Consumer boycott of greenwashing practices

Autores

  • Taís Pasquotto Andreoli Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Departamento de Administração, Escola Paulista de Política Economia e Negócios. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9173-9294
  • Patrícia Cardoso Silva Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Escola Paulista de Poíıtica, Economia e Negócios
  • Evandro Luiz Lopes Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Departamento de Administração, Escola Paulista de Pol´´itica Economia e Negócios

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1108/REGE-08-2024-0134

Palavras-chave:

Misleading marketing communication,, Greenwashing , Skepticism, Boycott, Consumer behavior

Resumo

Purpose

This study aimed to understand the motivations behind consumers’ decisions to boycott greenwashing practices.

Design/methodology/approach

We conducted a quantitative survey with a sample of 1,251 consumers, using a questionnaire composed of four main constructs: perception of greenwashing practices, skepticism toward environmental claims made by organizations, motivation to engage in boycott behavior, and knowledge of related terms and topics. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling based on the covariation matrix.

Findings

Skepticism was significantly associated with consumers’ judgments of greenwashing practices, which, along with knowledge, proved to be influential in motivating boycott behavior.

Originality/value

The study offers a novel understanding of consumer motivation to boycott greenwashing practices, grounded in the variables of skepticism, knowledge, and judgment, and highlights its potential as a form of consumer-led regulation.

Downloads

Os dados de download ainda não estão disponíveis.

Referências

Adil, M., Parthiban, E. S., Mahmoud, H. A., Wu, J. Z., Sadiq, M., & Suhail, F. (2024). Consumers’ Reaction to Greenwashing in the Saudi Arabian Skincare Market: A Moderated Mediation Approach. Sustainability, 16(4), 1652.

Afthanorhan, A., Ghazali, P. L., & Rashid, N. (2021, May). Discriminant validity: A comparison of CBSEM and consistent PLS using Fornell & Larcker and HTMT approaches. In Journal of Physics: Conference Series (Vol. 1874, No. 1, p. 012085). IOP Publishing.

Andreoli, T. P., & Batista, L. L. (2020). Possíveis ações regulatórias do greenwashing e suas diferentes influências na avaliação de marca e no julgamento dos consumidores. Revista Brasileira de Marketing, 20(1), 29-52.

Andreoli, T. P., Costa, E. D. S., & Prearo, L. C. (2022). Julgamento dos consumidores acerca da prática do greenwashing: desenvolvimento e validação de escala. BBR. Brazilian Business Review, 19, 508-524.

Andreoli, T. P., Minciotti, S. A., & Batista, L. L. (2024). Attention and Skepticism: Influence on Ad Evaluation with Greenwashing. Brazilian Business Review.

Antonetti, P., & Maklan, S. (2016). Social identification and corporate irresponsibility: A model of consumer reactions. Journal of Business Ethics, 136(1), 215-236. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-014-2511-0

Aji, H. M., & Sutikno, B. (2015). The extended consequence of greenwashing: Perceived consumer skepticism. International Journal of Business and Information, 10(4), 433.

Bernini, F., Giuliani, M., & La Rosa, F. (2024). Measuring greenwashing: A systematic methodological literature review. Business Ethics, the Environment & Responsibility, 33(4), 649-667.

Bido, D., & Silva, D. (2019). SmartPLS 3: especificação, estimação, avaliação e relato. Administração: Ensino e Pesquisa, 20(2), 488-536.

Bray, J., Johns, N., & Kilburn, D. (2011). An exploratory study into the factors impeding ethical consumption. Journal of Business Ethics, 98(4), 597-608. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-010-0640-9

Costa, E. S., & de Oliveira Costa, E. L. (2024). Greenwashing: escala de identificação do fenômeno. Revista Livre de Sustentabilidade e Empreendedorismo, 9(5), 111-127.

Cruz, B. D. P. A., & Botelho, D. (2016). Influenciadores da Percepção de Eficácia do Boicote e Intenção de Boicotar. Revista Pensamento Contemporâneo em Administração, 10(4), 99-113.

De Jong, M. D. T., Harkink, K. M., & Barth, S. (2020). Making greenstuff? Effects of corporate greenwashing on consumers. Journal of Business and Technical Communication, 34(1), 38-76. https://doi.org/10.1177/1050651919874105

Delmas, M. A., & Burbano, V. C. (2011). The drivers of greenwashing. California Management Review, 54(1), 64-87. https://doi.org/10.1525/cmr.2011.54.1.64

Ewing, M. T., Allen, C. T., & Ewing, R. L. (2012). Authenticity as a driver of brand preference. Journal of Brand Management, 19(6), 485-496. https://doi.org/10.1057/bm.2012.9

Farooq, Y., & Wicaksono, H. (2021). Advancing on the analysis of causes and consequences of green skepticism. Journal of Cleaner Production, 320.

