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    Exploring Green Consumers' Mind-set towards green product design and life cycle assessment: the case of sceptical Brazilian and Portuguese green consumers

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    Publication type
    Journal article with impact factor
    Author
    Lemke, Fred
    Luzio, J.P.P.
    Publication Year
    2014
    Journal
    Journal of Industrial Ecology
    Publication Volume
    18
    Publication Issue
    5
    Publication Begin page
    619
    Publication End page
    630
    
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    Abstract
    Businesses are increasingly interested in exploring the key concepts of industrial ecology (IE), particularly within the context of market‐oriented sustainability. However, few studies have researched how green consumers perceive production as having relevant product design and life cycle assessment (LCA) dimensions. In this article, we explore green consumers’ mind‐set toward such system tools of IE by conducting 18 in‐depth interviews with Brazilian and Portuguese green consumers. We propose a simplified theoretical framework for achieving market‐oriented sustainability based on the multidisciplinary potential between IE and marketing. Our analysis suggests that there are still important gaps between what green consumers demand and what businesses are currently able (or willing) to supply. Our findings support the idea that businesses interested in following IE within the context of market‐oriented sustainability should spend greater effort in understanding the green consumer's production‐related mind‐set. In particular, we propose (1) avoiding consumer skepticism and dissatisfaction with greenwashing and (2) establishing credibility and information transparency. Both seem to act as preconditions to better align the product design and LCA processes with green consumer needs within the emerging paradigm of market‐oriented sustainability.
    Keyword
    Consumer Skepticism, Green Consumers, Green Production, Greenwashing, Industrial Ecology, Market-oriented Sustainability
    Knowledge Domain/Industry
    Marketing & Sales
    DOI
    10.1111/jiec.12123
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12127/5851
    ae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
    10.1111/jiec.12123
    Scopus Count
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