When Ecolabeling is Not Enough: The Importance of Green Brand Awareness in Influencing Purchase Decisions
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32815/jibeka.v20i2.2448Keywords:
awareness, ecolabelling, green brand, purchase decisionsAbstract
This study investigates the impact of ecolabelling on college students' purchasing decisions for ecologically friendly paper products in Palembang City, with green brand awareness serving as a mediating variable. The applied methodology is quantitative, involving purposive sample approaches with 100 respondents who have previously purchased go green labeled paper. We employed SEM-PLS to examine the correlations among the variables in the data analysis. The research findings demonstrate that ecolabelling does not directly affect purchase decisions; yet, it significantly influences them through green brand awareness, indicating a total mediation effect. The findings indicate that eco-friendly labels are beneficial only when customers comprehend the significance of brand sustainability. This research highlights the need for corporations to augment education on ecolabels and to elevate environmental literacy via more informed and pertinent communication methods directed at the younger generation. Theoretically, this research reinforces signaling theory and green marketing theory within the context of environmentally conscious consumer behavior.
Downloads
References
Arjoni. (2014). Sertifikasi Forest Steardship Council dI PT SUPARMA TBK Sebagai Strategi Penguatan Daya Saing Produk. Jurnal Ilmu Dan Riset Manajemen, 1–18.
Benyamin, B., & Siagian, D. (2021). Why environmental consciousness does not affect intention to buy? Jurnal Ekonomi Perusahaan, 28(2), 52–56. https://doi.org/10.46806/jep.v28i2.832
Diniso, C. (2025). The influence of brand awareness , brand image and perceived quality on Generation Y ’ s brand satisfaction and brand love : a Samsung smartphone case study. (November). https://doi.org/10.1108/AJEMS-02-2025-0092
Dragolea, L., Butnaru, G. I., Kot, S., Gabriela, C., Nu, A., Nu, F., & Cristea, S. (2023). Determining factors in shaping the sustainable behavior of the generation Z consumer. (January), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2023.1096183
D’Souza, C., Ahmed, T., Khashru, M. A., Ahmed, R., Ratten, V., & Jayaratne, M. (2022). The complexity of stakeholder pressures and their influence on social and environmental responsibilities. Journal of Cleaner Production, 358(September 2021), 132038. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.132038
Gaspar Ferreira, A., & Fernandes, M. E. (2022). Sustainable advertising or ecolabels: Which is the best for your brand and for consumers’ environmental consciousness? Journal of Marketing Theory and Practice, 30(1), 20–36. https://doi.org/10.1080/10696679.2021.1882864
Hair, J., Risher, J. J., Sarstedt, M., & Ringle, C. M. (2019). When to use and how to report the results of PLS-SEM. European Business Review, 31(1), 2–24. https://doi.org/10.1108/EBR-11-2018-0203
Handayani, N. U., Suliantoro, H., & Ansari, S. D. (2018). Faktor Penentu Kesadaran Dalam Pembelian Produk Kertas Bertanda Ecolabel. MIX: Jurnal Ilmiah Manjemen, 8(3), 477–503.
Hassan, H., Zainuddin, Z., & Bakar Sade, A. (2025). Green skincare branding in Malaysia. International Journal of Green Economics, 19(1), 93–107. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJGE.2025.146426
Illahi, U. N., Sari, D. K., & Ambarwati, R. (2024). Influencing Generation Z ’ s Green Purchase Intention : Roles of Awareness and Eco-Labels. Jurnal Ilmu Sosial Mamangan, 13(1), 13–29.
Junarsin, E., Pangaribuan, C. H., Wahyuni, M., Hidayat, D., Putra, O. P. B., Maulida, P., & Soedarmono, W. (2022). Analyzing the relationship between consumer trust, awareness, brand preference, and purchase intention in green marketing. International Journal of Data and Network Science, 6(3), 915–920. https://doi.org/10.5267/j.ijdns.2022.2.005
Kashi, A. N. (2020). Green purchase intention: A conceptual model of factors influencing green purchase of Iranian consumers. Journal of Islamic Marketing, 11(6), 1389–1403. https://doi.org/10.1108/JIMA-06-2019-0120
Kautsar, D., Minah, M., & Slamet, A. S. (2025). The Impact of Green Marketing, Ecolabel Awareness, Green Brand Image, Green Trust on Purchasing Decisions of Aqua Life Products. Indonesian Interdisciplanry Journal Of Sharia Economics (IIJSE), 8(3), 14127–14137.
Keller, K. L. (2013). Conceptualizing, Meauring, Managing Customer-Based Brand Equity. Journal of Marketing, 57(1), 1–22.
