A sustainable step forward: Exploring factors influencing the purchase intentions towards remanufactured products using fsQCA

Abstract

The rapid advancement of industrialization has led to a growing concern about resource shortages and environmental pollution. Sustainable manufacturing practices, particularly in the context of remanufactured products, have been extensively researched from the B2B perspective. Comparatively fewer studies have examined consumer behavior in the context of remanufactured electrical appliances. This study merges components from the Theory of Planned Behavior and Protection Motivation Theory with additional variables into a framework for predicting purchase intentions. Noting the complex, asymmetric nature of causation, an asymmetrical configurational approach using fsQCA is used for analysis. Data were collected form 411 consumers in the U.K using quota sampling technique. The findings show that both components of attitude (experiential and instrumental) as well as a high threat appraisal (perceived severity and vulnerability) are present in all configurations predicting high purchase intention. Self-efficacy and response efficacy are also important conditions present in many configurations. The paper ends with some novel insights on consumer behavior with respect to remanufactured products, and a discussion of theoretical and managerial implications.