consumer effectiveness in motivating environmentally conscious behaviours. Journal of Public Policy and Marketing, 10(2), 102–117. https://doi.org/10.1177/074391569101000206

Ellen, P. S. (1994). Do we know what we need to know? Objective and subjective knowledge effects on pro-ecological behaviours. Journal of Business Research, 30, 43–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/0148-2963(94)90067-1

European Commission (2015). Closing The loop: An EU action plan for the Circular Economy. https://eur-lex.europa.eu/resource.html?uri=cellar:8a8ef5e8-99a0-11e5-b3b7-01aa75ed71a1.0012.02/DOC_1&format=PDF

Fatah, S. M. & Naved, M. (2018). Young Consumer's Green Purchasing Behavior: Opportunities for Green Marketing. Journal of Global Marketing, 31(4), 270-281. https://doi.org/10.1080/08911762.2017.1407982

González, E.M., Felix, R., Carrete, L., Centeno, E. & Castaño, R. (2015). Green shades: a segmentation approach based on ecological consumer behaviour in an emerging economy. Journal of Marketing Theory and Practice, 23(3), 287-302. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10696679.2015.1032395

Haj-Salem, N. & Al-Hawari, M.A. (2021). Predictors of recycling behaviour: the role of self-conscious emotions. Journal of Social Marketing, 11(3), 204-223. https://doi.org/10.1108/JSOCM-06-2020-0110

Han, H. & Yoon, H. J. (2015). Hotel customers’ environmentally responsible behavioural intention: Impact of key constructs on decision in green consumerism. International Journal of Hospitality Management, 45, 22–33. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhm.2014.11.004

Heo, J. & Muralidharan, S. (2017). What triggers young millennials to purchase eco-friendly products?: the interrelationships among knowledge, perceived consumer effectiveness, and environmental concern. Journal of Marketing Communications, 25(4), 421-437. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13527266.2017.1303623 http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13527266.2017.1303623

Herman, L.E., Udayana, B.N. & Farida, N. (2021). Young generation and environmental friendly awareness: does it the impact of green advertising? Business: Theory and Practice 22(1), 159–166. https://journals.vilniustech.lt/index.php/BTP/article/view/12417

Izaguirre-Olaizola, J., Fernández-Saínz, A. & Vicente-Molina, M.A. (2013). Antecedentes y barreras a la compra de productos ecológicos. Universia Business Review, 38, 108–127. https://www.redalyc.org/pdf/433/43328033006.pdf

Jaiswal, D., Kaushal, V., Singh, P.K., & Biswas, A. (2021). Green market segmentation and consumer profiling: a cluster approach to an emerging consumer market. Benchmarking, 28(3), 792-812. https://doi.org/10.1108/bij-05-2020-0247

Kabadayi, E. T., Dursun. I., Alan, A.K. & Tuğer, A.T. (2015). Green purchase intention of young Turkish consumers: Effects of consumer´s guilt, self-monitoring and perceived consumer effectiveness. Procedia - Social and Behavioural Sciences, 207, 165–174. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.SBSPRO.2015.10.167

Kaiser, F. G., Oerker, B., & Bogner, F. X. (2007). Behaviour-based environmental attitude: Development of an instrument for adolescents. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 27, 242–251. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.JENVP.2007.06.004

Kautish, P. & Sharma, R. (2019). Value orientation, green attitude and green behavioural intentions: an empirical investigation among young consumers. Young Consumers, 20(4), 338-358. https://doi.org/10.1108/YC-11-2018-0881

Kumar, R., Saha, R., P.C., S. & Dahiya, R. (2019). Examining the role of external factors in influencing green behaviour among young Indian consumers. Young Consumers, 20(4), 380-398. https://doi.org/10.1108/YC-12-2018-0921

Lago, N. C., Marcon, A., Duarte Ribeiro, J.L. Fleith de Medeiros, J., Basbosa Brião, V. & Verner L.A. (2020). Determinant attributes and the compensatory judgement rules applied by young consumers to purchase environmentally sustainable food products. Sustainable Production and Consumption, 23, 256-273. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2020.06.003

Lee, M. Y., Jackson, V., Miller-Spillman, K. A. & Ferrell, E. (2015). Female consumer´s intention to be involved in fair-trade product consumption in the U.S.: The role of previous experience, product features, and perceived benefits. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 23, 91–98. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2014.12.001

Maloney, M. P., Ward, M. P. & Braucht, G. N. (1975). A revised scale for the measurement of ecological attitudes and knowledge. American Psychologist, 30(7), 787–790. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/h0084394

Margaça, C., Hernández Sánchez, B. and Sánchez-García, J.C. (2022). University students involved in a sustainable world: assessing sustainable consumption in Spain. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 23 (5), 981-1000. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-04-2021-0148

Naderi, I. & Van Steenburg, E. (2018). Me first, then the environment: young millennials as green consumers. Young Consumers, 19(3), 280-295. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/YC-08-2017-00722

Naz, F., Oláh, J., Vasile, D. & Magda, R. (2020). Green Purchase Behaviour of University Students in Hungary: An Empirical Study. Sustainability 12(23): 10077. https://doi.org/10.3390/su122310077

Nguyen, T.N., Lobo, A., & Nguyen, B.K. (2018). Young consumers’ green purchase behaviour in an emerging market. Journal of Strategic Marketing, 26 7), 583-600. https://doi.org/10.1080/0965254X.2017.1318946

