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Article
Publication date: 25 November 2024

Panagiota Varela

Sustainable development has become increasingly urgent due to significant environmental and social challenges, and sustainable food consumption has emerged as a critical component…

Abstract

Purpose

Sustainable development has become increasingly urgent due to significant environmental and social challenges, and sustainable food consumption has emerged as a critical component of this development. This study examined Greek consumers’ sustainability preferences and explores consumer segments related to demographics and food choices.

Design/methodology/approach

An online survey of 285 consumers from Attica, Greece, reported on a wide range of factors: environmental and health-related attributes, food waste, food miles, fair trade and sustainability perceptions.

Findings

Five factors affecting food sustainability preferences were identified: environmental attributes, unhealthy preferences, organic qualities, local and seasonal attributes, and sustainability attitudes. Based on these factors, three consumer segments were discovered. Ecocentrics displayed strong attitudes towards sustainability; conformists exhibited a higher preference for conventional, Western-type diets; and convenientarians showed a preference for quick and affordable meals with limited concern for sustainability. Demographics (gender and age) and food consumption were associated with food sustainability preferences. Despite the financial constraints faced by most Greek consumers, food preferences and consumption patterns were consistent with sustainability principles, which may be explained by the long-standing tradition of the Mediterranean diet.

Research limitations/implications

This study is not without limitations. The cross-sectional design prevents establishing causal relationships between demographic factors and sustainability preferences. Future research should explore longitudinal studies to assess how consumer preferences and sustainability behaviours evolve over time, particularly in response to environmental and economic changes. This would provide deeper insights into the durability and evolution of sustainability preferences. The sample used in this study was drawn from the Attica region, which is largely urban. Therefore, the findings may not be generalisable to other parts of Greece, especially rural areas where sustainability practices and food choices might differ. Future research should include more diverse geographic samples to better understand regional variations in consumer behaviour, particularly in rural settings.

Practical implications

These findings strongly suggest the necessity of raising awareness regarding sustainable fast-prep meals, meat-substitute products and plant-based options that are local and organic.

Social implications

Furthermore, the recognition of gender and age as significant determinants of sustainable food behaviours challenges traditional assumptions and stereotypes about consumer behaviour, highlighting the need for a more inclusive and diverse approach to sustainability, that takes into account the varying perspectives and experiences of different demographic groups. This alignment between demographic characteristics and sustainable food behaviours underscores the need for targeted interventions and strategies to promote sustainability across diverse demographic groups. Ecocentrics have higher rates of marriage and parenthood, indicating that family dynamics might encourage more sustainable food choices.

Originality/value

The contribution of this study is twofold: (1) it provides data on consumer perceptions in an economically challenged Mediterranean country and (2) it offers new evidence on the actual size of sustainable/non-sustainable consumer segments in Greece. Understanding these consumer behaviours is crucial for developing targeted strategies that support sustainable practices and address the specific needs of low-income Mediterranean countries. By investigating these dynamics, this study provides valuable insights into the broader Mediterranean region, offering a framework for policymakers and businesses to address the evolving preferences and constraints of these consumers.

Details

British Food Journal, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0007-070X

Keywords

Open Access
Article
Publication date: 26 November 2024

Benedikt Steiner, Christopher Münch, Markus Beckmann and Heiko von der Gracht

The European Union (EU) and European companies are striving for net-zero carbon targets by 2050 and are therefore focused on urgent decarbonization efforts. Manufacturing…

Abstract

Purpose

The European Union (EU) and European companies are striving for net-zero carbon targets by 2050 and are therefore focused on urgent decarbonization efforts. Manufacturing contributes to 20% of European carbon emissions, although the primary challenge lies in supply chain (SC) emissions, which highlights the field's need to transform. Amid the dissonance between public and private net-zero commitments and persistent carbon emissions, uncertainties surround the development of net-zero carbon supply chains (NZCSCs). This paper aims to address this lack of knowledge by presenting an exploration of the development of NZCSCs within the EU through 2050.

Design/methodology/approach

Using a real-time Delphi methodology and tool from durvey.org, this study involves a multiphase panel discussion process with 67 SC and sustainability experts. Twelve prospective theses for NZCSC development in the EU were formulated through desk research, interviews and an expert workshop. The panel assessed these theses in terms of impact, desirability and anticipated occurrence year and provided justification for their evaluations.

Findings

The study identifies three clusters that influence NZCSC development, comprising 68 implications that scholars, managers and policymakers should consider during this transition.

Originality/value

This study contributes to the available information regarding NZCSCs by offering insights from a multilevel perspective into the influences on NZCSC development in the EU's manufacturing sector.

