@article{BalderjahnPeyerSeegebarthetal.2018, author = {Balderjahn, Ingo and Peyer, Mathias and Seegebarth, Barbara and Wiedmann, Klaus-Peter and Weber, Anja}, title = {The many faces of sustainability-conscious consumers}, series = {Journal of Business Research}, volume = {91}, journal = {Journal of Business Research}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {New York}, issn = {0148-2963}, doi = {10.1016/j.jbusres.2018.05.022}, pages = {83 -- 93}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Responding to the global call for a "sustainable economy" requires meaningful insights into sustainability-conscious consumers and their actual buying behaviors. Sustainable consumption is not an all-or-nothing phenomenon because it encompasses several distinct behavioral patterns and consumption types. Therefore, companies are well advised to recognize multiple types of sustainability-conscious consumers with different expectations, attitudes, and values and to implement targeting strategies that do not rest on the assumption of homogeneity. Thus, the objective of this study is to provide a more fine-grained picture of (un)sustainable consumer segments and their differentiated effects in different product markets. Based on three large datasets, we create a robust six-segment typology of consumer consciousness regarding sustainable consumption. By using panel data on actual purchases, the results show not only that sustainability concerns significantly positively influence actual sustainable purchases, as expected, but also that sustainable buying can occur independently of sustainability concerns.}, language = {en} } @article{BalderjahnLeeSeegebarthetal.2019, author = {Balderjahn, Ingo and Lee, Michael S. W. and Seegebarth, Barbara and Peyer, Mathias}, title = {A sustainable pathway to consumer wellbeing}, series = {The Journal of consumer affairs}, volume = {54}, journal = {The Journal of consumer affairs}, number = {2}, publisher = {Wiley}, address = {Malden, Mass.}, issn = {0022-0078}, doi = {10.1111/joca.12278}, pages = {456 -- 488}, year = {2019}, abstract = {This study investigates the effect of different anticonsumption constructs on consumer wellbeing. The study assumes that people will only lower their level of consumption if doing so does not also lower personal wellbeing. More precisely, this research investigates how specific subtypes of sustainable anticonsumption (e.g., voluntary simplicity, collaborative consumption, and debt-free living) relate to different states of consumer's wellbeing (e.g., financial, psychosocial, and subjective wellbeing). This work also examines whether consumer empowerment can improve personal wellbeing and strengthen the anticonsumption wellbeing relationship. The results show that voluntarily foregoing consumption does not reduce wellbeing and consumer empowerment plays a significant role in supporting sustainable pathways to consumer wellbeing. This study reasons that empowerment improves consumer sovereignty, but may be detrimental for consumers heavily concerned about debt-free living. The present investigation concludes by proposing implications for public and consumer policymakers wishing to promote appropriate sustainable (anticonsumption) pathways to consumer wellbeing.}, language = {en} } @article{HoffmannBalderjahnSeegebarthetal.2018, author = {Hoffmann, Stefan and Balderjahn, Ingo and Seegebarth, Barbara and Mai, Robert and Peyer, Mathias}, title = {Under which conditions are consumers ready to boycott or buycott?}, series = {Ecological economics}, volume = {147}, journal = {Ecological economics}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0921-8009}, doi = {10.1016/j.ecolecon.2018.01.004}, pages = {167 -- 178}, year = {2018}, abstract = {There are two fundamental ways in which consumers can express their concerns and obligations for society through their consumption decisions: They can boycott companies that they deem to be irresponsible or they may deliberately buy from companies that they perceive to act responsibly ('buycott'). It has been largely ignored that individuals are driven by different motivational mechanisms to join boycotts and buycotts (punishment vs. reward of corporate behaviors), and thus, these mechanisms have disparate implications for the participating individual (e.g., high vs. low subjective costs because of a restriction in consumption habits). This paper fills this void and develops a framework suggesting that the extent to which consumers translate their concerns and obligations for society into a willingness to boycott and/or buycott is bounded by self-interest. Using a unique, representative sample of 1833 German consumers, this study reveals that the effects of environmental concerns and universalism on buycotting are amplified by hedonism, while the effects of social concern on buycotting and boycotting are attenuated by hedonism and simplicity, respectively. These results have far-reaching implications for organizations and policy planners who aim to change corporate behavior.