The Influence of Organic Food Purchase Intention on Household Food Waste: Insights from Brazil

Lucas Rodrigues Deliberador (), Alexandre Borges Santos, Geandra Alves Queiroz, Aldara da Silva César () and Mário Otávio Batalha
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Lucas Rodrigues Deliberador: Department of Industrial Engineering, Federal University of Grande Dourados (UFGD), Dourados 79825-070, Brazil
Alexandre Borges Santos: Department of Industrial Engineering, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos 13565-905, Brazil
Geandra Alves Queiroz: Institute of Science, Technology and Innovation, Federal University of Lavras (UFLA), São Sebastião do Paraíso 37950-000, Brazil
Aldara da Silva César: Department of Agribusiness Engineering, Fluminense Federal University (UFF), Volta Redonda 27213-145, Brazil
Mário Otávio Batalha: Department of Industrial Engineering, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCar), São Carlos 13565-905, Brazil

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 9, 1-14

Abstract: An emerging trend among consumers is the pursuit of healthier eating habits while minimizing environmental damage, thus increasing the intention for consumption of organic foods. In this context, this study hypothesizes that household food waste is influenced by organic food purchase intention, which, in turn, is influenced by environmental concern, health consciousness, hedonic shopping, and negatively affected by price. Hence, the objective of this study is to propose and empirically test a theoretical framework with Brazilian consumers. Data from 240 respondents were electronically collected and analyzed through structural equation modeling. The results suggest that environmental concern, price consciousness, and health consciousness significantly influence organic food purchase intention, while hedonic shopping value does not. Furthermore, although organic food purchase intention reduced household food waste, the effect size of this relationship was found to be extremely low, suggesting it to be a poor predictor. This paper contributes to the existing literature on consumer behavior and waste management further by not only examining the relationship between two research streams but also by shedding light on unique aspects of an emerging country.

Keywords: food surplus; green consumers; partial least squares; structural equation modeling; quantitative analysis; sustainable behavior (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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