Re-assembling Materialism, Sustainability and Subjective Well-Being: Empirical Evidence from E-Waste Disposal in an Emerging Market

Abstract

Globally, electronic waste continues to grow as technology becomes central to consumers’ lives and relationships. This growth has led to a myriad of challenges such as electronic waste disposal that considerably affect the natural environment. The current article attempts to provide a fresh outlook on the link between materialism, e-waste disposal and consumer well-being often described as antagonistic concepts. Underpinned by the value-attitude-behaviour theory, the study investigates whether the role of materialism in influencing eco-friendly disposal and ultimately consumer wellbeing. The study also examines the mediating role of e-waste disposal in the relationship between materialism and well-being. Following a quantitative methodology and a cross-sectional research design, the study relied on a survey to collect data from 420 South African users of electronic and electrical equipment. Structural equation modelling analyses revealed that the adoption of eco-friendly disposal of electronic waste leads to consumer well-being even when consumers have materialistic tendencies. The present study adds empirical evidence to the co-existence and complementarity of materialism, sustainability and subjective well-being. The findings of this study inform eco-friendly policy development and proenvironmental initiatives that champion responsible e-waste management in households.