Understanding Green Food Consumption Behaviour A Literature Review

Abstract

Food consumption is one of the most significant contributors to global environmental problems, being responsible for a large share of greenhouse gas emissions, water scarcity, and soil pollution, among other issues. The demand for unsustainable food contributes to the food sector's environmental burden: hence, there has been a surge in research into green food consumption in the last ten years. Nevertheless, our understanding of green food purchasing behaviour is rather rudimentary and a comprehensive view is needed. The current study therefore aims to understand green food purchasing behaviour by means of a literature review approach. The study explored and analysed relevant theories and determinants explaining green food purchasing behaviour. It also scanned the literature for research suggestions which authors indicated might improve future studies. The current review applied key term searches on the "Web of Science" database to find relevant literature. The search results found 69 articles published between 2015 and 2021 in peer-reviewed English-language journals. The findings include important descriptive bibliographical analysis and patterns and trends in green food consumption. Categories of determinants explaining green food purchasing behaviour have also been identified. The review summarises the suggestions given by scholars in the literature to help future researchers seeking improvement.