Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Consumer Behavior Green Consumers
Consumer Behavior Green Consumers
May 1, 2020
1
Executive Summary
Introduction & Insights: The “Green” Consumer
Over the course of the semester, we found there are green consumers
concerned with the
trendiness of the sustainability movement and take some action, and there are green
consumers
throughout the United States and other global areas. The trendy-sustainable
consumer is more
subject to products that will improve their image. This consumer type should be
targeted with
individualist ads and marketing efforts, but the zero-waste seeking consumer should
be targeted
with ads about helping the earth and future generations. In our research, we found
that both
groups leverage social media networks and online communities to further their
reasons for
purchasing sustainable products. The trendy consumers look for validations from
their peers for
appearing sustainable, whereas zero-waste consumers might look for practical ways
and
marketers. Different groups will align with working towards specific causes, such
as
efforts have proved effective in selling “green” products. This applies to both
subsegments we
identified within the “green” consumer group: trendy consumers and zero-waste
consumers.
2
External Influences
Chapter 2: Cross-Cultural Variation
Green consumerism has grown significantly in the last twenty years.
GlobalWebIndex
reported that “half of digital consumers say environmental concerns impact their
purchasing
decisions” in the United States and United Kingdom per a bespoke study (Young).
Across the
this consumer group in the United States and other “western” areas of the world.
The
GlobalWebIndex study found that when asked, “Who do you think is most responsible
for the
future of the environment?,” 70% of United States and United Kingdom global
consumers
responded that the responsibility lies with individual consumers (Appendix A-1).
water pollution, packaging waste/food waste, water shortages, and use of pesticides
concerns
around the world (Appendix A-2). Across the board, “81% of global respondents feel
strongly
that companies should help improve the environment” (Nielsen). The study
demonstrates that the
regions of North America and Europe had the lowest percentages of concern per
global
perspective, whereas “most Latin Americans, Asians, and Indians tend to view time”
with a
Americans may be more enticed to opt out of plastic use because of future
generations,
but this may not be the way to market reusable straws and cups to
non-“western”countries. The
U.S. may be focused on protecting its forests and beaches because of a general
forward-looking
3
orientation, but certain Asian countries may be more attracted to a green marketing
campaign
cultures, and it differs across regions around the world. For example, China “does
not have a
strong environmental orientation,” but Singapore does (Mothersbaugh 51). For these
cultural and
political values, green marketing should not be focused “on saving the earth” in
Singapore like in
Western countries, but about promoting cleanliness for the betterment of the
community.
to “stay out longer, travel farther, and live harder” (YETI). YETI probably would
not market its
want to market sustainable products with the message that YOU are doing something
for the
this. As for gratification, Western countries and cultures tend towards short-term
orientations,
Starbucks cup is marketed well in the United States. Other countries are more
focused on
The most notable changing American value to understand for our subculture is
American’s changing thoughts on climate change. More Americans than ever before
view
view climate change as personally important, which is in line with the 72% of
people who now
view it as a(n) “Imminent, serious, or moderate threat” (Caspani). While this may
seem like an
wouldn’t spend even $1/month to deal with climate change. Instead, companies should
focus on
the product and promotion of their green alternatives to ensure these products are
offered and
However, a professor who studies public opinion on the environment has also
warned
that this trend may not continue, because it is “rarely a top-tier issue” when
compared to things
like unemployment, the economy, and war. (Irman) While concerns over the climate
have risen
to nearly this height in the past, the reasons for the uptick are likely to allow
it to maintain
top-tier issue status. (Appendix B-1) Most notably, Appendix B-2 shows that 59% of
Americans
now say that their community has been impacted by climate change and half of
Americans
believe that climate change is making severe weather (Funk), such as the wildfires
in California,
worse. (Leiserowitz) Climate change is no longer an abstract threat for many, which
will keep it
al, American sentiment has shifted from being traditionally concerned with
overcoming nature
5
and molding it to our will to admiring nature for its natural beauty. This change
is expected to
continue, as the data suggests that in the future people will move even further in
this direction
(Mothersbaugh). This should have a compounding effect with rising concerns over the
environment, as the average consumer will not only be more concerned about climate
change as
a threat to humans, but also more concerned about protecting the natural
environments that
climate change directly threatens. With this in mind, companies should focus on
including
marketed as green aren’t hurting natural spaces further up the supply chain.
