Environmental Concern and Ethical Consumption Behavior: A Perspective among Working Adults in Malaysia

Authors

  • Mom-Zee Tan Department of Marketing, Teh Hong Piow Faculty of Business and Finance, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kampar Campus, Perak Malaysia.
  • Luen-Peng Tan Department of Entrepreneurship and Supply Chain Management, Teh Hong Piow Faculty of Business and Finance, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kampar Campus, Perak Malaysia.
  • Kum-Lung Choe Department of Business and Public Adminstration, Teh Hong Piow Faculty of Business and Finance, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kampar Campus, Perak Malaysia.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37134/

Keywords:

Ethical consumption behavior, Environmental concern, Working adults

Abstract

Environmental concerns and consumption behavior have been widely studied, yet research on this relationship among Malaysian consumers remains scarce. Furthermore, the influence of environmental concerns on the social, environmental, and political dimensions of ethical consumption has not been individually examined. This study addresses that gap by modeling environmental concerns as a second-order construct to predict these three specific dimensions. Using the revised New Environmental Paradigm (NEP) scale, data was collected from working adults residing in urbanized cities via quota sampling. The Partial Least Squares – Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) approach was used for analysis, with findings confirming that environmental concerns significantly predict all dimensions of ethical consumption behavior. To enhance reliability, a PLSpredict analysis was also conducted. This methodological refinement provides a more robust framework, offering valuable insights for policymakers and businesses aiming to promote ethical consumerism by understanding the distinct motivations behind consumers’ choices.

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Published

2026-01-01

How to Cite

Mom-Zee Tan, Luen-Peng Tan, & Kum-Lung Choe. (2026). Environmental Concern and Ethical Consumption Behavior: A Perspective among Working Adults in Malaysia. Journal of Contemporary Issues and Thought, 16(1), 68-82. https://doi.org/10.37134/