Measuring the consumer’s choice for edible cutlery: A sustainable lifestyle perspective

K. G. Sofi Dinesh, Suddhachit Mitra, Gyanendra Singh Sisodia, Oluwatobi A. Ogunmokun, Yogita Abichandani, Poonam Kumar

Article ID: 4072
Vol 8, Issue 6, 2024

VIEWS - 143 (Abstract) 68 (PDF)

Abstract


Edible cutlery is a safe alternative that, if adopted, can act as a panacea to plastic pollution. Consumers who believe in a lifestyle of health and sustainability (LOHAS) can motivate others by taking the lead in this direction. This study has explored the psychological variables associated with LOHAS consumers in conjunction with the product attributes of edible cutlery to check whether these variables can influence lifestyle of health and sustainability (LOHAS) consumers to adopt edible cutlery. An empirical study on 210 LOHAS consumers using Partial Least Squares Structure Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) and Importance Performance Matrix Analyses (IPMA) showed that social consciousness and subjective norms motivate them to adopt edible cutlery in restaurants. This finding has an implication for hospitality businesses using edible cutlery that can target LOHAS consumers with strategies that affect their social consciousness and subjective norm belief for better adoption intentions.


Keywords


LOHAS; social consciousness; edible cutlery; authenticity; subjective norm; IPMA

Full Text:

PDF


References


Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50(2), 179–211. https://doi.org/10.1016/0749-5978(91)90020-t

Ajzen, I., & Fishbein, M. (1977). Attitude-behavior relations: A theoretical analysis and review of empirical research. Psychological Bulletin, 84(5), 888–918. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.84.5.888

Ajzen, I., & Fishbein, M. (1980). Understanding Attitudes and Predicting Social Behaviour.

Ajzen, I., & Madden, T. J. (1986). Prediction of goal-directed behavior: Attitudes, intentions, and perceived behavioral control. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 22(5), 453–474. https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-1031(86)90045-4

Arun, TM., Kaur, P., Ferraris, A., & Dhir, A. (2021). What motivates the adoption of green restaurant products and services? A systematic review and future research agenda. Business Strategy and the Environment, 30(4), 2224–2240. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.2755

Apak, Ö. C., & Gürbüz, A. (2023). The effect of local food consumption of domestic tourists on sustainable tourism. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 71, 103192. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2022.103192

Atkinson, L. (2012). Buying In to Social Change. The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 644(1), 191–206. https://doi.org/10.1177/0002716212448366

Azjen, I. (1980). Understanding attitudes and predicting social behavior. Englewood Cliffs.

Barber, D., Hunt, J., & Ehrich, M. (2001). Inhibition of calcium-stimulated ATPase in the hen brain P2 synaptosomal fraction by organophosphorus esters: relevance to delayed neuropathy. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A, 63(2), 101–113. https://doi.org/10.1080/15287390151126423

Bagozzi, R. P., Yi, Y., & Phillips, L. W. (1991). Assessing Construct Validity in Organizational Research. Administrative Science Quarterly, 36(3), 421. https://doi.org/10.2307/2393203

Belz, F. M., & Binder, J. K. (2017). Sustainable Entrepreneurship: A Convergent Process Model. Business Strategy and the Environment, 26(1), 1–17. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.1887

Boobalan, K., & Nachimuthu, G. S. (2020). Organic consumerism: A comparison between India and the USA. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 53, 101988. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2019.101988

Chekima, B., Chekima, K., & Chekima, K. (2019). Understanding factors underlying actual consumption of organic food: The moderating effect of future orientation. Food Quality and Preference, 74, 49–58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodqual.2018.12.010

Chen, Y.-S., Lin, C.-Y., & Weng, C.-S. (2015). The Influence of Environmental Friendliness on Green Trust: The Mediation Effects of Green Satisfaction and Green Perceived Quality. Sustainability, 7(8), 10135–10152. https://doi.org/10.3390/su70810135

Chi, T., & Kilduff, P. P. D. (2011). Understanding consumer perceived value of casual sportswear: An empirical study. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 18(5), 422–429. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2011.06.004

Choi, S., & Feinberg, R. A. (2021). The LOHAS (Lifestyle of Health and Sustainability) Scale Development and Validation. Sustainability, 13(4), 1598. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13041598

Chung, C. M. Y., & Darke, P. R. (2006). The consumer as advocate: Self-relevance, culture, and word-of-mouth. Marketing Letters, 17(4), 269–279. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11002-006-8426-7

Cortese, A. D. (2003). The critical role of higher education in creating a sustainable future. Planning for higher education, 31(3), 15-22.