Millennials and Generation Z are both growing in buying power as they begin
to enter the
workforce and with this growth comes a new type of person to target. Millennials
have a strong
caught on and seemingly could continue to catch on with this age group and younger
are
individual products such as reusable straws and reusable water bottles. These
smaller products
give off the idea that the individual is changing the world because they are
individual products.
Companies can promote these products with factual evidence that supports the
difference that
can be made by just one person cutting back on single-use plastic. (Denchak)
Products and
promotion like this appeal to the autonomy of millennials and can be vital in
grabbing their
attention.
One study found that the likelihood of usage of green products and
separating trash and
recycling were significantly related to a higher income while turning off the
lights when leaving
a room was not. Some sustainable habits seem to be more widespread, while some
appear to hit
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only those with more income. One should keep in mind that turning off the lights
could be a
money saving act rather than a sustainable act, and therefore, it would make sense
that it didn’t
The biggest demographic change that may impact enviros is the growing
financial
which the wife makes more than the husband, the wife makes or they share 79% of the
product
decision making. (Mothersbaugh) A study found that using green products, recycling,
and
switching to green products are all highly related to gender. (Bachman) Women are,
by far, the
definitely something on which to capitalize. (iisd) However, this does not mean
that a brand
cannot have products for men. Some of the buying that women do is still for men so
a
There are two major subcultures within our subculture which seem most
relevant today, a
social media driven group who has hopped on the sustainability trend and the more
die-hard
enviro. Marketing to these two groups is quite different because the first would
likely be much
more inclined to buy a product that promotes sustainability, while the die-hard
would take the
stance that buying a product, no matter its reusability, is still adding a product
to the world.
jacket and said in large black lettering “Don’t Buy this Jacket.” The goal was to
remind our
7
consumerist minds to not buy what we do not need. (Allchin) Patagonia also offers
free lifetime
repairs on their products and truly embodies the mission to cause no unnecessary
harm. This type
After having spoken to a few individuals who have made it their life mission
to be
sustainable, a noticeable shift within this subculture has occurred, moving from a
focus on
reusability to a focus on reduction. This shift seems to have missed many however,
as more and
more reusable products are introduced after the great success of reusable straws.
but one that can be overcome. As Patagonia has continuously demonstrated, the
correct, genuine
promotion towards this group can create a very loyal niche market willing to spend
the extra
bucks for quality. Patagonia does concede that their “Don’t Buy This Jacket”
message does not
focus. Instead of adding things to the world that perhaps are not necessary to some
people, such
as straws, a product that everyone needs but delivered in a more sustainable manner
would be the
Research done in the 1970s reported that non-white ethnic subcultures in the
U.S. have
lower priority to environmental issues than whites. (Yi) When considering this
information along
with the fact that the population of ethnic subcultures in the U.S., particularly
Hispanics, are
growing, it may appear that the sustainability subculture in the U.S. is in danger
of shrinking.
However, more recent data found by a researcher from the University of Vermont
found that, of
the groups surveyed, more than half of the non-white ethnic groups showed greater
concern for
8
environmental risks than the white group surveyed. What’s more, first generation
Mexican
immigrants showed significantly greater concern than second generation. The first
generation
environment and that the more children a family has, the more environmentally
conscious the
old and are becoming less relevant as Western cultures shift towards environmental
concern.
changes but has very low confidence in their understanding of the issues and how to
solve them
(“Who are Green Consumers?”), the informational influence of reference groups plays
a vital
would appeal to this group. Informational blogs and Facebook groups are especially
useful tools.
