The expression of ecological awareness in the consumption behavior of older adolescents

Klaipeda University, Educology, Lithuania

^* Corresponding author: straupaite.s@gmail.com

Abstract

Ecological friendliness and ecological consumption are closely linked to an ecological awareness. Ecological consumption is often seen as ethical, sustainable, and responsible consumption, which is linked to environmental preservation, consumer awareness and responsibility, and consumption reduction. A similar view is expressed by various authors, who link green consumption to consumer behavioral factors, i.e., the consumer’s willingness to purchase and consume green products, the ecological benefits of green consumption and ecological concerns. There is a tendency in the scientific literature that there is no consensus on the relationship between attitudes and behavior, and that ecologically aware consumers’ positive attitudes towards ecology may not always be attributable to their intention to purchase or their purchasing behavior. The analysis presented in this paper suggests that the attitudes of the ecologically aware are shaped by personal and functional factors, while the attitudes of ecologically aware older adolescents have an impact on purchase intention, which may have a direct influence on consumption behavior.