Rethinking Sustainability Consciousness: A Holistic Approach to Understanding Its Determinants in the Food Industry

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Salamzadeh Y., Okkiran Ş., YAPRAK B., Adekunle O. E., Demirel C.

Sustainable Development, cilt.34, sa.1, ss.1238-1254, 2026 (SSCI, Scopus) identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 34 Sayı: 1
  • Basım Tarihi: 2026
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1002/sd.70311
  • Dergi Adı: Sustainable Development
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, IBZ Online, ABI/INFORM, Environment Index, Geobase, Greenfile, Index Islamicus, Political Science Complete, Public Affairs Index
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.1238-1254
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: cross-cultural comparison, ecological worldview, environmental values, food industry, food sector, multi-group analysis, new ecological paradigm (NEP), pro-sustainability behavior, sustainability consciousness, Value–Belief–Norm (VBN) theory
  • Açık Arşiv Koleksiyonu: AVESİS Açık Erişim Koleksiyonu
  • İstanbul Ticaret Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Consumers increasingly seek sustainable food options, yet behavior lags stated concern. However, a gap existed on how value–belief–norm and ecological worldviews shaped sustainability consciousness, especially across cultures. Addressing this gap, we integrated Value–Belief–Norm theory with New Ecological Paradigm dimensions to analyze student surveys from the United Kingdom and Türkiye using PLS-SEM and permutation-based multi-group analysis. Headline effects (standardized β): altruistic → consciousness (UK 0.275; Türkiye 0.247), anti-exceptionalism (UK 0.244; Türkiye 0.202); biospheric significant only in the UK (0.291); anti-anthropocentrism significant only in Türkiye (0.253). Egoistic and hedonic values are non-significant. Explained variance in sustainability consciousness: R2UK = 0.537; R2TR = 0.410. MGA indicates no significant cross-group differences in path strengths. Findings highlight culturally contingent pathways and inform education and communication tailored to locally salient values and beliefs in the food industry. The paper advances a holistic framework for understanding sustainability behavior across cultures, enriching sustainability theory and global discourse.