(Appendix D-1). Aggregate search sites also play a role in information diffusion by
allowing
consumers to search by region where to compost, where to buy in bulk, and where to
buy local.
group, as well as working to get a brand or product listed on both influential blog
guides and
There are a few key points that are important to remember when marketing to
this group.
zero-waste homes, local and organic food buyers, compost and home gardeners, and
cloth
diapering moms. Each of these groups has dedicated Facebook groups, lingo (Appendix
D-2),
and norms and sanctions to live by. It is the goal of the sustainability-minded
consumer to be a
master of all of these subgroups. Some relevant Facebook pages include “Fluff Love
and Cloth
Diaper Science” which has over 120,000 members and “Sustainable Living,” which has
over
330,000 followers. There are also a number of regional subgroups, which typically
have only a
few hundred members but frequently post and share information. The “top fans” of
Facebook
groups and pages can be seen as market mavens, whose opinions are so respected
within the
group that their posts have a badge to identify them by (Appendix D-3). One issue
which may
negatively affect the diffusion process within these groups is the underlying
perception that the
very idea of a new product conflicts with the concept of minimizing waste. All of
the
10
aforementioned blogs and groups include DIY recipes for an array of household items
such as
bread, toothpaste, and deodorants. Brands looking to succeed in this market need to
stay aware of
this discrepancy and assure that the product being offered is actually meeting a
need, not creating
one. Strategies may involve including influencers and market mavens in the product
creation,
emphasizing the direct positive impact of the product, and quantifying the benefits
of using the
product.
Internal Influences
Chapter 8: Perception
Attention grabbing techniques can include bright colors, bright sounds, or
contrast from
what the consumer would expect. In many green advertisements, marketers use bright
imagery of
the earth which appears to cause an affective reaction of warmth. These ads could
include the
lighter side of this issue, animals, green forests, and blue skies. However, it is
more important
than ever that companies do not have any greenwashing tendencies. (Pearce) Simply
adding
green into an ad without portraying the reason your company truly is more
sustainable than
another takes away from the message of the advertisement. FIJI water is an example
of a brand
whose use of the color green and bright imagery has backfired. (Appendix E-1)
Bottling their
water in plastic does not exactly fit with the green message they try to send, but
the use of green
about FIJI and understand their brand to be not exactly what they advertise.
The Hydro Flask, a reusable water bottle, is currently a status symbol among
generation z
teenagers and is quite commonly associated with the “save the turtles” and eco-
conscious trend
way to enhance social status and appearance. The trendiness of the line, however,
does not mean
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it is not something that can be utilized by green marketers. The brand Hydro Flask,
for instance,
began as an outdoorsy brand for the eco-conscious, on-the-go consumer, but jumped
onto this
trend and became a status symbol for teenagers. These water bottles represent
conscientiousness
younger consumers that their sustainable choices are changing the world and
therefore, they
deserve thanks. This notion is derived from the sense of status associated with the
trend. This
repetition is a key aspect of attention. Not only will thanking the consumer
provide them with
their needed ego boost, but it will also provide a second opportunity for the
company to put its
More than 67% of consumers say they would rather drive an eco-friendly car
compared
to only 33% who said they would rather drive a luxury car. (Marketing Charts)
Similar statistics
can be said of preferring an eco-friendly house over a luxury house and local
brands over
higher quality.
luxury. (Appendix E-2) They were among the first large jewelry brands to source
their metals
and diamonds from sustainable diamond companies. They do not purchase diamonds from
countries with human rights infringements. (Luxe Digital) As consumer perceptions
and
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individual traits shift, companies must shift their marketing if they wish to fit
into the same
This status association with the trend of sustainability can create the
cognitive
processes of exposure and attention, groups stimuli into certain categories in the
mind of the
status with sustainability. This provides insight into the way in which the trend
is brought to
social media. Instagram influencers are now targets for sustainable product
endorsement. This
doesn’t have to make the issue of the environment stick in the long term memory of
the
consumer. The fact that climate change is a serious political issue means the
average consumer
who considers shopping for sustainable products is already aware of the problem.
The marketer
likely doesn’t have to convince the consumer that there is a problem that needs to
be solved but
rather that their product is the thing that can solve said problem.
With this in mind, a hopeful advertising campaign focused on the product and
the
environment could be very effective. While people are consistently told about
climate change as
a looming crisis, promoting a hopeful view of the issue centered on a company's
product would
separate the campaign from most of the media and political noise surrounding
climate change.
