Title: Sustainable consumption and production: need, challenges and further research directions

Authors: K.T. Shibin; Angappa Gunasekaran; Thanos Papadopoulos; Rameshwar Dubey; Deepa Mishra

Addresses: Symbiosis International University, Lavale, Pune-412115, Maharashtra, India ' Charlton College of Business, University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, North Dartmouth, MA 02747-2300, USA ' Kent Business School, University of Kent, Sail & Colour Loft, The Historic Dockyard, Chatham ME4 4TE, UK ' Symbiosis Institute of Operations Management, Symbiosis International University, Plot No. A-23, Shravan Sector, CIDCO, New Nashik – 422008, India ' Department of Industrial Engineering and Management, Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur – 208016, India

Abstract: This article reviews the literature and identifies challenges, research gaps, and further research directions on sustainable consumption and production (SCP). Several research gaps in the area of SCP are identified that includes: 1) there are very few research works analysing the mismatch between the demand and supply of sustainable products in the market, with the increasing environmental awareness of consumers; 2) despite the growing prominence of emerging nations like BRICS, research in the context of emerging markets in the area of SCP is very limited; 3) researchers on SCP do not seem to embrace mix-methodology; 4) most of the researchers mainly focus on policy reviews or factors behind customer buying patterns or on the use of cleaner energy. There is a further pressing need to explore the soft dimensions and psychological factors behind the acceptance level of policies and sustainable life style. Finally, we outline further research directions.

Keywords: sustainable consumption; sustainable production; SCP; literature review; demand; supply; mixed methods; environmental awareness; emerging markets; psychology; sustainable life styles; sustainability; sustainable development.

DOI: 10.1504/IJPMB.2016.079678

International Journal of Process Management and Benchmarking, 2016 Vol.6 No.4, pp.447 - 468

Received: 12 Jan 2016
Accepted: 24 Jan 2016
Published online: 08 Oct 2016 *

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