}, language = {en} } @article{BalderjahnBuerkeKirchgeorgetal.2013, author = {Balderjahn, Ingo and Buerke, Anja and Kirchgeorg, Manfred and Peyer, Mathias and Seegebarth, Barbara and Wiedmann, Klaus-Peter}, title = {Consciousness for sustainable consumption : scale development and new insights in the economic dimension of consumers' sustainability}, series = {AMS review : official publication of the Academy of Marketing Scienc}, volume = {3}, journal = {AMS review : official publication of the Academy of Marketing Scienc}, number = {4}, publisher = {Springer}, address = {New York}, issn = {1869-814X}, doi = {10.1007/s13162-013-0057-6}, pages = {181 -- 192}, year = {2013}, abstract = {The "triple bottom line" concept (planet, people, and profit) represents an important guideline for the sustainable, hence future-oriented, development of societies and for the behaviors of all societal members. For institutions promoting societal change, as well as for companies being confronted with growing expectations regarding compelling contributions to sustainable changes, it is of great importance to know if, and to what extent, consumers have already internalized the idea of sustainability. Against the background of existing research gaps regarding a comprehensive measurement of the consciousness for sustainable consumption (CSC), the authors present the result of a scale development. Consciousness was operationalized by weighting personal beliefs with the importance attached by consumers to sustainability dimensions. Four separate tests of the CSC scale indicated an appropriate psychometric quality of the scale and provided support for this new measurement approach that incorporates the environmental, social and economic dimensions of sustainability.}, language = {en} } @article{SeegebarthPeyerBalderjahnetal.2016, author = {Seegebarth, Barbara and Peyer, Mathias and Balderjahn, Ingo and Wiedmann, Klaus-Peter}, title = {The Sustainability Roots of Anticonsumption Lifestyles and Initial}, series = {The Journal of consumer affairs}, volume = {50}, journal = {The Journal of consumer affairs}, publisher = {Wiley}, address = {Hoboken}, issn = {0022-0078}, doi = {10.1111/joca.12077}, pages = {68 -- 99}, year = {2016}, abstract = {This article introduces the concept of sustainability-rooted anticonsumption (SRAC), which refers to consumers' anticonsumption practices of voluntary simplicity in living and, on a smaller level, collaborative consumption and boycotting with the goal of supporting sustainable economic development. The SRAC measurement approach is validated based on three empirical studies. Results of a representative German sample (Study 2) reveal that SRAC is predominantly negatively linked to consumer overconsumption dispositions. Exemplary, voluntary simplification and boycott intention may result in declining levels of indebtedness. Study 3 shows that psychosocial well-being is positively related to SRAC and overconsumption. However, a simplified lifestyle and a greater willingness to boycott are not necessarily associated with psychosocial well-being. This article provides insights for practitioners and policymakers to leverage existing SRAC values via "new" business models (sharing offers) or to influence the existing level of consciousness to effectively pave the way for solid progress in the sustainability movement.}, language = {en} } @article{BalderjahnSeegebarthPeyeretal.2016, author = {Balderjahn, Ingo and Seegebarth, Barbara and Peyer, Mathias and Wiedmann, Klaus-Peter}, title = {The sustainability roots of anti-consumption lifestyles and initial insights regarding their effects on consumers' well-being}, series = {The Journal of consumer affairs : JCA}, volume = {50}, journal = {The Journal of consumer affairs : JCA}, number = {1}, publisher = {ACCI}, address = {Ames, Iowa}, issn = {1745-6606}, doi = {10.1111/joca.12077}, pages = {68 -- 99}, year = {2016}, abstract = {This article introduces the concept of sustainability-rooted anticonsumption (SRAC), which refers to consumers' anticonsumption practices of voluntary simplicity in living and, on a smaller level, collaborative consumption and boycotting with the goal of supporting sustainable economic development. The SRAC measurement approach is validated based on three empirical studies. Results of a representative German sample (Study 2) reveal that SRAC is predominantly negatively linked to consumer overconsumption dispositions. Exemplary, voluntary simplification and boycott intention may result in declining levels of indebtedness. Study 3 shows that psychosocial well-being is positively related to SRAC and overconsumption. However, a simplified lifestyle and a greater willingness to boycott are not necessarily associated with psychosocial well-being. This article provides insights for practitioners and policymakers to leverage existing SRAC values via "new" business models (sharing offers) or to influence the existing level of consciousness to effectively pave the way for solid progress in the sustainability movement.}, language = {en} } @article{BalderjahnSeegebarthLee2021, author = {Balderjahn, Ingo and Seegebarth, Barbara and Lee, Michael S. W.}, title = {Less is more!}, series = {Journal of cleaner production}, volume = {284}, journal = {Journal of cleaner production}, publisher = {Elsevier Science}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0959-6526}, doi = {10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.124802}, pages = {12}, year = {2021}, abstract = {Enhancing consumer satisfaction and well-being is an important objective of companies, retailers and public policy makers. In the current debate on climate change, a consistent theme is that consumers in developed countries must learn to consume less. The present study (based on representative data sets from the US, N = 1,017, and Germany, N = 1030) addresses these issues by using a scenario-based experiment to analyze how satisfied voluntary simplifiers (people who voluntarily abstain from consumption) are with their purchase decisions in the case of a muesli brand. The research question is whether people who follow a sustainable, simple lifestyle are more satisfied with their daily consumption choices than people who have a more consumerist lifestyle. If so, it would be easier for many people to change their lifestyles and consume less. In addition, this scenario experiment manipulates consumer empowerment and decision complexity since both factors are supposed to influence purchase satisfaction. The results are consistent across both countries and indicate that voluntary simplifiers experience a higher level of purchasing satisfaction than non-simplifiers, whereby empowerment and decision complexity play different roles.}, language = {en} }