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their product to the idea of hope in the face of the climate crisis. As
Mothersbaugh explains, this
response. This should increase recall for products that help in the fight against
climate change. It
should also be noted that classical conditioning can assign gendered associations
to products, so
it would be important not to only include actors of one gender in the ads.
Operant conditioning should also be employed to highlight the fact that the
consumer
made a conscientious choice by buying the green product. While many companies use a
follow
up email to thank the customer for shopping with them (Mothersbaugh), this simply
provides
positive reinforcement for the brand as a whole. Instead, if the customer makes a
sustainable
purchase, a company who advertises on the idea of hope when faced with climate
change could
specifically thank the consumer for buying the green product instead of an
alternative. This
allows the company to repeat and reinforce its advertisement messaging in the thank
you email,
while also using operant conditioning to lead the customer to buy sustainably in
the future.
A 2019 YouGov study found the top motivation for purchasing sustainable
fashion
products was “better designs and styles,” while “labels...showing they were made in
a
sustainable manner” was third (Appendix F-1). These can be defined as the “need for
autonomy”
or “need for stimulation” and the “need for consistency with beliefs,” respectively
marketers, this implies that although third party certifications are necessary to
emphasize value
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consumers. Though morality was the primary manifest motive for purchase, latent
motivations
differed between two participants. One wished to have a personal, positive impact
on the world
whereas another felt guilty that his children might not be able to enjoy the world
he grew up in
customers but focus on the positive effects of purchasing sustainable products for
consumers to cope with what they see in a video, read in an ad, etc. There are two
kinds of
coping: active and passive. With green products, most companies aim to induce
active coping in
avoid rash behavior, and making the best of the situation” (Mothersbaugh 385). With
example of this chain of events for “trendy” sustainable consumers concerns the
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infamous/popular video that went viral of a sea turtle with a plastic straw up its
nose (Appendix
F-4). As awareness of plastic’s effect on our ocean’s grew, this video played a key
role in the
new products that have replaced traditional plastic straws - playing on guilt,
uncomfortability,
and sadness. It shows an environmental event and a memorable image. The chain of
events
might look like: consumer sees video and becomes sad about sea turtles → says NO to
plastic
straws → consumer then trusts marketplaces that avoid plastic straws (gratitude) →
consumers
In 2010, Jacquelyn Ottoman divided the green consumer group into four
subsegments:
recycle, compost and save energy” (Ottoman). Zero-waste consumers will not be as
attracted to
more transparent about their products. For Black Friday in 2019, Everlane partnered
with Oceana
16
to donate $15 for every order up to $300,000 (Appendix G-2). This marketing
campaign draws
Everlane also sells “ReNew” products made from 100% recycled water bottles that are
a)
sustainable, 2) durable, and 3) trendy per the millennial look (Appendix G-3).
These details are
Right now, the sustainable trend catching on the most is reusable straws and
cups. While
this effort may not have a huge impact in the eyes of zero-waste consumers, it
allows the
affective component (feeling that helping “save the turtles” or “save the ocean” is
good),
cognitive component (a belief that their reusable straw is helping save the
turtles) and behavioral
component (purchasing the straw and actually using it) to cohere. Advertisers
should focus on
A January 2020 Mintel report concerning attitudes towards brand ethics found
that “there
grow in trendiness, there is room to draw in consumers. The top three means of
showing
environmental friendliness are using recycled materials, using less plastic, and
refraining from
world. For example, green consumers who identify as “zero-waste” strive to avoid
materialism to
such an extent that it is a point of pride to be able to fit all of one’s trash in
a mason jar (Singer).
However, these same consumers are also prone to identify themselves as part of the
zero-waste
movement through ownership of sustainable products (Appendix H-1). This implies the
extended
self still plays an important role for green consumers who may see their ideal
self-concept
embodied in the values represented by physical items such as tote bags, electric
vehicles, and
mason jars. Marketers can help appeal to the extended self through aspirational
advertising
sustainable products help them achieve this lifestyle. It is also important for
marketers to monitor
trends in the sustainable market to ensure product images are consistent with self-
concepts. For
example, when depicting a product in a kitchen, images ought to include bulk items
in mason
jars and fresh produce in tote bags rather than plastic packaging (Appendix H-2).
buying local foods, and using recycled products (Appendix H-3). The results
indicate Innovators
make up the majority of sustainable consumers, likely due to the fact they are the
highest
resourced and most able to purchase based on principles. In other segments, there
was a clear
value gap between what people say and what they do; in other words, a gap between a
consumer’s actual self-concept and ideal self-concept. This presents an opportunity
for marketers
to bridge this gap and potentially create higher brand engagement in the process.
