Zdenka Musova

Matej Bel University in Banska Bystrica, Faculty of Economics,

Banska Bystrica, Slovakia

E-mail: zdenka.musova@umb.sk

ORCID 0000-0002-1067-8291

Environmentally responsible behaviour of consumers: Evidence from Slovakia

Hussam Musa

Matej Bel University in Banska Bystrica, Faculty of Economics,

Banska Bystrica, Slovakia

E-mail: hussam.musa@umb.sk 

ORCID 0000-0002-4492-8770

Veronika Matiova

Matej Bel University in Banska Bystrica, Faculty of Economics,

Banska Bystrica, Slovakia

E-mail: veronika.matiova@umb.sk

Abstract. Consumers give special importance to higher environmental responsibility which is expected to improve the environment quality. The aim of this paper is to present the selected results of the examination focused on Slovak consumers´ environmentally responsible behaviour. The frequency of implementing responsible activities within the circular economy principles was investigated. The environmentally responsible consumer behaviour in the context of the selected demographic characteristics of consumers and approaches to environmental issues were also studied. The paper contains the results aimed at consumers´ perception and knowledge of eco-labels and the impact on purchasing behaviour too. Secondary data analysis is supplemented by the results of the primary research as of November and December 2018, which was conducted via an online questionnaire on the sample of 434 respondents from Slovakia.  The obtained data were evaluated by selected statistical methods (Chi-square test, Spearman´s correlation coefficient, ordinal regression, factor analysis). Consumers pay an adequate amount of attention to implementation of responsible activities, and this suggests positive changes in consumers´ perception and approaches to environmental issues. Testing confirmed that statistically significant variables influencing environmentally responsible behaviour of consumers are age, gender, income, number of household members, environmental attitudes and knowledge of eco-labels.

Received: January, 2020

1st Revision: July, 2020

Accepted: January, 2021

DOI: 10.14254/2071-789X.2021/14-1/12

JEL Classification: M14, M30, M31

Keywords: environmental responsibility, consumer, circular economy principles, environmental purchasing, eco-labels, Slovakia