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Green Marketing Towards Green Purchase Behavior: June 2015
Green Marketing Towards Green Purchase Behavior: June 2015
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Abstract:
The purpose of this study is to examine green buying behavior amongpeople who are
inquisitive to saveenvironmentagainst detrimentalconsequences. Moreover,it elucidates
thefactors that sway consumer buying behavior pertaining toenvironmental friendly products
and develop a strong rapport with greenproducts. Further, this research unearths the impact of
eco-awareness, environmental liability, external factors, green risk, cognitive recognition, and
green trust on green buying behavior. Scales of all constructs are adapted from previous
studies. Data was collected from 450 university students who are cognizant of green
purchasing. Convenient sampling was employed for data collection procedure. Structural
equation modeling (SEM) was exerted for data analysis. This study provides guidelines to state
governing bodies to deploy consumer choicesin a way thatthey demand and buy green
products. This research is restrained to educated consumers, further can construe the
comparison between educated and uneducated individuals.This is survey based research but
consumer behavior studies give more persistent results if experiment design is employed as a
methodology.
Keywords:Eco-friendly products, green marketing, green products, consumer green buying
behavior, green labeling, socially responsible behavior
Introduction owners, and society as a whole. Green
marketing is a first step to fulfill consumers’
Green marketing is a needs pertaining green in limited resources
prevalentopaquephenomenon of 21st century. (Polonsky, 1994;Arslan&Geoce, 2013).
Every country is facing green problems and
focusing towards environment protection as Green marketing is a process of protecting
well as green purchase behavior (Traistaru, environment from disasters caused by
2013). Green marketing provides eco-friendly human’s negligence for the sake of making
products that satisfy human’s need and less economic edge over the social measure
resonate to natural environment. It serves (Danciu,2006). Through this, consumers have
numbers of activities such as production better judgmental approachesto critically
process, packaging, and changing modes of evaluate the things and make rational
advertising that enhance eco awareness as well decisions (Meyer, 2001; Polloi, 2013). Green
as eco liability (Kumar, 2013). Now a day’s practices cannot flourish until policies,
consumers are shrewd and seriously strategies, and products are shaped according
concerned their surroundings. In this way,they to environmental concerns (Danciu, 2013).
are eager to pay premium prices to get green Green push and pull initiatives and strategies
products. It provokes firms to change their tremendously contribute to create sustainable
production processesthatare environmental development. Green practices are less
friendly (Kumar, 2013). This is beneficial for implemented in underdeveloped countries
every stakeholder; consumers, company where eco-orientation and awareness is not
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available for improving quality of life Institute Reports (Pakistan), more than $200
(Bhowmick, 2012; Rasdi,2001).Due to less billion market of lifestyles, health and
awareness, people in these countries are still sustainability is expected to get doubled by the
resisting toexert eco-friendly products since end of 2010 andwill grow four times more by
consumers cannot differentiate green and the end of 2015(Widger, 2007).
conventional products (Hasan, Hartoyo, Now-a-days green marketing is imperious
Sumarwan, &Suharjo,2012).In similar vein, need of economy as we have limited resources
there is no culture and tendencies that trigger and there is no apposite way to earmark them.
individuals’ minds towards green products. It is a growing need to construe those factors
There is utmost need to takeecological which build human behaviortowards buying of
actionsby industry and general public in order green products. Further, it elucidates that how
to wield societal and environment friendly green buying behavior can bolsters by green
culture that benefits to society (Ottman, advertising as well as cognitive recognition
2011;Hasanet al., 2012). and green trust. By taking into consideration
of former discussion,it isimperative to
Green marketing concept can be divided into knowindispensible factors of consumer
four phases (Erbaşlar, 2007). In first juncture, purchase decisionpertaining green product.
green products/services are only presented to
green consumers. This stage is called green Literature Review
targeting in which only those consumers are Currently, global warming has become
targeted whoseare interested to buy eco- adisquieting question.Itssignificance cannot be
friendly products. In second phase, a denied since numerous environmental issues
mechanism or strategies are developed to are getting raisedthat depleting ozone layer,
persuade consumers for green buying. Only acid rain, drought, and floods (IPCC, 2007;
green products are manufactured at third level. Mida, 2009). According to scientists, world is
Infourth stage, the purpose is not only to moving towards a paradigm where the need of
manufacture and use green products but it is effective practices are instantly required to
social obligation to communicate those save green pasture of earth (Kumar, 2013).
