Sustainable packaging: Consumers’ evaluation of eco-labels in the Ghana’s packaging sector

Main Article Content

Inusah Hamidu
Adam Rahman

Abstract

Fostering environmentally conscious consumer behaviour requires a clear understanding of eco-labels and sustainable packaging. However, there is a lack of research on how consumers in developing countries, especially Ghana, perceive these ideas. The study intends to address that gap by evaluating how customer perceptions of eco-friendly packaging and eco-labels are influenced by gender, age, and educational attainment. The contribute to the ongoing discourse on the predictors of environmental attitudes and behaviours. Data were collected through a cross-sectional survey with systematic sampling. Results showed that environmental perceptions were not significantly influenced by gender, age, or educational attainment. Although respondents demonstrated awareness of sustainable packaging, they had limited understanding of eco-labels, with 61% unable to correctly identify various eco-labels. The findings suggest that marketing strategies for eco-friendly products should consider factors beyond demographic characteristics. The complex interaction among demographic variables calls for a more nuanced approach to engaging consumers in sustainability initiatives. Further research is needed to explore alternative predictors of environmental attitudes and to design educational interventions that resonate with diverse consumer segments. A deeper understanding of what drive pro-environmental behaviour is essential to reduce packaging waste.

Article Details

Section
Articles
References

Ajzen, I. (1991). The Theory of Planned Behaviour787. Organisational Behaviour and Human Decision Processes, 50(179-211), 33.

Ateş, H. (2021). Understanding students’ and science educators’ eco-labelled food purchase behaviours: Extension of Theory of Planned Behaviour with self-identity, personal norm, willingness to pay, and eco-label knowledge. Ecology of Food and Nutrition, 60(4), 454–472. https://doi.org/10.1080/03670244.2020.1865339.

Babbie, E.R. (2014). Practice of Social Research. S.L.: Cengage Learning.

Bhattacharyya, A. & Rahman, M.L. (2020). Values, gender and attitudes towards environmental policy: A study of future managers. Business Strategy and the Environment, 29(6), 2514–2527. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.2517.

Boks, C. & Stevels, A. (2007). Essential perspectives for design for environment. Experiences from the electronics industry, International Journal of Production Research, 45(18–19), 4021–4039. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207540701439909.

Boz, Z., Korhonen, V. & Koelsch Sand, C. (2020). Consumer Considerations for the Implementation of Sustainable Packaging: A Review. Sustainability, 12(6), 2192. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12062192.

Bravo, A. & Vieira, D. (2024). Modelling the purchase of green packaged products: The significant impact of the west–east cultural context. Sustainability, 16(3), 1206. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16031206.

Brécard, D. (2017). Consumer misperception of eco-labels, green market structure and welfare. Journal of Regulatory Economics, 51(3), 340–364. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11149-017-9328-8.

Carfora, V., Cavallo, C., Catellani, P., del Guidice, T., & Cicia, G. (2021). Why do consumers intend to purchase natural food? Integrating theory of planned behaviour, value-belief-norm theory, and trust, Nutrients, 13(6), 1904. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13061904.

Chan, R.Y.K. & Lau, L.B.Y. (2000). Antecedents of green purchases: a survey in China, Journal of Consumer Marketing, 17(4), 338–357. https://doi.org/10.1108/07363760010335358.

Chaudhary, R. & Bisai, S. (2018). Factors influencing green purchase behaviour of millennials in India, Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, 29(5), 798–812. https://doi.org/10.1108/MEQ-02-2018-0023.

Chawla, L. (1999). Life paths into effective environmental action, The Journal of Environmental Education, 31(1), 15–26. https://doi.org/10.1080/00958969909598628.

Chiellini, E. (2008). Environmentally Compatible Food Packaging. CRC Press. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781439832783

Chopde, S. (2024). Sustainable Packaging & Its Impact on Consumer Behaviour, International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research, 6(4), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2024.v06i04.26010.

Decardi-Nelson, A., Rahman, A., & Mante, E. (2019). Perceptions of shopoperators on packaging of made-in-Ghana products, Journal of Applied Packaging Research, 11(1), 25-38.

Echavarren, J.M. (2023). The gender gap in environmental concern: Support for an ecofeminist perspective and the role of gender egalitarian attitudes’, Sex Roles, 89(9–10), 610–623. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11199-023-01397-3.

Economou, A. & Halkos, G. (2020). The gender environmentalism gap in Germany and the Netherlands’, Social Science Quarterly, 101(3), 1038–1055. https://doi.org/10.1111/ssqu.12785.

