WHY DOES ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS FAIL TO TRANSLATE INTO SUSTAINABLE CONSUMPTION IN DIGITAL ERA? A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW

Maya Rohmantika Sari, Dewi Kusuma Wardani, Budi Wahyono

Abstract

Environmental awareness is widely regarded as a prerequisite for sustainable consumption; however, increased awareness does not always translate into corresponding behavioral change, a phenomenon commonly referred to as the attitude–behavior gap. This gap has become increasingly relevant amid the rapid expansion of digital technology and social media, which have transformed the way individuals obtain environmental information and make consumption decisions. This study aims to examine the factors that hinder the translation of environmental awareness into sustainable consumption behavior in the digital era through a systematic literature review. Following the principles of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews (PRISMA), relevant articles were identified and screened from the Scopus, ScienceDirect/Elsevier, and Google Scholar databases, limited to English-language publications from 2020–2025. A total of 18 articles meeting the inclusion criteria were analyzed thematically. The results show that the awareness–behavior gap is shaped by an interaction of psychological and cognitive factors, social and normative influences, economic and situational barriers, and the dual role of digital environments. Although digital platforms can strengthen environmental knowledge, attitudes, and behavioral intentions through social media exposure and online communities, greater digital engagement does not automatically produce sustainable consumption practices. This review concludes that environmental awareness alone is insufficient to drive behavioral change, and that bridging the gap requires an integrated approach combining supportive social norms, economic accessibility, and effective digital interventions such as digital nudging. These findings provide a conceptual foundation for developing more effective strategies to promote sustainable consumption in the digital era.

Keywords

attitude-behavior gap; digital era; environmental awareness; sustainable consumption

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.20961/ge.v12i2.124734

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