Development and validation of the environmentally sustainable consumer behavior index (ESCBI): A composite tool to measure and advance private-sphere pro-environmental consumer behaviors

Global consumption patterns are increasingly unsustainable, driving climate change and biodiversity loss; however, comprehensive tools for measuring and tracking environmentally sustainable consumer behaviors (ESCB) are lacking. This study addresses this gap by developing and validating the environmentally sustainable consumer behavior index (ESCBI), a first-order reflective, second-order formative measurement tool. Drawing on interdisciplinary literature and data from six survey waves with representative samples (Ns between 1003 and 1031), the ESCBI assesses private-sphere pro-environmental behaviors across key consumption phases and areas. On the first-order level, 11 items are represented by three factors: energy efficiency and waste reduction efforts, environmentally friendly purchasing awareness, and a meat-reduced diet. On the second-order level, these serve as formative indicators of the overall construct and are used to calculate a construct index. The model explains 52% of the variance in self-reported ESCB and reveals that behaviors related to meat reduction score lowest among consumers. The results theoretically and empirically reinforce the conceptualization of ESCB with formative indicators and provide actionable insights for executives and policy-makers to foster more environmentally sustainable behaviors. • An index was developed to measure environmentally sustainable consumer behavior. • Pro-environmental behaviors across key consumption phases and areas were captured. • Six large-scale surveys with over 1,000 participants each were used. • Actionable insights for fostering sustainable consumption were provided. • A first-order reflective, second-order formative measurement approach was used.