Ruiz de Maya, S., López-López, I., & Munuera, J. L. (2011). Organic food consumption in Europe: International segmentation based on value system differences. Ecological Economics, 70(10), 1767–1775. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolecon.2011.04.019

Delcea, C., Cotfas, L.-A., Trică, C., et al. (2019). Modeling the Consumers Opinion Influence in Online Social Media in the Case of Eco-friendly Products. Sustainability, 11(6), 1796. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11061796

Deliana, Y. (2012). Market segmentation for organic products in Bandung West Java, Indonesia. Research Journal of Recent Sciences, 2277, 2502.

Dilotsotlhe, N. (2021). Factors influencing the green purchase behaviour of millennials: An emerging country perspective. Cogent Business & Management, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311975.2021.1908745

Gullstrand Edbring, E., Lehner, M., & Mont, O. (2016). Exploring consumer attitudes to alternative models of consumption: motivations and barriers. Journal of Cleaner Production, 123, 5–15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.10.107

Fishbein, M., & Ajzen, I. (1977). Belief, attitude, intention, and behavior: An introduction to theory and research. Philosophy and Rhetoric, 10(2).

French, S., & Rogers, G. (2006). Understanding the LOHAS consumer: The Rise of Ethical Consumerism. Available online: http://www.lohas.com/Lohas-ConsumerGalati (accessed on 2 November 2023).

Galgani, F., Hanke, G., & Maes, T. (2015). Global Distribution, Composition and Abundance of Marine Litter. Marine Anthropogenic Litter, 29–56. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-16510-3_2

Gelfer, J. (2010). Lohas and the indigo dollar: Growing the spiritual economy. New Proposals: Journal of Marxism and Interdisciplinary Inquiry, 4(1), 48-60.

Gorence, G. J., Pulcastro, H. C., Lawson, C. A., et al. (2019). Chemical Contaminants from Plastics in the Animal Environment. Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science, 58(2), 190–196. https://doi.org/10.30802/aalas-jaalas-18-000074

Hair, J.F., Jr, Hult, G.T.M., Ringle, C. and Sarstedt, M. (2016). A Primer on Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). Sage.

Hair, J. F., Ringle, C. M., & Sarstedt, M. (2011). PLS-SEM: Indeed a Silver Bullet. Journal of Marketing Theory and Practice, 19(2), 139–152. https://doi.org/10.2753/mtp1069-6679190202

Harman, H.H. (1976). Modern Factor Analysis, 3rd ed. The University of Chicago Press.

Han, S., Gupta, S., & Lehmann, D. R. (2001). Consumer price sensitivity and price thresholds. Journal of retailing, 77(4), 435-456.

Hsu, C.-L., Chang, C.-Y., & Yansritakul, C. (2017). Exploring purchase intention of green skincare products using the theory of planned behavior: Testing the moderating effects of country of origin and price sensitivity. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 34, 145–152. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2016.10.006

Ikhide, J. E., Ogunmokun, O. A., & Chen, T. (2023). Restraints and enablers of green initiative-taking among hospitality employees: a mixed-methods approach. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 1-22.

Jang, S. I., Lillehoj, H. S., Lee, S. H., et al. (2011). Mucosal immunity against Eimeria acervulina infection in broiler chickens following oral immunization with profilin in Montanide™ adjuvants. Experimental Parasitology, 129(1), 36–41. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.exppara.2011.05.021

Joshua, J. B., Jin, Y., Ogunmokun, O. A., et al. (2023). Hospitality for sustainability: employee eco-anxiety and employee green behaviors in green restaurants. Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 31(6), 1356–1372. https://doi.org/10.1080/09669582.2022.2043877

Kemp, R., & Pearson, P. (2007). Final report of the MEI project measuring eco innovation. UM Merit Maastricht. Available online: https://www.oecd.org/env/consumption-innovation/43960830.pdf (accessed on 2 November 2023).

