Does information about environmental considerations affect Chinese and UK consumers’ purchase intentions for traced food? A path analysis

Shan Jin*, Yasuhiro Matsuoka , Meng Yue, Glyn D. Jones, Lynn J. Frewer*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

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Abstract

Consumers are increasingly focused on making sustainable food choices, necessitating transparent and trusted systems for providing sustainability information. This can be implemented, for instance, through application of traceability systems that “carry” sustainability information about production and distribution. Currently, the literature on traceability mainly addresses consumer perceptions regarding the benefits of traceability concerning food safety and recalls. This research assessed consumers’ perceptions of the benefits of tracing food sustainability information in relation to purchase decisions. Data were collected using online surveys in China (n = 1,515) and the UK (n = 1,656). Path analysis indicated that higher perceived benefits of tracing sustainability information had small positive impacts on purchase intentions in both countries, with these being more pronounced for traced beef compared to milk and apples. The impacts of perceived environmental benefits on purchase intentions were partially mediated by perceptions of improved food safety and quality. This indirect influence was more prominent among UK respondents, implying potentially stronger safety and quality “halo” effects associated with environmental sustainability information compared to Chinese respondents. Stronger pro-environmental attitudes and greater perceived environmental threats linked to food production correlated with higher perceived environmental benefits of tracing food sustainability information and purchase intentions for traced foods in both countries. Positive correlations between pro-environmental attitudes and perceived environmental threats were only observed for UK respondents, suggesting that environmental issues related to food production might be more integrated into the general environmental attitudes of UK respondents. Implications for marketing strategies and policymaking are proposed considering diverse consumer responses to traced foods between the UK and China, food categories, and socio-demographic groups.
Original languageEnglish
Number of pages32
JournalEnvironment, Development and Sustainability
Early online date7 Jun 2024
Publication statusEarly online - 7 Jun 2024

Keywords

  • Sustainability
  • Traceability
  • Environmental attitudes
  • Environmental benefits
  • Purchase intention
  • Halo effect
  • UKRI
  • BBSRC
  • BB/S020985/1

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