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Improving Pro-environmental Behavior through Multidisciplinary Approaches

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Psychology of Sustainability and Sustainable Development".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (22 September 2022) | Viewed by 23584

Special Issue Editors

Faculty of Civil Engineering, Transilvania University of Brașov, Brașov, Romania
Interests: sustainable development; pro-environmental behavior; decision-making; systemic approach
Design Engineering and Robotics, Technical University of Cluj-Napoca, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Interests: customer-oriented and environment-oriented development (organizations and systems, processes and projects, products and services); risk management; higher education management

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The aim of this Special Issue is to contribute to knowledge related to the development of interventions for improving pro-environmental behavior, with application in all fields of sustainable development. Taking into consideration the urgent need to take action to improve the quality of life of each human being and their environment, it is crucial to establish which factors determine whether people act in an environmentally friendly manner, and which specific measures effectively lead to individual and collective actions with positive impacts on the environment.

We invite contributions addressing any aspect of pro-environmental behavior, with an emphasis on interdisciplinary approaches that can explore the complex and comprehensive character of the subject. Aiming to understand the present human conduct and its immediate and future impact on the environment, one focus should be on identifying, defining, investigating, developing, or assessing the types and directions of interventions on all dimensions: technical, technological, economic, educational, motivational, organizational, institutional, and regulatory. Particularly encouraged are submissions of papers focusing on empirical research and digital solutions targeting the improvement of actions in accordance with the environment.

We welcome reviews, original research articles, meta-analyses, case studies, and communications with practical implications on areas of sustainability related to recycling, waste management, energy use, consumption, transportation, built environment, human wellbeing, and green economy. Other topics are also welcome provided they are relevant to the theme of the Special Issue.

Dr. Diana Rusu 
Prof. Dr. Sorin Popescu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • behavioral model
  • pro-environmental behavior
  • interdisciplinary approach
  • sustainable interventions
  • education for sustainability
  • individual decision-making
  • decision-making process for sustainability
  • recycling
  • waste management
  • consumption
  • human wellbeing
  • sustainable lifestyle
  • sustainable technologies

Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 2385 KiB  
Article
Methodology for Improving the Sustainability of Industrial Buildings via Matrix of Combinations Water and Carbon Footprint Assessment
by Débora Lopes R. Silva, Cristina Rivero-Camacho, Diana Rusu and Madelyn Marrero
Sustainability 2022, 14(22), 15297; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su142215297 - 17 Nov 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1147
Abstract
In Spain, 90% of companies are small- or medium-sized and are usually located in industrial areas, in warehouses with particular characteristics. This paper presents a methodology for the environmental assessment of this type of construction with water and carbon footprint indicators. A database [...] Read more.
In Spain, 90% of companies are small- or medium-sized and are usually located in industrial areas, in warehouses with particular characteristics. This paper presents a methodology for the environmental assessment of this type of construction with water and carbon footprint indicators. A database was developed for the identification of typologies and common construction elements based on a sample of 87 projects in the province of Seville. Based on this, the paper proposes a methodology for comparative analysis that merges the data obtained from the research survey with environmental and economic data. The work proposes a systematic classification of the construction units of industrial buildings in order to improve the sustainability of the decision-making process by introducing environmental information on construction materials and machinery. First, the most impactful elements were identified, and then the technical solutions were adjusted using solutions already in the sample of 87 industrial projects. Reductions of up to 74% in the carbon footprint and 54% of the water footprint were found, as well as 14% reduction in construction costs in the most favorable case. Full article
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27 pages, 918 KiB  
Article
Transcending Linearity in Understanding Green Consumer Behaviour: A Social–Cognitive Framework for Behaviour Changes in an Emerging Economy Context
by Heleen Dreyer, Nadine Sonnenberg and Daleen Van der Merwe
Sustainability 2022, 14(22), 14855; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su142214855 - 10 Nov 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2036
Abstract
Awareness and understanding of green consumer behaviour (GCB) in emerging economies can increase consumer participation in green initiatives, leading to better product and behavioural choices and protecting scarce resources. Therefore, consumers should actively change their daily habits, lifestyle, and behaviour choices. A transdisciplinary [...] Read more.
Awareness and understanding of green consumer behaviour (GCB) in emerging economies can increase consumer participation in green initiatives, leading to better product and behavioural choices and protecting scarce resources. Therefore, consumers should actively change their daily habits, lifestyle, and behaviour choices. A transdisciplinary critical realism approach can complement current knowledge on green consumer behaviour theories, which can layer behaviour change as a circular feedback process. Our approach could surpass linearity and rational decision-making—embracing the power of sustainable daily habits. We reviewed green consumer behaviour theories and identified the social cognitive theory (SCT) to support our approach. Hence, we employed an integrative review of applied SCT and green consumer behaviour. Findings suggest GCB as a reciprocal process with behaviour not only the outcome but an integral part of the process, as are personal and external determinants, existing in laminated layers of meaning that transcend the obvious. Finally, we propose a novel adapted framework that considers critical constructs that warrant investigation of an emerging economy context to identify consumers’ challenges that impede behavioural change. Recommendations include segmenting consumers through pro-environmental self-identity, consumer personalities, and daily habits, which can help target consumers with appropriate messages and interventions to encourage greener lifestyles. Full article
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15 pages, 702 KiB  
Article
Knowledge or Responsibility? The Role of Media Use on Citizens’ Willingness to Pay for Environment Governance
by Huan Wang
Sustainability 2022, 14(21), 14538; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su142114538 - 04 Nov 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1536
Abstract
It is not that the public is unwilling to participate in environmental protection, but rather that they lack the appropriate information. The media offers an alternative explanatory pathway to understanding citizens’ willingness to pay (WTP) for environmental governance, but the existing literature still [...] Read more.
It is not that the public is unwilling to participate in environmental protection, but rather that they lack the appropriate information. The media offers an alternative explanatory pathway to understanding citizens’ willingness to pay (WTP) for environmental governance, but the existing literature still lacks empirical studies on this topic and the intermediate mechanisms. Adopting an environmental communication perspective, this paper divided the environmental effects of media into two dimensions: knowledge growth and responsibility cultivation, and conducted an empirical analysis on whether, and how, media use affected citizens’ WTP, based on data from the China General Social Survey 2018 (hereafter, CGSS2018). The findings found that the frequency of media use significantly increased citizen’s WTP, in which individual environmental responsibility rather than environmental knowledge played a mediating effect; i.e., media use increased individuals’ WTP by increasing the public’s environmental responsibility. Furthermore, this study discovered that traditional media use had a significant effect on the citizens’ WTP, again verifying the mediating effect of individual environmental responsibility, while new media use did not have such a communication effect. This study extends the theories related to pro-environmental behaviors, and provides practical implications for the government to promote environmental governance and sustainability. Full article
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21 pages, 3431 KiB  
