Ethical purchasing behaviour in retail: Food versus clothes

Aldous, R.; Soares, A.

Abstract

Ethical values and purchasing intentions held by consumers often do not match to their ethical purchasing behaviour, a concept referred to as the ethical purchasing gap. This research project investigates UK consumers ethical purchasing behaviour in the context of two sectors of the retail industry. Primary quantitative research has been undertaken through a self-administered web survey amongst a convenience sample, which both supports and adds to the findings of existing literature. The findings suggest UK consumers considered ethics more when purchasing food compared to when purchasing clothes in the retail industry, whilst highlighting differences in consideration towards country of origin and social and environmental ethical considerations. Differences in demographics with ethical purchasing were also highlighted, concluding age has an effect with the clothes sector yet gender has no effect at all. The research has added value to existing literature by evidencing the need for de-generalised and industry specific ethical purchasing theory as well as highlighting the need for informative labelling in the retail industry.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 26, 2017
• Deposit Date: Mar 14, 2019
• Journal: Journal of Research Studies in Business and Management
• Peer Reviewed: Not Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 3
• Keywords: ethical purchasing gap, retail industry, country of origin, UK consumers
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/883901
• Publisher URL: www.jrsbm.com/volume-3-2017
• Additional Information: Additional Information : This article is the result of a UG dissertation project (Plymouth University) published by Journal of Research Studies in Business and Management www.jrsbm.com/volume-3-2017
• Contract Date: Mar 14, 2019