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would accept lower standards of living, but are likely to engage in sustainable
behaviors.
and value durability and functionality. For this group, marketers should provide
ample
while also emphasizing that the sustainable aspects of these products do not
diminish their utility
through positive customer testimonials and video demonstrations. Strivers are the
second-most
likely group to say they would be willing to make lifestyle changes, but scored
average or below
success symbols, and pursue self-improvement. However, they also have low
discretionary
the resources such as money or time to fulfill these desires. Marketers can help
them achieve
their ideal self-concept by making products more accessible. For example, tote bags
are often
placed in grocery aisles at a low price point to make it easy for consumers to add
on to their
grocery purchase. Other lower priced sustainable items can be placed near trendy
unrelated
products such as a rack of reusable straws, spoons, and napkins near the clothing
section of a
department store. If marketers can help Thinkers attach sustainable values to the
actions they are
already engaging in and meet Strivers where they are to help them achieve their
aspirational
peer pressure to act in a socially responsible way, and the communications and
purchase
situations are public, people are more likely to purchase something sustainable.
People also tend
utilize surroundings that remind the consumer why they are buying what they are
buying. Many
remind consumers of the beauty of the Earth and our social responsibility to
protect it.
consumption and lots of waste which sustainable companies tend to want to avoid.
However, this
products at holidays. An article from the Rainforest Alliance offered seven ways to
make your
holidays greener. These ideas included buying a real tree at Christmas and
replanting, buying
LED Christmas lights, and not choosing two-day shipping. (Rainforest Alliance)
Holidays are
filled with love and giving, so green organizations can use them as a way to market
small
Most purchases in which the individual opts for a sustainable option are
going to involve
involvement with each sustainable purchase they make. A study conducted by Southern
Cross
University found that 77% of Americans and Australians want to learn to live more
sustainably
and 93% have a general concern for the environment. (Ellsmoor) These numbers
demonstrate the
For these many consumers who want to learn to live more sustainably, problem
a discrepancy between desired state and actual state. With growing recognition and
understanding of climate change, more and more consumers are reporting a desire to
be
emphasize the importance of this discrepancy without making the consumer resentful.
Since the vast majority of product searches are generic, banner ads for
sustainable
products can’t be limited to searches where the person is already looking for a
sustainable
product. Additionally, those who see ads during generic pre-search end up spending
more once
they buy (Mothersbaugh). Bidding on generic search terms will allow the company to
reach
especially for those who would prefer to buy sustainable products, but are not
willing to pay a
requires some effort on the consumers' part to convince them to try a sustainable
good, while
All three evaluation processes are relevant for green consumers, but
affective and
attribute choices lend more to the serious consumer and attitude choices to the
trendy consumer.
The truly sustainable consumer, who looks to minimize waste and harmful
impacts on the
product, the truthfulness of the product, and if the consumer feels “good” about
the purchase.
With green consumers, this usually manifests in whether or not a product seems
“green” or
eco-friendly apparel and also have affective attachments with the products” (Ting).
If consumers
want to feel good about their purchase, such that they are “making a difference in
the world,”
they will base it in the affective. The Oregon State researchers concluded that
“people tend to
As for attribute-choices, green consumers will want to track where and how a
product
was manufactured. They are concerned with evaluative criteria, such as durability
for a
zero-waste consumer. A few examples of this include: bamboo toothbrushes, reusable
food
for an eco-friendly toothbrush, they will probably weigh the durability of the
toothbrush itself
but also the effect it will have on the earth after disposal in the future. The
consumer will be
faced with weighing the functionality of the toothbrush with its biodegradability.