Article
Offering Carbon Smart Options through Product Development to Meet Customer Expectations
by Diana Blagu, Denisa Szabo, Diana Dragomir, Călin Neamțu and Daniela Popescu
Sustainability 2022, 14(16), 9913; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14169913 - 11 Aug 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1306
Abstract
Addressing the global threat of climate change is one of the present priorities of both companies and their customers. Societal trends demand a significant change in consumer behavior in the foreseeable future to contribute to the reduction in carbon emissions reaching the atmosphere, [...] Read more.
Addressing the global threat of climate change is one of the present priorities of both companies and their customers. Societal trends demand a significant change in consumer behavior in the foreseeable future to contribute to the reduction in carbon emissions reaching the atmosphere, and national and international governments are committing their resources and efforts to this complex endeavor. The current paper addresses the other side of this conundrum, which is how firms can propose carbon-smart alternatives for their products on the market, in order to match the growing interest and the changing behaviors of the consumers. For this purpose, a research and innovation methodology is proposed to expand the design for concept X, namely, the design for sustainability set of guidelines in the area of developing products with a reduced carbon footprint under conditions of timeliness and economic viability. The research is based on refining practical experience and the use of consecrated management techniques and is validated through the employment of a Delphi-based forecasting process. The authors conclude that the large-scale adoption of such recommendations for the various domains of the manufacturing sector has the potential to contribute to climate change mitigation significantly. Full article
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18 pages, 326 KiB  
Article
Predicting Pro-Environmental Behaviour amongst Citizens in African Countries: A Cross-National Study amongst Six African Countries
by Ayodeji P. Ifegbesan, Isaac T. Rampedi, Biodun Ogunyemi and Lee-Ann Modley
Sustainability 2022, 14(15), 9311; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14159311 - 29 Jul 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1550
Abstract
The role of pro-environmental behaviour in environmental care and mitigation of environmental problems is widely recognised. However, most studies on pro-environmental behaviour have focused on populations living in Western and high-income countries and only a few studies are available in developing countries. In [...] Read more.
The role of pro-environmental behaviour in environmental care and mitigation of environmental problems is widely recognised. However, most studies on pro-environmental behaviour have focused on populations living in Western and high-income countries and only a few studies are available in developing countries. In this paper, we explored and compared the determinants of pro-environmental behaviour of citizens in six African countries, namely Algeria, Egypt, Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa and Zimbabwe. We examined the relationship between socio-demographic variables and pro-environmental behaviour of citizens within and across these countries using secondary data collected through Wave 6 of the World Value Surveys. The results showed that there were differences and some similarities in pro-environmental behaviour across the selected countries. Factors such as gender, education, social class, membership of environmental organisations and employment status positively correlated with pro-environmental behaviour among the selected respondents. Based on the study findings, recommendations are made within to improve and increase pro-environmental behaviour in the selected countries. Full article
16 pages, 799 KiB  
Article
How Do Environmental Knowledge, Eco-Label Knowledge, and Green Trust Impact Consumers’ Pro-Environmental Behaviour for Energy-Efficient Household Appliances?
by Imran Hossain, Md. Nekmahmud and Maria Fekete-Farkas
Sustainability 2022, 14(11), 6513; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14116513 - 26 May 2022
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 4890
Abstract
Pro-environmental behaviour (PEB) helps individuals to minimize the negative effects of their actions on the environment; for example, by recycling and reducing energy consumption. This study aimed to explore consumers’ attitudes and trust in energy-efficient household appliances and their environmental and eco-label knowledge [...] Read more.
Pro-environmental behaviour (PEB) helps individuals to minimize the negative effects of their actions on the environment; for example, by recycling and reducing energy consumption. This study aimed to explore consumers’ attitudes and trust in energy-efficient household appliances and their environmental and eco-label knowledge to determine how these may affect pro-environmental behaviour (PEB). In addition, the study examined the mediating effects of attitude and green trust on the proposed frameworks of environmental and eco-label knowledge in relation to consumer pro-environmental behaviour. PLS-SEM (Partial Least Squares–Structural Equation Modelling) was applied to a study from Bangladesh to examine hypotheses proposed from the data generated by 1510 valid respondents relating to their experiences of using household energy-efficient products. The results showed that environmental knowledge, eco-label knowledge, attitude, and green trust all significantly correlated with consumer pro-environmental behaviour. In addition, attitude and green trust significantly mediated the relationship between environmental knowledge, eco-label knowledge, and pro-environmental behaviour. This study also found that green trust positively affects consumer attitudes, and that those attitudes serve as a significant mediator between green trust and pro-environmental behaviour. An IPMA (importance-performance matrix analysis) map indicated that the total effects of environmental attitude and eco-label knowledge were more important to defining the pro-environmental behaviour of consumers than those of environmental knowledge and green trust. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this research introduces for the first time an empirical survey that provides a new theoretical framework for consumer pro-environmental behaviour in regard to energy-efficient household appliances in the context of a developing country. Suggestions are provided on ways to promote energy-saving appliances from theoretical and practical perspectives. Full article
