Palm oil: Understanding barriers to sustainable consumption

Palm oil is relatively inexpensive, versatile, and popular, generating great economic value for Southeast Asian countries. However, the growing demand for palm oil is leading to deforestation and biodiversity loss. The current study is the first to employ a capability-opportunity-motivation (COM-B) framework in green consumerism, to determine which capability, opportunity, and motivation factors strongly predict the intentional purchasing of sustainable palm oil products by Australian consumers (N = 781). Exploratory factor analysis revealed four main types of predictors of SPO purchasing–Pro-Green Consumption Attitudes, Demotivating Beliefs, Knowledge and Awareness, and Perceived Product Availability. Multiple regression revealed that these four factors explained 50% of the variability in SPO purchasing behaviour, out of which Knowledge and Awareness accounted for 18% of the unique variance. Perceived Product Availability and Pro-Green Consumption Attitudes were also significant predictors but accounted for only 2% and 1% of unique variance, respectively. These results provide a valuable foundation for designing behaviour change interventions to increase consumer demand for sustainable palm oil products

Purchasing sustainable palm oil products: narrowing the intention-behavior gap

Experts on palm oil production and utilization emphasize the role of consumer purchasing power in dealing with the environmental and social impacts of the palm oil crisis -that by increasing the demand for sustainable palm oil (SPO), greater supply will follow. However, research has identified a persistent intention-behavior gap. Even knowledgeable consumers do not always follow through on their intentions to purchase SPO. Utilizing the Capability-Opportunity Motivation model of Behavior (COM-B), this article reviews important variables contributing to this intention-behavior gap. While knowledge about palm oil and SPO (capability), perceived product availability (opportunity), and pro-green consumption attitudes (motivation) are important predictors of SPO purchasing intentions, increasing these factors has been insufficient in narrowing the intention-behavior gap. Campaigns can increase knowledge about palm oil and SPO, as well as build motivation around making the ‘sustainable’ choice, but are inadequate in addressing barriers around opportunity (e.g., ease of access to SPO products). In expressing their intent to purchase SPO products, consumers may underestimate the difficulties in being able to identify these consumables (e.g., palm oil often is not clearly labeled, sustainability status may not be obvious), and locate them. In this review, we argue that while consumer behavior is important, it is insufficient to power industry-wide change toward the utilization of SPO. Greater corporate responsibility is needed to increase use of SPO in products, and make consumables containing SPO more available, identifiable, and affordable for consumers. We also suggest that national procurement policies for SPO are likely to produce longer-lasting change

"Na Neitou Qele Ga Qo" ("This Is Our Only Land"): Adaptation to the Effects of Climate Change in Rural Indigenous Fijians

It has long been recognized that the Pacific Small Island Developing States are highly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, emphasizing the urgency with which adaptation planning and efforts need to be realized. History supports the resiliency of Pacific peoples, though a number of challenges to adaptive capacity have been noted in the previous literature, which has largely focused on low-lying atoll nations. To provide a different perspective, we interviewed 71 Indigenous and other traditional Fijians living in rural villages across a range of geographical locations to collect information on observed environmental changes, and adaptation efforts and challenges. Following an inductive thematic analysis, results identified changing patterns of consumption and production related to unpredictable and extreme weather patterns, with impacts on both overall food security and the financial viability of these communities. A number of physical adaptations to the villages themselves had been effected, which were costly and met with equivocal success. Consideration of migration to different geographical locations was minimal and undesirable. We provide recommendations for the culturally responsive, co-production of knowledge, resilience building, and adaptation planning with Indigenous and other traditional communities that meaningfully integrates scientific knowledge and respect for the wishes of these communitie

Transition to Fatherhood: Exploring Experiences of First-Time Fathers

The trend towards nucleation in the Indian society has resulted in an increasing emphasis on the new father and his involvement, and hence, utilising a phenomenological approach, the subjective experiences of seven Indian men, who had recently journeyed into fatherhood, were explored. In-depth interviews were conducted and the data was analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). The results depict a variety of experiential perspectives and meanings, along with certain influential factors such as the importance of preparation, perceived need to actively participate and having male friends who have also recently become fathers. Specific to the Indian context are extended family support and the interplay between traditional role expectations and modern demands, elucidating how cultural ideologies impact aspects of this transition

How to Work With Middle-Aged Siblings: Integration of Narrative-Behavioral Approaches in Family Therapy

