Key Determinants of Pro-Environmental Consumer Attitudes in the Context of Circular Economy Practices
Volume 04 Issue 1
Authors
Silvia Lorincova, Maria Osvaldova, Bronislav Drimal, Renata Stasiak-Betlejewska
Keywords
circular economy, reuse of materials, pro-environmental attitudes, demographic factors, ANOVA
Citation in APA style
Lorincova, S., Osvaldova, M., Drimal, B. & Stasiak-Betlejewska, R. (2026). Key Determinants of Pro-Environmental Consumer Attitudes in the Context of Circular Economy Practices. Journal of Business Sectors, 4(1), 29–42. https://doi.org/10.62222/10.62222/ZNQK8443
DOI
Abstract
Research background:
The investigation of consumer attitudes in terms of demographic characteristics represents an important and still relevant area of research. It allows the identification of key determinants of individual consumer behavior. The relevance of this research topic is strengthened by current environmental challenges, especially climate change, which emphasize the need for sustainable use of resources. As a result, there is an increasing need to study the determinants of environmentally responsible attitudes to support the optimization of resource use.
Purpose of the article:
The aim of the research is to examine pro-environmental consumer attitudes in material reuse. The focus is on demographic characteristics such as gender, age, income, and place of residence. The research aims to reveal structural differences in consumer preferences and value orientations, providing a deeper understanding of the determinants of environmental attitudes.
Methods:
The research was conducted in Slovakia in 2024 using an online questionnaire, with nearly 600 respondents. The main aim was to determine whether key determinants (gender, age, income, and place of residence) influence pro-environmental attitudes toward material reuse. To test hypotheses on group differences, a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied. Statistical processing was performed using STATISTICA 12.
Findings & Value added:
Research confirmed a statistically significant gender difference in attitudes toward material reuse, with women showing stronger pro-environmental tendencies. No statistically significant differences were found across age groups, income categories, or place of residence, suggesting these demographics are not decisive predictors of pro-environmental attitudes. Results align with prior work on women’s stronger environmental engagement and contribute to the academic debate by supporting multidimensional research combining social and psychological determinants. For circular economy policy, this pattern implies demographic segmentation may be ineffective in many policy contexts, measures should promote sustainable consumption across the whole population. Findings highlight behavioral and psychological drivers, supporting educational programs, awareness campaigns, and policy instruments that strengthen environmental norms and individual responsibility for sustainable behavior. Although the gender effect was small, it can refine communication, especially to increase engagement among men. Overall, the study favors behavior-based interventions to advance material reuse and circular economy practices.