The role of environmentally conscious purchase behaviour and green scepticism in organic food consumption

Abstract

Purpose

Despite numerous scholarly attempts, there is a lack of consensus regarding the relevance of various factors used to promote organic food consumption. The purpose of this paper is to assess the impact of environmentally conscious purchase behaviour (ECPB) and green scepticism on organic food consumption. Moreover, the paper examines the indirect impact of attitudinal and contextual forces on organic food consumption (through ECPB).

Design/methodology/approach

The paper develops a conceptual model of organic food consumption. Data were collected through an online survey on a sample of 462 consumers in Slovenia. Structural equation modelling was used to test the hypothesised relationships.

Findings

The findings indicate that ECPB positively and green scepticism negatively affects organic food consumption. In addition, ECPB is positively influenced by personal and social norms, perceived availability and consumer sustainability orientation. Interestingly, the social norms exert the strongest indirect effect on organic food consumption.

Research limitations/implications

This study informs organic food producers and policy makers about the relative importance of ECPB and scepticism for increasing organic food consumption. It also highlights the role of general attitudinal and contextual factors for ECPB and organic food consumption.

Originality/value

The proposed model enables a better understanding of the relevance of ECPB, its antecedents and green scepticism as (direct or indirect) determinants of organic food consumption.

Citation

Golob, U., Kos Koklic, M., Podnar, K. and Zabkar, V. (2018), "The role of environmentally conscious purchase behaviour and green scepticism in organic food consumption", British Food Journal, Vol. 120 No. 10, pp. 2411-2424. https://doi.org/10.1108/BFJ-08-2017-0457