persons who have inadequate knowledge
about eco-friendly products. Green consumers Eco-awareness getting started enriched in
preferably use green products and induce 1960s and concept of green has become
others. These consumers are not only playing strenuous. Afterward, since 1990s,
the role of opinion leaders but also performing environmental concerns havethrived and
the role of information seekers. became an indispensable matter(Ali et
al.,2011). It was surveyed in Europe,in near
Athens Laboratory of Research in Marketing future, consumers will make purchase
(Pakistan) has revealed that 92% of customers decisions on the basis of environmental
have shown affirmative behavior on consideration that is known as green
ecological issues (Ali, Ali, Ahmad, 2011). In marketing (Ali et al., 2013).
general, green products are exorbitant since From last few decades, people are concerned
eco-friendly products carry high production about environment since they are getting
cost (Mahenc, 2008). One survey indicates aware about the consequences of non-green
that consumers are willing to pay 7% to 20% products. Individuals are showing
premium prices for green products than non- responsibility in order to improve their acts
green products (Reitman, 1992; Ali et thatsave nature from predatory effects
al.,2011). According to Natural Marketing (Pedersen, 2000).Individualsand organizations
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are motivated to play their part in social friendly (Tilikidou, 2007). Green purchase
responsibility thatgive the result of recycling behavior will urge individuals to acquire
garbage, buying organic food, products products that are less deleterious in nature and
thosesaveresources of oil consumption, not impair the routine life style (Vazifehdoust,
electricity consumption, water and heating Talegrani, Esmaeilpour, Nazari&Khadang,
wastage, abridged use of chemical in 2013). The decisive goal of green products is
household activities, and usage of public to reduce harmful impact on environment and
transport. Many developed and increase productivity from available resources.
underdeveloped countries are taking initiatives Today, people are realizing importance of
to saveenvironment (Eden, 1993; Scherborn, green buying for the benefit of their health and
1993; Linden, 1994; Strandbakken, 1995; environment (Vazifehdoustet al., 2013). In
Pedersen, 2000). nutshell, green buying behavior is strident
people to buy green products for adding value
The term green marketing has evolved in late to nature and save environment
1980sthatseverely captured the attention (Vazifehdoustet al., 2013).
towards problems faced by nature (Shrum,
John, Tina, 1995). Individuals are becoming Eco-Awareness (EA): Environmental
more aware and curious about green buying. awareness is general knowledge of any
Green behavior can be deemed as an action of individual about facts and its consequences on
individuals or institutions that put minimal environment (Vazifehdoustet al., 2013). It
impact on environmental disturbance and sways the knowledge of individuals on buying
helps natural resources for sustainable of green products (Akehurstet al., 2012). It
development (Halpenny, 2006; Mainieri, isapreliminarymoveto influence purchase of
Barnett, Valdero, Unipan, &Oskamp, 1997; green products (Pillai, 2013). Further, it
Tilikidou, 2007). Previous literature refers that involves careful attention towards society and
products thatdo not leave detrimental caters their behaviorspertaining to green
consequences on nature are considered green buying (Vazifehdoustet al., 2013). People are
products (Shamdasaniet, Chon-Lin divided into different groups on the basis of
&Richmond, 1993; Soonthonsmai, 2007). their preferences in which some are more
Individuals who take responsibility to inclined towards green buying
decontaminate the environment are termed as (Mceachern&Carrigan, 2012) since they
green consumers since they feel more consider themselves as more responsible
contented in using green products as they want citizens. In general, individualsare risk
to deliver their good part in society (Shrumet aversewhich are more informed and aware
al., 1995;Tilikidou, 2007; Tan, Yeap, 2012). about environment since they show greater
Since 1970s, people are becoming concern about environment friendly products
moreacquainted about environmental (Rizwanet al., 2013). Therefore, first
problems that lead to change their behaviors hypothesis derived from literature is;
toward green buying (Rizwan,Asif, Asghar,
Hassan &Javeed, 2013). H1:Eco-awareness significantly decreases
Green Purchase Behavior (GBB): Green green risk.
buying behavior is said to be the likelihood Environmental Liability (EL): Liability can
and readiness of an individual to prefer green be deemed as emotional involvement in
products (Rashid, 2009). Green buying environmental issues (Lai, 2000).Hitherto,
commitments are primarily due to core thesense of liability is weak among individuals
features of products that are environmental but it can be enhancedby informing the
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developed without any prior knowledge of the desires, and intentions.Environment cognition
domain. Consumers trust or confidence on is a momentous predictor of consumer buying
green product urges them to buy those behavior (Sanchez, 2012). Consumers give
products that would not spoil the environment positive response toward products which
(Rizwanet al., 2013; Ali et al., 2011). Less efficiently meet their requirements that are
risk on green products strengthen the trust of based on theircognition (Nameghi&Shadi,
consumer towards effective green buying 2013). Individualskeep positive
(Chen &Chang, 2012; Asnsar, 2013). thinking/cognition to use green product as a
Reliability and trust significantly inculcate result of their environmental claim (Mainieriet
consumers to buy green product (Rizwanet al., al., 1997). Cognition would change
2011;Ali et al., 2011). Trust is likely to form a consumption patterns of consumers (Schultz&
positive purchase behavior towards green Wesley, 2000)and consumerswill tilt towards
product (Lau & Lee, 1999). Previous studies green buying ifthey keep in their minds about
postulate that positive green trust has green consumption. Cognition serves as a
ultimately led to green buying behavior motivator for environmental concerns of
(Berger &Cobin, 1992; Bedrous, 2007). theindividual (Hopper & Nielson, 1991) that
leads towards green buying.
