The role of environmental concern in explaining attitude towards second-hand shopping

Abstract

Objective: The objective of the article is to examine the role which environmental concern plays in explaining the attitude towards second-hand shopping and the intention to visit a second-hand shop.

Research Design & Methods: Norm Activation Model including an additional variable – environmental concern, was applied as a main theoretical framework. The research was conducted in Spain and in Poland. Data were collected in 2019 on 403 respondents in Spain and 438 in Poland by CAWI method and processed with SEM.

Findings: The research revealed that the influence of environmental concern on the attitude towards second-hand shopping (AT) is higher in Spain than in Poland but the impact of ascription of responsibility for environmental issues on AT is on a low level in both countries. The influence of awareness of consequences (of SHS for the environment) on AT is on the similar level in both countries and it explains AT the greatest. Attitude towards second-hand shopping explains the intention to visit a second-hand shop to a higher degree in Poland compared to Spain.

Implications & Recommendations: Giving products a second life supports circular economy development but it requires a positive attitude of individuals which may be built to the greatest degree by strengthening the ascription of responsibility for the environment.

Contribution & Value Added: Filling the gap in the literature, this research aimed to develop a model explaining the impact of the environmental concern on individuals’ attitude toward second-hand shopping.

Keywords

environmental concern, second-hand shopping, Norm Activation Model, purchase attitude, responsibility

Author Biography

Barbara Borusiak

Associate professor at Poznań University of Economics and Business, Department of Commerce and Marketing (Poland). Her research interests include sustainability, sustainable consumption, circular economy and retail management.

Correspondence to: Prof. Barbara Borusiak, Ph.D., Uniwersytet Ekonomiczny w Poznaniu, Katedra Handlu i Marketingu, al. Niepodległości 10, 61-875 Poznań, Poland, e-mail: barbara.borusiak@ue.poznan.pl

Andrzej Szymkowiak

Associate professor at Poznań University of Economics and Business, Department of Commerce and Marketing (Poland). His research interests include consumer behaviour, e-business and e-commerce, social media.

Correspondence to: Prof. Andrzej Szymkowiak, Ph.D., Uniwersytet Ekonomiczny w Poznaniu, Katedra Handlu i Marketingu, al. Niepodległości 10, 61-875 Poznań, Poland, e-mail: andrzej.szymkowiak@ue.poznan.pl

David Bernardo Lopez-Lluch

Lecturer at Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche, Department of Agrienvironmental Economics (Spain). His research interests include wine and food economics and consumer behaviour.

Correspondence to: Dr. David B. López-Lluch, Centro de Investigación e Innovación Agroalimentaria y Agroambiental (CIAGRO-UMH), Carretera de Beniel SN, Km. 3,2, 03312 Orihuela, Alicante, Spain, email: david.lopez@umh.es david.lopez@umh.es

Paola Sanchez-Bravo

PhD Student at Universidad Miguel Hernández de Elche, Department of Agro-Food Technology (Spain). Her research interests include consumers studies, sustainability and food categories.

Correspondence to: paola.sanchezb@umh.es