Kim, M., Lee, C., Gon Kim, W., et al. (2013). Relationships between lifestyle of health and sustainability and healthy food choices for seniors. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 25(4), 558–576. https://doi.org/10.1108/09596111311322925

Kock, N. (2015). Common Method Bias in PLS-SEM. International Journal of E-Collaboration, 11(4), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.4018/ijec.2015100101

Korhonen, V. (2012). Package value for LOHAS consumers-results of a Finnish study. In: Proceedings of the 18th IAPRI World Packaging Conference.

Kriwy, P., & Mecking, R. (2012). Health and environmental consciousness, costs of behaviour and the purchase of organic food. International Journal of Consumer Studies, 36(1), 30–37. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1470-6431.2011.01004.x

Lakhan, S. E., Kirchgessner, A., & Hofer, M. (2009). Inflammatory mechanisms in ischemic stroke: therapeutic approaches. Journal of Translational Medicine, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/1479-5876-7-97

Lajante, M., & Ladhari, R. (2019). The promise and perils of the peripheral psychophysiology of emotion in retailing and consumer services. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 50, 305–313. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2018.07.005

Lichtenstein, D. R., Ridgway, N. M., & Netemeyer, R. G. (1993). Price Perceptions and Consumer Shopping Behavior: A Field Study. Journal of Marketing Research, 30(2), 234–245. https://doi.org/10.1177/002224379303000208

Lin, P.-C., & Huang, Y.-H. (2012). The influence factors on choice behavior regarding green products based on the theory of consumption values. Journal of Cleaner Production, 22(1), 11–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2011.10.002

Malafi, T. N., Devine, M. A., & Lesher, L. L. (1994). A user evaluation of biodegradable cutlery. Journal of Environmental Polymer Degradation, 2(4), 219–223. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf02071969

Malafi, T. N., Devine, M. A., & Lesher, L. L. (1995). Attitudes of US Navy personnel toward the use of biodegradable products in foodservice. Foodservice Research International, 8(3), 201–211. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-4506.1995.tb00088.x

Matharu, M., Jain, R., & Kamboj, S. (2020). Understanding the impact of lifestyle on sustainable consumption behavior: a sharing economy perspective. Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, 32(1), 20–40. https://doi.org/10.1108/meq-02-2020-0036

McGuire, W. J. (1976). Some Internal Psychological Factors Influencing Consumer Choice. Journal of Consumer Research, 2(4), 302. https://doi.org/10.1086/208643

Mohr, J. (2011). From an Affluent Society to a Happy Society: Vital Signs Promising a Change and the Impacts on Industries. Diplomica Verlag.

Natarajan, N., Vasudevan, M., Velusamy, V. V., et al. (2019). Eco Friendly and Edible Waste Cutlery for Sustainable Environment. International Journal of Engineering and Advanced Technology, 9(1s4), 615–623. https://doi.org/10.35940/ijeat.a1031.1291s419

Osti, L., & Goffi, G. (2021). Lifestyle of health & sustainability: The hospitality sector’s response to a new market segment. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management, 46, 360–363. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhtm.2021.01.008

Park, H. S. (2000). Relationships among attitudes and subjective norms: Testing the theory of reasoned action across cultures. Communication Studies, 51(2), 162–175. https://doi.org/10.1080/10510970009388516

Parker, L. (2018). Here’s how much plastic trash is littering The Earth. National Geographic.

Patel, P. (2019). Edible Packaging. ACS Central Science, 5(12), 1907–1910. https://doi.org/10.1021/acscentsci.9b01251

Patil, H. N., & Sinhal, P. (2018). A study on edible cutlery: An alternative for conventional ones. Atithya: A Journal of Hospitality, 4(1), 45–51.

Paul, J., & Rosenbaum, M. (2020). Retailing and consumer services at a tipping point: New conceptual frameworks and theoretical models. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 54, 101977. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2019.101977

Pícha, K., & Navrátil, J. (2019). The factors of Lifestyle of Health and Sustainability influencing pro-environmental buying behaviour. Journal of Cleaner Production, 234, 233–241. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.06.072

Rácz, G., & Horváth, Á. (2011). Lohas themes in Hungarian women’s magazine. Regional and Business Studies, 3(1(suppl)), 589–606.