“For most items, I’ll consider how the frequency of production and use --
reusable or
disposables. For consumables like food, my focus shifts one to the inputs of
production --
a pound of brown rice, for example, requires far less water, land, and other
resources than
a pound of beef.”
image and generally make low-involvement decisions. While zero-waste consumers will
probably place after-sale support above price for products, trendy green consumers
will look for
the lowest price option rather than considering the effects of their purchase on
the environment
(Mothersbaugh 574).
showrooming, where consumers find a product in a brick and mortar store but
purchase it online,
often from a different retailer using a mobile device. To combat this effect, it is
essential for
the average user on social media and also click social ads more than twice as often
(Appendix
I-1). A strong social media presence is key to engaging these consumers early in
the buyer
journey, especially through promoted content and banner ads. Married versus single
users also
have very different shopping interests. Married users’ top page likes were
household supplies
such as Seventh Generation and health food stores like Whole Foods and Thrive
Market
(Appendix I-2), while single users liked more brands such as Nutella and Ben &
Jerry’s, outdoor
stores such as REI, and personalities such as unusually high interest in Flo from
Progressive.
This latter group may be seeking more entertainment in their shopping experience
and outlet
produce social content geared towards humor, inspiration, and pop culture as well
as interact
publicly with environmental social pages, such as the Sierra Club, to generate
brand affinity
online while demonstrating brand value through hands-on product trial and
experimentation at
For the more time bound married group, retailers should focus on lowering
the cost of
shopping through mobile apps with time-saving features, such as store layouts using
in-store
beacons, shopping lists with health recommendations and recipes, and environmental
badges
demonstrates value alignment. For example, products listed on Target’s mobile app
now have an
“At a glance” section which lists badges that include Sulfate Free, Dye-Free, and
Sensitive Skin
(Appendix I-3). For grocery stores, an app called Mealime provides 30 minute
recipes using
fresh ingredients given household size and diet preferences. It creates weekly
menus that produce
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no food waste and generates a shopping list that can be used in store or sent to
Instacart to
deliver groceries to customers’ doors. Health foods stores like Whole Foods should
adopt these
apps and integrate them into a branded store app that can be used to lower the cost
of shopping
as durable as they thought it was and feel guilty about their initial purchase,
thus restraining a
their value placed on image. It’s a comparison of; “Was this product actually a
sustainable and
durable product to help me live a zero-waste lifestyle?” vs. “Did this photo on my
Instagram
with a reusable cup get me more followers, more likes, more traction on my
account?”
disposition. Crate & Barrel stopped using white bleached cardboard in their famous
black and
white boxes, and opted for a more sustainable box (Mothersbaugh 647 ). Also,
Zappos, in line
with their mission to be innovative and creative, launched the “imnotabox campaign
to inspire
consumers to reuse / make the cardboard box into something” (Mothersbaugh 647).
example, there is a new platform called Loop which is partnering with several home
product and
food brands (Peters). People purchase food products in a reusable container that
they then drop
back off at the location or store where they purchased it; the appendix shows a few
examples of
(Appendix J-1). With the growing popularity of refurbishing and reusing items --
such as
clothing, food containers, and more -- there is a growing demand for platforms to
facilitate
consumer-to-consumer sale: several platforms are even taking the place of this so
consumers can
interact across the country. One example of this is RentTheRunway, which allows you
to rent
clothing items, wear them, and then return them (Appendix J-2).
when hiring Millenials who often care about culture more than compensation
(Mothersbaugh
710). To recruit this subgroup, organizational values need to reflect a concern for
sustainability
as well as community engagement and volunteerism. For example, the Whole Foods
recruitment
website emphasizes the company’s six core values, which include “we care about our
communities and the environment” (Appendix K-1). Further links provide information
on the
For now, the sustainable product space is not overly regulated. As long as a
company is
meeting all of the criteria for legal ads that are assigned to any industry, for
example that they
cannot be explicitly false, there isn’t much regulation regarding what constitutes
a “green”
product. Private certifications, such as Energy Star, have stepped in to fill this
role to some
degree. Additionally, there may be more regulation on how sustainable products must
be as
climate change becomes even more of an issue, and having sustainable offerings
would allow a
Appendix A
A-1
A-2
27
Appendix B
B-1
B-2
28
Appendix C
C-1
Green Demographics
Key:
N/A — not available; Gn Org — green organization; Rec Org — outdoor recreation
society; R &
CM — recyclers and church members; Dec M —
decision makers; Pu & St — public and students; ns — not significant; * + ve —
‘‘personal’’
behavior; ve — ‘‘public’’ behavior; * * + ve — purchasing
behavior, ve — political behavior; (SR) — self-reported; (A) — actual; (IC) —
intentional
commitment.