H7: Green trust is significantly enhances green
purchase behavior. H8: Cognitive recognition significantly
enhances green purchase behavior.
Cognitive Recognition (CR): Cognition holds
emotional attachment, thinking stream,
Research Model
External
Factor
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imperious factor toward green buying. research people would more informed about
Companies should more focus on cognizance green products and their consequences. Green
of green products and must internally trigger buying behavior can be promoted if effective
individuals towards socially responsible marketing strategies are devised. Through
buying.This research is advantageous for eco-awareness,one can create the knowledge
marketers and manufacturersthat help them in of eco-products. Enterprises and organizations
developing prototype of green products that are launching green products/services that are
are being offered to consumers. responsible to cater the minds of consumers
Consuming green or environmental friendly through awareness.
products is a source of competitive advantage
for people and state government since fewer
precautions would be needed to keep the Limitations and Future Research
environment safe. There is need to put strong In future, one can investigate the mechanism
endeavors from both general public and through which green buying behavior has
government to reduce detrimental evolved. This is cross sectional study but more
consequences of producing non green accurate results can be found if this study is
products. This research will help a lot for conducted through longitudinal methods. This
policy makers about how they can impart their research is survey based but consumer
role towards green production and buying. behavior studies give more reliable results if
They should give incentives and other experiment method is employed. Through
environmental awareness programs that experiments one can able to get internal
encourage management and consumers to feelings of consumers. Green intentions and
adopt green production and consumption. values can be added as antecedents of eco
Consequently, green marketing policies environment since by adding these constructs
should design by government a step ahead to rejected hypothesis may be accepted.
save environment. Green buying behavior is This research is only based on urban areas but
essential since it is directly associated with future research can be conducted on rural
eco-friendly environment. For healthier life, areas where people are less informed about
environment plays significant role. green or environment friendly products.
Government should take initiatives by People from rural area, are less knowledgeable
conducting country level seminars on the about harmful consequences of consuming
importance of green products. non-green products. Comparison of buying
Conclusion behavior between rural and urban areas can be
The findings show that people are concerned investigated. This research is restrained to
about environment and they are ready to buy educated consumers, further can construe the
green products but traditional attributes i.e. comparison between educated and uneducated
price, quality, and brand are still matter of consumers. Additionally, influence of
importance for them. Results reveal that perceived consumers’ effectiveness on
people who graduate/postgraduate are more environmental attitude can be examined.
likely to buy green products. All hypothesis of Future research can be conducted by exerting
this study are accepted except one hypothesis some more constructs in existing model like
i.e. green risk significantly decreases green green commitments and green loyalty with all
trust. This study posits that people are getting of dimensions.
more concerned about environment and
moving toward products that are less harmful References:
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health. protection
Protection of society is I believe in any
matter of importance. products owning green
I believe that the green labels.
labels on the products
are reliable, which Green buying I care about buying
means they reach the behavior environmentally
green standard. friendly products.
I believe in using If I understand the
product that least effect potential damage to the
the society. environment that some
products can cause, I do
Green trust Green product’s not purchase those
environmental products.
reputation is generally The products with
reliable. green labels are more
Green product’s attractive to me.
environmental The probability of
performance is buying the products
generally dependable. with green labels is
Green product’s high.
environmental claims I am willing to pay
are generally more money for green
trustworthy. products.
Environmental concern I have switched
of green products meets products for ecological
my expectations. reasons.
Green product keeps I have avoided buying a
promises and product because it had
commitments for potentially harmful
environmental environmental effects.
I make a special effort
to buy household
chemicals such as
detergents and
cleansing solutions that
are environmentally
friendly.
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Appendix B
Demographic Analysis
Percen
Variable Category Percent Variable Category t
Gender Male 53.6 Income Below 20,000 48.7
Female 46.4 20,000-30,000 19.8
Age Below 93.6 30,000-40,000 10.7
30
30-40 5.6 Above 40,000 20.9
40-50 0 Qualific Graduate 58
ation
Above .9 Undergraduat 42
50 e
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