Rana, J., & Paul, J. (2017). Consumer behavior and purchase intention for organic food: A review and research agenda. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 38, 157–165. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2017.06.004

Rogers, B. (2005). The domestication of women: Discrimination in developing societies. Routledge.

Rogers, E.M. (2003). Diffusion of innovations, 5th ed. Free Press.

Roy Chowdhury, G., Dutta, S., Pal, N., & Mitra, A. (2021). Edible Cutlery: Futuristic Dining to Functional Sustenance. Parana Journal of Science and Education, 7(8), 84–91.

Sazeli, Z. A., Zailani, A., Tajudin, I., & Alif, H. (2021). Biodegradable Cup as A Substitute for Single Use Plastic. Multidisciplinary Applied Research and Innovation, 2(2), 197–205.

Souiden, N., Ladhari, R., & Chiadmi, N.-E. (2019). New trends in retailing and services. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 50, 286–288. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2018.07.023

Sprotles, G. B., & Kendall, E. L. (1986). A Methodology for Profiling Consumers’ Decision‐Making Styles. Journal of Consumer Affairs, 20(2), 267–279. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-6606.1986.tb00382.x

Sreen, N., Purbey, S., & Sadarangani, P. (2018). Impact of culture, behavior and gender on green purchase intention. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 41, 177–189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2017.12.002

Stromberg, J. (2013). When will we hit peak garbage? Smithsonian Institution.

Sung, J., & Woo, H. (2019). Investigating male consumers’ lifestyle of health and sustainability (LOHAS) and perception toward slow fashion. Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, 49, 120–128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jretconser.2019.03.018

Sweeney, J. C., & Soutar, G. N. (2001). Consumer perceived value: the development of a multiple item scale. Journal of Retail, 77(2), 203–220.

Testa, A., Schifani, R., Migliore, G. (2021). Tourists’ motivation toward culinary destination choice: targeting Italian tourists. Journal of Foodservice Business Research, 1–22.

Tan, J., Tan, F. J., & Ramakrishna, S. (2022). Transitioning to a Circular Economy: A Systematic Review of Its Drivers and Barriers. Sustainability, 14(3), 1757. https://doi.org/10.3390/su14031757

Tan, J., & Cha, V. (2021). Innovation for circular economy. An Introduction to Circular Economy, 369-395.

Tarkiainen, A., & Sundqvist, S. (2005). Subjective norms, attitudes and intentions of Finnish consumers in buying organic food. British Food Journal, 107(11), 808–822. https://doi.org/10.1108/00070700510629760

Urh, B. (2015). Lifestyle of Health and sustainability-the importance of health consciousness impact on LOHAS market growth in ecotourism. Quaestus, (6), 167.

Walsh, P. R., & Dodds, R. (2017). Measuring the Choice of Environmental Sustainability Strategies in Creating a Competitive Advantage. Business Strategy and the Environment, 26(5), 672–687. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.1949

Wan, M., & Toppinen, A. (2016). Effects of perceived product quality and Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability (LOHAS) on consumer price preferences for children’s furniture in China. Journal of Forest Economics, 22, 52–67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfe.2015.12.004

Wang, J., Pham, T. L., & Dang, V. T. (2020). Environmental Consciousness and Organic Food Purchase Intention: A Moderated Mediation Model of Perceived Food Quality and Price Sensitivity. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(3), 850. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17030850

Yeh, N. C., & Chen, Y. J. (2011). On the everyday life information behavior of LOHAS consumers: A perspective of lifestyle. Journal of Educational Media & Library Sciences, 48(4), 489-510.

Zeithaml, V. A. (1988). Consumer Perceptions of Price, Quality, and Value: A Means-End Model and Synthesis of Evidence. Journal of Marketing, 52(3), 2–22. https://doi.org/10.1177/002224298805200302




DOI: https://doi.org/10.24294/jipd.v8i6.4072

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


Copyright (c) 2024 K. G. Sofi Dinesh, Suddhachit Mitra, Gyanendra Singh Sisodia, Oluwatobi A. Ogunmokun, Yogita Abichandani, Poonam Kumar

License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

This site is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.