29
Appendix D
D-1
Zero-Waste Blogs
TrashisforTossers is a blogger who has been covered by a number of news outlets as
the woman
who produced so little trash in four years that it fit in a single mason jar. She
has a number of
recipes for food products, cleaning products, hygiene products, and even pet
products all linked
to her Youtube channel for more guidance. The “Easy Changes” tab is noteworthy
because it
emphasizes the desire of Millenials to make lifestyle changes, but also for those
changes to be
easy to make. Similarly, ZeroWasteHome is a lifestyle blog about how to live a
sustainable life
with the added challenge and time-constraints of having a family. Note the link to
the Bulk
Finder, which directs the user to an app that searches for bulk stores on Google
Maps.
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D-2
Lingo
Each subgroup has well-defined lingo new users pick up from older users or learn
from
informative blogs. Fluff Love University is the site behind the Facebook Group
“Fluff Love and
Cloth Diaper Science.” This is a good example of the informational influence of
these groups.
The same site has a washing machine index, a cloth diaper brand index, and a
laundry detergent
index, which list product recommendations in each category.
31
D-3
Top Fans
Top fans can be a powerful source on social media. These market mavens can help
promote a
positive brand image by providing guidance to newer members on the value of a brand
or
product. However, they can just as easily elevate negative conversations. Brands
need to stay
aware of both of these effects and provide ample evidence of the claims they make.
32
Appendix E
E-1
E-2
33
Appendix F
F-1
34
F-2
Benefit-chain Analysis
Four participants were interviewed in-depth to discover latent motivations for
purchasing
sustainable products. The bottom tier indicates a participant’s first response to
the question “Why
do you purchase sustainable products?” The next tier represents the participant’s
answer to a
why-question. For example, “To reduce waste in the landfill” was followed up with
“What is the
benefit of reducing waste in the landfill?” and so on. The two participants
included here were
both parents and had significantly changed their lifestyles to be more
environmentally friendly,
such as using cloth napkins and buying local foods. Both initially mentioned
morality as opposed
to utilitarian motives such as “because it is a superior product.” We may have seen
a different
result had we asked about a specific product. This would, of course, need to be
conducted on a
much larger scale for more accurate results.
35
F-3
Promotion-focused Advertising
Woodchuck, a custom wood products company which plants a tree for every product
sold,
emphasizes the personal, positive impact a customer can achieve by purchasing their
products.
Prevention-focused Advertising
Bambino mio, a cloth diaper company, emphasizes the negative impact disposable
diaper usage
has on the environment.
36
F-4
37
Appendix G
G-1
G-2
38
G-3
G-4
39
Appendix H
H-1
Extended Self
A prominent zero-waste blogger poses with her tote bags and her “trash jar” for a
Facebook
cover photo.
H-2
Value Congruity
Dr. Bronner’s biodegradable cleaner is
featured in a bathroom with items that
appeal to the ideal self-concept of the
sustainable consumer, such as reusable
washcloths, compostable wooden
brushes, and a package-free bar of
soap. This ad would look very different
if it had disposable cleaning wipes,
plastic-handled brushes, and a plastic
bottle filled with liquid hand soap.
40
H-3
VALS Segments
41
Appendix I
I-1
Facebook Audience Insights
Sustainability-oriented groups comment, like, share, and click ads more than the
average
Facebook user.
I-2
“Zero Waste” Married Segment Page Likes
42
I-3
Target “At a Glance” Badges
Target includes a number of badges in it’s “At a glance” section. Consumers can now
quickly
determine if a product falls into the categories they are looking for. The
“Details” button also
allows consumers to learn more about what each badge means and why it is important.
43
Appendix J
J-1
J-2
44
Appendix K
K-1
Whole Foods Core Values
45
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