Really That Sustainable? Exploring Costa Ricans’ Green Product Involvement

Abstract

Before governments formulate sustainable consumption policies, people's environmental attitudes must be ascertained. This study explores Costa Ricans’ interest in green products, those with a reduced ecological impact. A large sample is used, N = 1,036, representative of the country's adult population. Analyses indicate that consumers that are female, Generation Z, university-educated, and mid-high socio-economically have significantly higher Green Product Involvement/GPI levels. Surprisingly, Millennial and high-class GPI levels were but average. Overall GPI was also low, just 44%. Despite Costa Rica's stellar sustainability reputation, green products are hardly relevant to its people. This hinders the country from being truly sustainable. Counter to some views, bi/multivariate results indicate that demographic variables still play a key role in establishing (un)sustainable consumer profiles. Demographic indicators are simple, convenient, and effective segmentation criteria. They should not be discounted, especially by resource-strapped developing countries. Some preliminary suggestions indicate how Costa Rican consumption might be made more sustainable.