Fink, A. (2017). How to Conduct Surveys: A Step-by-Step Guide. Los Angeles London Sage.

Fliegenschnee, M. & Schelakovsky, M. (1998). Umweltpsychologi e und Umweltbildung: eine Einfu ̈hrung aus humano ̈kologische r Sicht (Wien, Facultas Universita ̈ts Verlag).

Hameed, I. & Waris, I. (2018). Eco labels and eco conscious consumer behaviour: The mediating effect of green trust and environmental concern, Journal of Management Sciences, 5(2), 86–105. https://doi.org/10.20547/jms.2014.1805205.

Hayes, B.C. (2001). Gender, scientific knowledge, and attitudes toward the environment: A cross-national analysis, Political Research Quarterly, 54(2), 657-671. https://doi.org/10.2307/449275

Henaku, E.A. & Amu, T.A. (2023). University students’ awareness and use of ecolabels: A case of the university of education, Winneba, American Journal of Education and Learning, 8(1), 10–21. https://doi.org/10.55284/ajel.v8i1.843.

Herbes, C., Beuthner, C. & Ramme, I. (2020). How green is your packaging—A comparative international study of cues consumers use to recognize environmentally friendly packaging, International Journal of Consumer Studies, 44(3), 258–271. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijcs.12560.

Hussain, S. & Huang, J. (2022). The impact of cultural values on green purchase intentions through ecological awareness and perceived consumer effectiveness: An empirical investigation, Frontiers in Environmental Science, 10, 985200. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2022.985200.

Hwang, J. (2024). Sustainable packaging solutions in Germany: Consumer preferences and environmental impact. Open Access Research Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies. 8(1), 164–177. https://doi.org/10.53022/oarjms.2024.8.1.0022.

Hyder, N. & Amir, A. (2023). Impact of green packaging on consumers buying behaviour: the mediating role of attitude, International Journal of Scientific Research in Engineering and Management, 07(10), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.55041/IJSREM25741.

Ivanova, D., Vasileva, E., Stefanov, S., & Tipova, N. (2014). Sustainability labels on products: consumer understanding and use in Bulgaria, MPRA Paper 86436, University Library of Munich, Germany.

Jerzyk, E. (2016). Design and communication of ecological content on sustainable packaging in young consumers’ opinions, Journal of Food Products Marketing, 22(6), 707–716. https://doi.org/10.1080/10454446.2015.1121435.

Jin, J., Zhao, Q. & Santibanez-Gonzalez, E.D. (2019). How Chinese consumers’ intentions for purchasing eco-labelled products are influenced by psychological factors, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(1), 265. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17010265.

Johnson, B. & Christensen, L.B. (2014). Educational research quantitative, qualitative, and mixed approaches. USA: Sage.

Kalton, G. (1983). Introduction to Survey Sampling. USA: Sage Publication Inc.

Kollmuss, A. & Agyeman, J. (2002). Mind the gap: Why do people act environmentally and what are the barriers to pro-environmental behaviour?, Environmental Education Research, 8(3), 239–260. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504620220145401.

Krah, S., Todorovic, T. & Magnier, L. (2019). Designing for packaging sustainability. The effects of appearance and a better eco-label on consumers’ evaluations and choice, Proceedings of the Design Society: International Conference on Engineering Design, 1(1), 3251–3260. https://doi.org/10.1017/dsi.2019.332.

Kumar, A. & Basu, R. (2023). Do eco-labels trigger green product purchase intention among emerging market consumers?, Journal of Indian Business Research, 15(3), 466–492. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIBR-09-2022-0248.

Magnier, L. & Crié, D. (2015). Communicating packaging eco-friendliness: An exploration of consumers’ perceptions of eco-designed packaging, International Journal of Retail & Distribution Management, 43(4/5), 350–366. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJRDM-04-2014-0048.

Magnier, L. & Schoormans, J. (2015). Consumer reactions to sustainable packaging: The interplay of visual appearance, verbal claim and environmental concern, Journal of Environmental Psychology, 44, 53–62. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2015.09.005.

Mahmoud, M.A., Tsetse, E.K.K., Tulasi, E.E., & Muddey D.K. (2022). Green Packaging, Environmental Awareness, Willingness to Pay and Consumers’ Purchase Decisions, Sustainability, 14(23), 16091. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142316091.

Mandarić, D. & Hunjet, A. (2024). Gender disparities in pro-environmental attitudes: Implications for sustainable business practices in Croatia, GATR Journal of Business and Economics Review, 9(1), 73–84. https://doi.org/10.35609/jber.2024.9.1(4).