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16 pages, 282 KiB  
Article
Exploring Factors Promoting Recycling Behavior in Student Housing
by Inga-Lill Söderberg, Misse Wester and Agnieszka Zalejska Jonsson
Sustainability 2022, 14(7), 4264; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14074264 - 03 Apr 2022
Viewed by 3088
Abstract
As climate-related issues are important and concern all aspects of the built environment, there is a need to better understand the motives underlying household recycling behavior. The purpose of the present study is twofold: to investigate factors important for explaining the recycling behavior [...] Read more.
As climate-related issues are important and concern all aspects of the built environment, there is a need to better understand the motives underlying household recycling behavior. The purpose of the present study is twofold: to investigate factors important for explaining the recycling behavior of young people and to explore respondents’ own ideas regarding barriers to recycling. This paper reports on a survey conducted from 2020 to 2021 among residents of student housing in Stockholm, Sweden. Eight hypotheses were formulated based on earlier research and a model was constructed. Answers from 1202 respondents were first analyzed by logistic regression to test factors affecting respondents’ self-reported recycling of paper, plastic, glass, and metal. Results show that the full model containing all predictors was statistically significant. The results showed that only four of the hypotheses were confirmed. Positive attitude toward recycling, personal norms, perceived behavioral control, and perceived convenience of recycling are positively affecting recycling behavior. In addition, 673 open answers were analyzed to provide information on unforeseen factors of importance for recycling behavior. This study adds to research by testing factors affecting recycling behaviors in a national context and by identifying new possible factors of importance. The results are also of benefit to business practitioners within the construction sector or within facility management in identifying activities that would add to sustainable development. Full article
22 pages, 723 KiB  
Article
Unleashing the Role of CSR and Employees’ Pro-Environmental Behavior for Organizational Success: The Role of Connectedness to Nature
by Wang Hongxin, Mohammed Arshad Khan, Jian Zhenqiang, Laura-Mariana Cismaș, Mohammad Athar Ali, Usama Saleem and Lucia Negruț
Sustainability 2022, 14(6), 3191; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14063191 - 08 Mar 2022
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 3125
Abstract
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) and an organization’s financial performance are well discussed in the literature. However, the role of employees to spur the financial performance, especially the mediating effect of employees’ pro-environmental behavior between CSR and financial performance, is not well explored. Literature [...] Read more.
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) and an organization’s financial performance are well discussed in the literature. However, the role of employees to spur the financial performance, especially the mediating effect of employees’ pro-environmental behavior between CSR and financial performance, is not well explored. Literature also shows that connectedness to nature can drive the pro-environmental behavior of individuals. However, the role of connectedness to nature in a CSR–financial performance framework has not been realized. Observing the above knowledge gaps, the current study investigates the CSR-financial performance relationship in the SME sector of a developing country with the mediating effect of employees’ pro-environmental behavior. The current study also notes the conditional indirect effect of connectedness to nature in the above-mediated relationship. A self-administered questionnaire (n = 489) with a paper–pencil technique was employed for data collection. Structural equation modeling was considered to validate the hypothesized relationships. The findings revealed that CSR could lead an SME to a higher level of financial performance via pro-environmental behavior. It was also noted that connectedness to nature produces a significant conditional indirect effect. Such findings have seminal implications for the SME sector, which are discussed in detail. One important implication is to realize the importance of employees’ pro-environmental behavior, through CSR and connectedness to nature, to thrive the financial performance of an SME. Full article
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14 pages, 306 KiB  
Article
Do Good, Have Good: A Mechanism of Fostering Customer Pro-Environmental Behaviors
by Nabeel Younus Ansari, Temoor Anjum, Muhammad Farrukh and Petra Heidler
Sustainability 2021, 13(7), 3781; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13073781 - 29 Mar 2021
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3343
Abstract
This paper aims to investigate the role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in fostering customer’s pro-environmental behavior (PEBs) through customer engagement (CE). Data collected from the hotel customers were analyzed through structural equation modeling. The present research findings reveal the significant role of [...] Read more.
This paper aims to investigate the role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in fostering customer’s pro-environmental behavior (PEBs) through customer engagement (CE). Data collected from the hotel customers were analyzed through structural equation modeling. The present research findings reveal the significant role of CSR activities in positively influencing customer PEBs. Moreover, the results also suggest the mediation of CE in the relationship between CSR and customer PEBs. The current research findings offer significant implications that can be employed in developing a result-oriented marketing strategy in CSR activities that contribute to environmental protection and sustainability. Full article
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