Why is green consumption easier said than done? Exploring the green consumption attitude-intention gap in China with behavioral reasoning theory

Many consumers have shown positive attitudes towards green consumption; however, these attitudes do not necessarily translate into intentions or behaviors. To analyze this attitude-intention and hence behavior gap, this paper employs behavioral reasoning theory which extends the traditional theory of planned behavior by including context-specific reasons, in addition to values and global motives as possible determinants of intentions and behaviors. This study collected first-hand data by conducting a face-to-face survey with 839 Chinese consumers from four cities in Jiangsu Province and eight cities in Anhui Province, and applies structural equation modeling for data analysis. The results indicate that reasons for green consumption affect intentions only indirectly through attitudes, while reasons against green consumption impact intentions in a direct way, bypassing attitudes. In other words, reasons against green consumption impede intentions, despite positive attitudes. At the same time, both types of reasons are influenced by environmental values. To bridge the attitude-intention gap, we propose measures that the governments and businesses can take to raise the environmental values of consumers, and reduce their “reasons against” and increase their “reasons for” green consumption. •Green consumption behavior rather stays in the commitment stage.•Attitude-intention gap is explained by behavioral reasoning theory in this study.•Reasons for green consumption affects intentions indirectly through attitudes.•Reasons against green consumption impacts intentions directly.•Environmental values affect both reasons and green consumption attitudes.