Greenberg, J. (1987). A taxonomy of organizational justice theories. Academy of Management Review, 12(1), 9-22. https://doi.org/10.5465/amr.1987.4306437

Klein, J. G., Smith, N. C., & John, A. (2004). Why we boycott: Consumer motivations for boycott participation. Journal of Marketing, 68(3), 92-109.

Leonidou, C. N., & Skarmeas, D. (2017). Gray shades of green: Causes and consequences of green skepticism. Journal of Business Ethics, 144(2), 401-415. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10551-015-2829-4

Liu, Y., Li, W., Wang, L., & Meng, Q. (2023). Why greenwashing occurs and what happens afterwards? A systematic literature review and future research agenda. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 30(56).

Menegali, G. S., & Spers, E. E. (2020). Greenwashing: Uma análise das propagandas sobre a ótica do discurso da percepção dos consumidores. Brazilian Journal of Business, 2(3).

Montgomery, A. W., Lyon, T. P., & Barg, J. (2023). No end in sight? A greenwash review and research agenda. Organization & Environment.

Nguyen, T. T. H. N., Yang Zhi, Y. Z., Ninh Nguyen, N. N., Johnson, L. W., & Tuan Khanh Cao, T. K. C. (2019). Greenwash and green purchase intention: the mediating role of green skepticism.

Jong, M. D., Huluba, G., & Beldad, A. D. (2020). Different shades of greenwashing: Consumers’ reactions to environmental lies, half-lies, and organizations taking credit for following legal obligations. Journal of business and technical communication, 34(1), 38-76.

Podsakoff, P. M., MacKenzie, S. B., Lee, J. Y., & Podsakoff, N. P. (2003). Common method biases in behavioral research: a critical review of the literature and recommended remedies. Journal of applied psychology, 88(5), 879.

Qayyum, A., Jamil, R. A., & Sehar, A. (2023). Impact of green marketing, greenwashing and green confusion on green brand equity. Spanish Journal of Marketing-ESIC, 27(3), 286-305.

Rahman, I., Park, J., & Chi, C. G. Q. (2015). Consequences of “greenwashing”: Consumers’ reactions to hotels’ green initiatives. International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, 27(6), 1054-1081.

Rousseau, D. M. (1995). Psychological contracts in organizations: Understanding written and unwritten agreements. SAGE Publications.

Schmuck, D., Matthes, J., & Naderer, B. (2018). Misleading consumers with green advertising? An affect–reason–involvement account of greenwashing effects in environmental advertising. Journal of Advertising, 47(2), 127-145.

Spence, M. (1973). Job market signaling. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 87(3), 355-374. https://doi.org/10.2307/1882010

Vanhamme, J., & Grobben, B. (2009). “Too good to be true!”. The effectiveness of CSR history in countering negative publicity. Journal of Business Ethics, 85, 273-283.

Wang, C. C., Chang, S. C., & Chen, P. Y. (2021). The brand sustainability obstacle: Viewpoint incompatibility and consumer boycott. Sustainability, 13(9), 5174.

Wang, W., Ma, D., Wu, F., Sun, M., Xu, S., Hua, Q., & Sun, Z. (2023). Exploring the Knowledge Structure and Hotspot Evolution of Greenwashing: A Visual Analysis Based on Bibliometrics. Sustainability, 15(3), 2290.

Yuksel, U. (2013). Non-participation in anti-consumption: Consumer reluctance to boycott. Journal of Macromarketing, 33(3), 204-216.

Yuksel, U., & Mryteza, V. (2009). An evaluation of strategic responses to consumer boycotts. Journal of Business Research, 62(2), 248-259.

Zaid, A. A., Bawaqni, S. A., Shahwan, R., & Alnasr, F. (2024). Effects of greenwashing on green purchase intention: the mediating role of green skepticism, green brand love and green brand loyalty. Journal of Foodservice Business Research, 1-28.

Publicado

2025-12-19

Edição

Seção

Artigo

Como Citar

Consumer boycott of greenwashing practices. (2025). REGE Revista De Gestão, 32(3). https://doi.org/10.1108/REGE-08-2024-0134