Martinho, G., Pires, A., Portela, G., & Fonseca, M. (2015). Factors affecting consumers’ choices concerning sustainable packaging during product purchase and recycling, Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 103, 58–68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2015.07.012.

Müller, J., Acevedo-Duque, Á., Müller, S., Kalia, P., & Mehmood, K. (2021). Predictive sustainability model based on the Theory of planned behaviotr incorporating ecological conscience and moral obligation, Sustainability, 13(8), 4248. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13084248.

Nguyen, A.T., Parker, L., Brennan, L. & Lockrey, S. (2020). A consumer definition of eco-friendly packaging, Journal of Cleaner Production, 252, 119792. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.119792.

Nguyen, N.T., Nguyen, L.H.A. & Tran, T.T. (2021). Purchase behaviour of young consumers toward green packaged products in Vietnam, The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business, 8(1), 985–996. https://doi.org/10.13106/JAFEB.2021.VOL8.NO1.985.

Nguyen, T.N., Lobo, A. & Greenland, S. (2017). The influence of cultural values on green purchase behaviour, Marketing Intelligence & Planning, 35(3), 377–396. https://doi.org/10.1108/MIP-08-2016-0131.

Olsson, D. & Gericke, N. (2017). The effect of gender on students’ sustainability consciousness: A nationwide Swedish study, The Journal of Environmental Education, 48(5), 357–370. https://doi.org/10.1080/00958964.2017.1310083.

Orzan, G. et al. (2018). Consumers’ behaviour concerning sustainable packaging: An exploratory study on Romanian consumers’, Sustainability, 10(6), 1787. https://doi.org/10.3390/su10061787.

Peschel, A.O. et al. (2016). How does consumer knowledge affect environmentally sustainable choices? Evidence from a cross-country latent class analysis of food labels, Appetite, 106, 78–91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.appet.2016.02.162.

Popovic, I., Bossink, B.A.G. & Van Der Sijde, P.C. (2019). Factors influencing consumers’ decision to purchase food in environmentally friendly packaging: What do we know and where do we go from here?, Sustainability, 11(24), 7197. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11247197.

Powdthavee, N. (2020). The causal effect of education on climate literacy and pro-environmental behaviours: Evidence from a nationwide natural experiment. IZA DP No. 13210.

Prakash, G. & Pathak, P. (2017). Intention to buy eco-friendly packaged products among young consumers of India: A study on developing nation, Journal of Cleaner Production, 141, 385–393. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.09.116.

Scott, L. & Vigar‐Ellis, D. (2014). Consumer understanding, perceptions and behaviours with regard to environmentally friendly packaging in a developing nation, International Journal of Consumer Studies, 38(6), 642–649. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijcs.12136.

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.

Taufique, K.M.R., Vocino, A. & Polonsky, M.J. (2016). The influence of eco-label knowledge and trust on pro-environmental consumer behaviour in an emerging market, Journal of Strategic Marketing, 25(7), 511–529. https://doi.org/10.1080/0965254X.2016.1240219.

Testa, F., Iraldo, F., Vaccaei, A. & Ferarri, E. (2015). Why eco‐labels can be effective marketing tools: Evidence from a study on Italian consumers, Business Strategy and the Environment, 24(4), 252–265. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.1821.

Trivedi, R.H., Patel, J.D. & Acharya, N. (2018). Causality analysis of media influence on environmental attitude, intention and behaviours leading to green purchasing, Journal of Cleaner Production, 196, 11–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.06.024.

Tüzemen, A. & Kuru, Ö. (2018). Does the consumer want to be greened? The place of green packaging applications with green supply chain function in consumer perception, International Journal of Contemporary Economics and Administrative Sciences, 8(2), 200-216.

Waris, I. & Ahmed, W. (2020). Empirical evaluation of the antecedents of energy-efficient home appliances: application of extended theory of planned behaviour, Management of Environmental Quality: An International Journal, 31(4), 915–930. https://doi.org/10.1108/MEQ-01-2020-0001.

Witek, L. (2017). Sustainable consumption: Eco-labelling and its impact on consumer behaviour - evidence from a study on Polish consumer (No. 142/2017). Institute of Economic Research Working Papers. https://www.econstor.eu/handle/10419/219964

Young, S. (2008). Packaging and the environment: A cross‐cultural perspective, Design Management Review, 19(4), 42–48. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1948-7169.2008.tb00140.x.

Similar Articles

<< < 1 2 3 4 5 6 > >> 

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.