Middle-aged siblings’ concerns are rarely addressed in psychotherapy literature. Siblings without their own families of procreation are quite common in many Asian cultures. Therapists’ challenges for such shrinking systems can be approached with assimilative integration. A dominant narrative therapy foundation that absorbs behavioral strategies can be a relevant style of addressing problems faced by siblings. The narrative frame helps with individual as well as family related incongruent stories, whereas the behavioral frame creates a sense of mastery over the current interactions that can in turn consolidate new meaning about family life. Using a case illustration, we propose the use of a narrative-behavioral approach in family therapy with 2 siblings who have to create a meaningful family life together

Confronting the palm oil crisis: Identifying behaviours for targeted interventions

Palm oil is an edible oil with a high yield, various economic benefits, and many diverse uses. However, its production has led to increased deforestation, the endangerment of several species, and toxic greenhouse gas emissions. The current study had two aims: (1) to generate a list of palm oil-related pro-environmental behaviours (PEB) that general community members in Australia can do; and (2) to identify one or more behaviours from this list to address in a behaviour-change intervention. Semi-structured interviews with 12 experts (environmental journalists, conservation scientists and activists) generated a list of 11 potential palm oil-related PEB. The same experts rated this list in terms of potential effectiveness in reducing the negative environmental effects of palm oil. A community sample of 300 participants rated the same PEB on likelihood of adoption and current penetration (i.e., the extent to which they already engage in the behaviour). These scores were integrated into a behaviour prioritization matrix, which revealed that the most beneficial PEB to target was “purchasing products containing only sustainable palm oil”. This study is an essential preliminary step in behaviour change interventional research, and outlines the process of selecting specific consumer behaviour related to environmental concerns. Policy-based implications are discussed

Palm Oil: Understanding Barriers to Sustainable Consumption

The current dataset was used in the paper "Palm Oil: Understanding Barriers to Sustainable Consumption". It consists of the SPSS file including 781 participants, with their responses on a survey including socio-demographic details, a palm oil COM-B (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation) survey, the Connectedness to Nature Scale, the Willingness to Sacrifice for the environment Scale and an adaptation of the Values scale. SPSS output files are also included - these are descriptive statistics from the data set, the exploratory factor analysis of the palm oil COM-B survey, a description of the factors that emerged (including internal consistencies and distributions), along with a multiple regression analysis

Palm Oil: Understanding Barriers to Sustainable Consumption

The current dataset was used in the paper "Palm Oil: Understanding Barriers to Sustainable Consumption". It consists of the SPSS file including 781 participants, with their responses on a survey including socio-demographic details, a palm oil COM-B (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation) survey, the Connectedness to Nature Scale, the Willingness to Sacrifice for the environment Scale and an adaptation of the Values scale. SPSS output files are also included - these are descriptive statistics from the data set, the exploratory factor analysis of the palm oil COM-B survey, a description of the factors that emerged (including internal consistencies and distributions), along with a multiple regression analysis

Designing and Evaluating an Online Intervention for Australian Consumers: Encouraging the Purchase of Products with Sustainable Palm Oil

The dataset is drawn from an online experiment conducted with 628 Australians, who were randomly assigned to one of three conditions. Two of these conditions aimed at increasing sustainable palm oil-related purchases, while one condition served as an attentional control. Follow-up data after two weeks (n=403) are also included. The SPSS data file includes all the data. SPSS output files specify the various analyses that were run, which include descriptive statistics, multiple analysis of variance and chi-square analysis (Descriptives & Preliminary Analysis; Outcome Measures), mediation analysis, and subsequent analyses after the latent profile analysis. MPlus input and output files for the latent profile analysis are included for a range of two to six groups

Palm Oil: Understanding Barriers to Sustainable Consumption

The current dataset was used in the paper "Palm Oil: Understanding Barriers to Sustainable Consumption". It consists of the SPSS file including 781 participants, with their responses on a survey including socio-demographic details, a palm oil COM-B (Capability, Opportunity, Motivation) survey, the Connectedness to Nature Scale, the Willingness to Sacrifice for the environment Scale and an adaptation of the Values scale. SPSS output files are also included - these are descriptive statistics from the data set, the exploratory factor analysis of the palm oil COM-B survey, a description of the factors that emerged (including internal consistencies and distributions), along with a multiple regression analysis