Zdenka Musova,

Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica, Faculty of Economics,

Banská Bystrica, Slovakia,

E-mail: zdenka.musova@umb.sk

Environmentally responsible purchasing in Slovakia

Hussam Musa,

Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica, Faculty of Economics,

Banská Bystrica, Slovakia,

E-mail: hussam.musa@umb.sk

Lenka Ludhova,

Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica, Faculty of Economics,

Banská Bystrica, Slovakia,

E-mail: lenka.ludhova@gmail.com

Abstract. The current state of the environment encourages consumers to more responsible behaviour in the market.  Consumers realize that through their purchase behaviour they can also contribute to the reduction of negative developments and betterment of the situation. In that context, our aim was to examine the selected aspects of environmental purchase behaviour of consumers in Slovakia. Our attention was focused on the environmental factors when purchasing products in general. The partial aim was to find out how consumers behave when purchasing environmental products with an emphasis on bio products and organic food. Secondary data analysis is supplemented by the selected results of the primary research from February 2017, which was conducted on the sample of 274 respondents from Slovakia. The obtained data were evaluated by selected statistical methods (Chi-square test, Friedman test, Wilcoxon test, descriptive statistics). The results of the research showed that environmental factors when purchasing products do not dominate among Slovak consumers. The frequency of purchasing  selected environmentally friendly products (including bio products and organic food) does not seem important. Our research identified several drawbacks in environmental behaviour of consumers and mentioned the need for more environmental education among consumers and more intensive communication of environmentally responsible businesses in relation to their potential environmental-oriented customers.

Received: May, 2018

1st Revision: June, 2018

Accepted: November, 2018

DOI: 10.14254/2071-789X.2018/11-4/19

JEL Classification: M14, M30, M31

Keywords: consumer behaviour, purchase, environmentally responsible consumer, environmentally friendly product, bio product, organic food, Slovakia