Ketelsen, M., Janssen, M., & Hamm, U. (2020). Consumers’ response to environmentally-friendly food packaging - A systematic review. In Journal of Cleaner Production (Vol. 254). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.120123
Khuan, H., Marnoto, M., Tapaningsih, W. I. D. A., & Purwoko, B. (2024). Sustainable Marketing Strategies and Their Influence on Consumer Preferences for Eco-Friendly Products in Indonesia: The Mediating Role of Environmental Awareness. International Journal of Business, Law, and Education, 5(1), 1212–1220. https://doi.org/10.56442/ijble.v5i1.538
Kikuchi-Uehara, E., Nakatani, J., & Hirao, M. (2016). Analysis of factors influencing consumers’ proenvironmental behavior based on life cycle thinking. Part I: Effect of environmental awareness and trust in environmental information on product choice. Journal of Cleaner Production, 117, 10–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.12.030
Kurniawan, A. Z., Nabila, A., & Kamalia, K. (2025). Pengaruh Eco-Labeling , Green Packaging , dan Green Product terhadap Green Purchase Intention melalui Mediasi Customer Belief Toward The Environment pada Produk Air Mineral Nestlé Pure Life. Sanskara Manajemen Dan Bisnis, 4(01), 256–288. https://doi.org/10.58812/smb.v4i01
Lestari, E. R., Septifani, R., & Nisak, K. (2021). Green awareness and green purchase intention: The moderating role of corporate image. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 924(1). https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/924/1/012051
Mahmoud, M. A., Tsetse, E. K. K., Tulasi, E. E., & Muddey, D. K. (2022). Green Packaging, Environmental Awareness, Willingness to Pay and Consumers’ Purchase Decisions. Sustainability (Switzerland), 14(23), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142316091
Muslimin, M., Muhajirin, M., & Purnama, I. (2025). Pengaruh Kualitas Desain, Kualitas Produk, dan Harga Terhadap Keputusan Pembelian Pada Percetakan Global Print. Jurnal Penkomi: Kajian Pendidikan Dan Ekonomi, 8(2), 253–267.
Potter, C., Bastounis, A., Hartmann-boyce, J., Stewart, C., Frie, K., Tudor, K., Bianchi, F., Cartwright, E., Cook, B., Rayner, M., & Jebb, S. A. (2021). The Effects of Environmental Sustainability Labels on Selection , Purchase , and Consumption of Food and Drink Products : A Systematic Review. https://doi.org/10.1177/0013916521995473
Potter, C., Id, R. P., Clark, M., Frie, K., Id, P. A. B., Cook, B., Stewart, C., Piernas, C., Lynch, J., Rayner, M., Poore, J., & Jebb, S. A. (2024). Effects of environmental impact labels on the sustainability of food purchases : A randomised controlled trial in an experimental online supermarket. 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0309386
Riva, F., Magrizos, S., Rizomyliotis, I., & Uddin, M. R. (2024). Beyond the hype: Deciphering brand trust amid sustainability skepticism. Business Strategy and the Environment, 33(7), 6491–6506. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.3829
Sambo, U. I., & Oludipe, O. E. (2025). Exploring Gen Z ’ s awareness of green promotion in developing markets. 2(1), 597–611. https://doi.org/10.1108/JRPC-12-2024-0064
Schmidt, S., Langner, S., Hennigs, N., Wiedmann, K.-P., Karampournioti, E., & Lischka, G. (2017). The green brand: Explicit and implicit framing effects of ecolabelling on brand knowledge. Cogent Psychology, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.1080/23311908.2017.1329191
Seal, D. B., Bag, S., & Mandal, K. (2024). Exploring Buying Intention and Brand Loyalty of Millennials and Gen Z Toward Sustainable Beauty and Personal Care Products Using a Green Mix Approach. In Sustainability in Marketing Practice: Strategies for Industry 4.0 (pp. 207–227).
Singhal, A., & Malik, G. (2018). The attitude and purchasing of female consumers towards green marketing related to cosmetic industry Aakanksha. Journal of Science and Technology Policy Management, 34(1), 1–5.
Sun, Y., Luo, B., Wang, S., & Fang, W. (2021). What you see is meaningful: Does green advertising change the intentions of consumers to purchase eco-labeled products? Business Strategy and the Environment, 30(1), 694–704. https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.2648
Suryana, A., & Ruspitasari, W. D. (2022). Green Dinamic Capability In Enchancing Performa Product Innovation In The Creative Industry Sector : The Moderating Effect Of Green Creativity. Jibeka, 18(3), 376–386. https://doi.org/10.32812/jibeka.v18i3.2322
Tandon, U., Mittal, A., & Manohar, S. (2020). Examining the impact of intangible product features and e-commerce institutional mechanics on consumer trust and repurchase intention. Electronic Markets, 31(4), 945–964. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12525-020-00436-1
Toldos, M. P., & Agredano, C. (2025). The impact of enjoying nature on sustainable consumption and its influence on local brand preference across cultures. European Business Review, (November), 1–34. https://doi.org/10.1108/EBR-01-2025-0033
Valdivia, C., Alarcón, R., & Germán, N. (2025). Transforming document management for environmental sustainability : the mediating effect of pro-environmental culture and service satisfaction in higher education institutions. Frontries in Sustainability, (January). https://doi.org/10.3389/frsus.2024.1479927
Yeeun Huh, J., & Kim, N. L. (2024). Green as the new status symbol: Examining green signaling effects among Gen Z and Millennial consumers. Journal of Fashion Marketing and Management, 28(6), 1237–1255. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFMM-07-2022-0159
Yusoff, N., Alias, M., & Ismail, N. (2025). Drivers of green purchasing behaviour : a systematic review and a research agenda. F1000Research, 12(1286).
Zheng, G. W., Siddik, A. B., Masukujjaman, M., Alam, S. S., & Akter, A. (2021). Perceived environmental responsibilities and green buying behavior: The mediating effect of attitude. Sustainability (Switzerland), 13(1), 1–27. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13010035
Zubair, M., Wang, X., Iqbal, S., Awais, M., & Wang, R. (2020). Attentional and emotional brain response to message framing in context of green marketing. Heliyon, 6(9), e04912. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04912
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Venita Venita, Yulia Hamdaini Putri, Aslamia Rosa

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Happy reading. Don't be shy to cite
