Trends and determinants in consumer behaviour of sustainable meat products: a review of the literature

Sustainability is a priority in today’s society. The production sectors, including the meat industry, have been affected by regulations implemented by different institutions, as well as by changes in the consumer mindset. It is a vital aspect for all companies, including those in the meat sector, to take into account because understanding consumer behaviour is fundamental in how they design and market their products. Despite its importance, there has been little academic research into consumer behaviour towards sustainable meat. For this reason, this research was aimed at conducting a comprehensive analysis of the literature in this area of study, in order to identify the main areas of focus of the research in this field and to highlight gaps in the research that future studies should address. Using the PRISMA methodology, we carried out a systematic review of 227 articles obtained from WoS and 194 from SCOPUS. The results show exponential growth in scientific output over the last decade, with a paradigm shift in the focus of the research from price and quality to issues such as animal welfare and sustainable production. However, a critical gap was identified in the existing literature due to the scarcity of studies on consumer segmentation and future purchase intentions of sustainable meat products.