Details

Supply Chain Management: An International Journal, vol. ahead-of-print no. ahead-of-print
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1359-8546

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 2 July 2024

Mehmet Bağış, Levent Altinay and Metin Saygılı

This study examines firms' strategic entrepreneurial behaviors based on the interaction of regulatory institutions and entrepreneurs' cognition, human capital, and social capital…

Abstract

Purpose

This study examines firms' strategic entrepreneurial behaviors based on the interaction of regulatory institutions and entrepreneurs' cognition, human capital, and social capital capabilities.

Design/methodology/approach

Data was collected from 450 exporting companies in Türkiye, which is a developing economy. Smart PLS 4.0 and SPSS 24.0 software were used to analyze the data. The data were examined using structural equation modeling, confirmatory factor analysis, average extracted variance, composite reliability, and Cronbach's alpha analyses.

Findings

The findings show that entrepreneurial cognition, social capital, and regulatory institutions influence each other, this relationship is not confirmed in managerial human capital. Moreover, while managerial cognition affects strategic entrepreneurship behavior, this effect was not supported for managerial human capital and managerial social capital. However, it was determined that only entrepreneurial cognition mediates the relationship between regulatory institutions and strategic entrepreneurial behavior.

Originality/value

This research enables entrepreneurs to understand, navigate, and appreciate the significance of the interactions between regulatory institutions and dynamic managerial capabilities in decision-making. Additionally, the study allows policymakers to develop evidence-based policy designs that equip entrepreneurs with the insights needed to succeed in a competitive and regulatory complex environment.

Details

Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, vol. 31 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1462-6004

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 16 September 2024

Javier Martínez-Falcó, Eduardo Sánchez-García, Bartolomé Marco-Lajara and Rosario Andreu

The present research aims to analyze the influence of Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM) on the Sustainable Performance (SP) of Spanish wineries, examining the intermediary…

Abstract

Purpose

The present research aims to analyze the influence of Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM) on the Sustainable Performance (SP) of Spanish wineries, examining the intermediary roles of Circular Economy Capability (CEC) and Green Ambidexterity Innovation (GAI) within this primary relationship. In particular, the study seeks to answer the following Research Questions (RQs): (RQ1), does GSCM exert a positive impact on wineries’ SP? (RQ2), does CEC play a mediating role in the interconnection between GSCM and wineries’ SP? And (RQ3), does GAI function as a mediator in the interplay between GSCM and wineries’ SP?

Design/methodology/approach

The research utilizes Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) to evaluate the hypothesized theoretical model using primary data collected from 196 Spanish wineries from September 2022 to January 2023.

Findings

The results reveal a positive relationship between GSCM and SP in Spanish wineries, as well as the existence of positive partial mediations of CEC and GAI in this main linkage, which allows an affirmative answer to the three RQs formulated.

Originality/value

Distinguished by its innovative exploration, this research marks a pioneering effort in the uncharted field of scrutinizing CEC and GAI as mediating factors in the GSCM-SP nexus, thereby enriching the existing body of knowledge and opening new avenues for future academic research on sustainability in the wine industry.

Article
Publication date: 1 July 2024

Javier Martínez-Falcó, Eduardo Sánchez-García, Bartolomé Marco-Lajara and Kyuho Lee

This research focuses on analyzing the impact of Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM) on the Sustainable Performance (SP) of Spanish wineries, as well as the mediating effect of…

Abstract

Purpose

This research focuses on analyzing the impact of Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM) on the Sustainable Performance (SP) of Spanish wineries, as well as the mediating effect of Green Ambidexterity Innovation (GAI) and the moderating role of Top Management Environmental Awareness (TMEA) on the main relationship posited (GSCM-SP). In addition, age, size and membership in a Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) were used to increase the precision of the cause-effect relationships examined.

Design/methodology/approach

The study proposes a conceptual model based on previous studies, which is tested using structural equations (PLS-SEM) with data collected from 196 Spanish wineries between September 2022 and January 2023.

Findings

The results of the research reveal the existence of a positive and significant relationship between the development of GSCM and SP of Spanish wineries, as well as the partial mediation of GAI and the positive moderation of TMEA in this linkage.

Originality/value

The novelty of this study lies in its exploratory approach, as it ventures into new research territory by examining the mediating effect of GAI and the moderating influence of TMEA on the relationship between GSCM and SP, being, to the authors' knowledge, the first research to investigate these specific dynamics.

Details

Business Process Management Journal, vol. 30 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1463-7154

Keywords

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