Abstract
Purpose: To provide a synthesis and an extended discussion of the literature relating to consumers’ understanding of what constitutes sustainable food.
Design/methodology/approach: It presents a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) of the academic literature providing insights into the specific issue. A search of major research databases with multiple keywords was performed to identify 236 relevant peer-reviewed articles dated between 2010-2020. A qualitative thematic analysis was conducted using NVivo.
Findings: Five themes were identified: 1) Consumers’ majority associate sustainable food to be environmentally friendly 2) Consumers perceive specific diets to be sustainable 3) Consumers’ do not fully understand sustainable food labels 4) Consumers understand organic food to be sustainable food and 5) Consumers understand local food to be sustainable food.
Research implications: This study contributes to the current body of knowledge on consumer understandings of sustainable food. The analysis of the different issues addressed by the literature could build the foundation for future research.
Originality/value: This study presents a comprehensive review of the literature on consumers’ understanding of sustainable food. It can serve as a roadmap of literature for both academics and practitioners and help stimulate further interest.
Design/methodology/approach: It presents a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) of the academic literature providing insights into the specific issue. A search of major research databases with multiple keywords was performed to identify 236 relevant peer-reviewed articles dated between 2010-2020. A qualitative thematic analysis was conducted using NVivo.
Findings: Five themes were identified: 1) Consumers’ majority associate sustainable food to be environmentally friendly 2) Consumers perceive specific diets to be sustainable 3) Consumers’ do not fully understand sustainable food labels 4) Consumers understand organic food to be sustainable food and 5) Consumers understand local food to be sustainable food.
Research implications: This study contributes to the current body of knowledge on consumer understandings of sustainable food. The analysis of the different issues addressed by the literature could build the foundation for future research.
Originality/value: This study presents a comprehensive review of the literature on consumers’ understanding of sustainable food. It can serve as a roadmap of literature for both academics and practitioners and help stimulate further interest.
| Original language | English (Ireland) |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Irish Academy of Management |
| Subtitle of host publication | Waterford Institute of Technology |
| Publication status | Published - 2021 |