Palacios-González, M.M & Antonio Chamorro-Mera (2020). Analysis of the intention to invest in a socially responsible manner: a segmentation of the Spanish investor. Spanish Journal of Finance and Accounting, 49 2), 127-142. https://doi.org/10.1080/02102412.2019.1598700

Perera, C., Auger, P., & Klein, J. (2018). Green Consumption Practices Among Young Environmentalists: A Practice Theory Perspective. Journal of Business Ethics, 152(3), 843-864. http://www.jstor.org/stable/45022771

Rezaei, A., Ahmadi, S. & Karimi, H. (2022). The role of online social networks in university students’ environmentally responsible behaviour. International Journal of Sustainability in Higher Education, 23(5), 1045-1069. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSHE-05-2020-0168

Ritter, A. M., Borchardt, M., Vaccaro, G.L.R., Pereira, G. M. & Almedia, F. (2015). Motivations for promoting the consumption of green products in an emerging country: exploring attitudes of Brazilian consumers. Journal of Cleaner Production, 106, 507–520. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.11.066

Roberts, J. A. (1996). Green consumers in the 1990s: Profiles and Implications for Advertising. Journal of Bussiness Research, 36, 217–231. https://doi.org/10.1016/0148-2963(95)00150-6

Saleem, M.A., Eagle, L. & Low, D. (2018). Market segmentation based on eco-socially conscious consumers’ behavioural intentions: evidence from an emerging economy. Journal of Cleaner Production, 193(20), 14-27. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.05.067

Singh, N. (2009). Exploring socially responsible behavior of Indian consumers: an empirical investigation. Social Responsibility Journal, 5(2), 200–211. http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/17471110910964487

Sobuj, M., Khan, A.M., Habib, M.A., & Islam, M.M. (2021). Factors influencing eco-friendly apparel purchase behaviour of Bangladeshi young consumers: case study. Research Journal of Textile and Apparel, 25(2), 139-157. https://doi.org/10.1108/RJTA-10-2019-0052

Song, Y., Zhenzhen Qin., & Zihao Qin. (2020). Green Marketing to Gen Z Consumers in China: Examining the Mediating Factors of an Eco-Label–Informed Purchase. SAGE Open, 10(4), 1 –15. https://doi.org/10.1177/2158244020963573

Straughan, R. D. & Roberts, J. A. (1999). Environmental segmentation alternatives: A look at green consumer behaviour in the new millennium. Journal of Consumer Marketing, 16(6), 558–575. https://doi.org/10.1108/07363769910297506

Su, J., Watchravesringkan, K.(T)., Zhou, J. & Gil, M. (2019). Sustainable clothing: perspectives from US and Chinese young Millennials. International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, 47(11), 1141-1162. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJRDM-09-2017-0184

Suhartanto, D., Kartikasari, A., Hapsari, R., Najib, M., & Astor, Y. (2021). Predicting young customers’ intention to repurchase green plastic products: incorporating trust model into purchase intention model. Journal of Asia Business Studies, 15(3), 441-456. https://doi.org/10.1108/JABS-04-2020-0150

Taljaard H, Sonnenberg N.C. & Jacobs BM. (2018). Factors motivating male consumers’ eco‐friendly apparel acquisition in the South African emerging market. International Journal of Consumer Studies, 42(5), 461-468. https://doi.org/10.1111/IJCS.12441

Tan, C.N.-L., Ojo, A. & Ramayah, T. (2019). Determinants of green product buying decision among young consumers in Malaysia. Young Consumers, 20(2). https://doi.org/10.1108/YC-12-2018-0898 .

Taufique, K.M.R. & Islam, S. (2021). Green marketing in emerging Asia: antecedents of green consumer behaviour among younger millennials. Journal of Asia Business Studies, 15(4), 541-558. https://doi.org/10.1108/JABS-03-2020-0094

UNEP (2011). Towards a Green Economy: Pathways to Sustainable Development and Poverty Eradication. United Nations Environment Programme. https://www.unep.org/resources/report/towards-green-economy-pathways-sustainable-development-and-poverty-eradication-10

Varah, F., Mahongnao, M., Pani, B. & Khamrang, S. (2021). Exploring young consumers’ intention toward green products: applying an extended theory of planned behavior. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 23, 9181–9195. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-020-01018-z

Verma, V.K. & Chandra, B. (2018). An application of theory of planned behavior to predict young Indian consumers’ green hotel visit intention. Journal of Cleaner Production, 172, 1152-1162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.10.047

Yilmazsoy, B., Schmidbauer, H. & Rösch, A. (2015). Green segmentation: a cross-national study. Marketing Intelligence & Planning, 33(7), 981-1003. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1108/MIP-12-2013-0201

Zhang, B., Bi, J., Yuan, Z.W., & Ge, J.J. (2007). Who will be more active in sustainable consumption? Evidence from China. International Journal of Environment and Sustainable Development, 6 (4), 389–404. http://dx.doi.org/10.1504/IJESD.2007.016242

Zhao, H., Gao, Q., Wu, Y., Wang, Y. & Zhu, X. (2014). What affects green consumer behavior in China? A case study from Qingdao. Journal of Cleaner Production, 63, 143–151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2013.05.021

Downloads

Published

2023-06-09

How to Cite

Chamorro Mera, A., & García-Gallego, J. M. (2023). Segmentation of young university students according to their environmental consciousness. A Spain and Mexico cross-cultural analysis. Responsibility and Sustainability, 8(2), 19–34. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8021843

Issue

Section

Articles