Consumers perspectives on biobased products: A scoping review

Abstract

Biobased products are derived from renewable biological resources and are intended to replace conventional fossil-based products, benefiting the environment, economy, and society. However, stimulating demand for biobased products can be challenging and requires understanding human behaviour, including individual and social decision-making processes. This review aims to understand consumer perspectives on biobased products, as well as the attributes affecting their viewpoints and decision-making processes, as documented in the existing literature. We performed a systematic search and screening following scoping review guidelines, utilizing NVivo software. This process resulted in the identification of 122 relevant articles from the past two decades. The findings suggest that consumer perspectives and behaviours towards biobased products have been extensively examined, particularly regarding biofuel, biofertilizers, bioplastics, and bioenergy, across various parts of the world. The results indicate differences in consumers' perspectives across and even within each biobased category; however, consumers' attitudes are generally positive. The findings highlight the complexity of consumer behaviour, which can be both conscious and unconscious, shaped by various internal and external influences. These influences include moral obligation, self-interest, and ethical principles, as well as the interplay of individual and contextual factors like product attributes and policy instruments. Consequently, a comprehensive understanding of this multifaceted behaviour requires interdisciplinary investigations from perspectives such as psychology, economics, and sociology. This holistic approach offers valuable insights for stakeholders and decision-makers including businesses, research institutions, and policymakers, enabling effective strategies in the biobased products sector. By exploring the various aspects of consumer behaviour and underlying factors, researchers can interpret findings and provide actionable recommendations for stakeholders.