Mapping Gen Z Sustainable Footprint: Insights from a Bibliometric Study
Main Article Content
Abstract
Gen Z, the age cohort born between the years 1997 and 2012, is identified as the most sustainable generation of the 21st century, transforming traditional consumption patterns and driving sustainability. Despite of the comprehensive literature on Gen Z and sustainability, there is a lack of systematic and focused bibliometric studies on sector-specific sustainable behaviour. The study aims to perform a systematic bibliometric analysis of academic literature on Gen Z adoption of sustainability, focusing on tourism, fashion, food, and hospitality. Data was retrieved from the Scopus database, including 2236 publications on Gen Z and 156 on Gen Z and sustainability. The data retrieved from Scopus yielded 2236 English-language articles in the initial search, which were refined to 1440 results based on the document keywords 'Generation Z' and 'Gen Z. Further filtering was done by adding the ‘Sustainability’ keyword, which narrowed the selection to a final 173 articles. Using VOSviewer software, performance analysis and science mapping were conducted on 173 articles to evaluate publication trends, citation metrics, key authors, influential journals, and keyword co-occurrence networks. The analysis shows an increasing number of publications on sustainability annually. Co-occurrence analysis indicates tourism as a frequently discussed sector, and social media as a substantial thematic node within the Gen Z adoption of sustainability, demonstrating its influence on Gen Z behaviour. Bibliographic coupling reveals that the journal Sustainability (Switzerland) is highly influential, with a significant number of publications and citations. This study provides the first bibliometric analysis of Gen Z adoption of sustainability, highlighting growing academic interest. The results will act as a valuable resource for Industry leaders, policymakers and educators aiming to promote sustainable development practices. Future studies should continue to explore the dynamic interactions between Gen Z and sustainability to enhance sustainable growth and address several emerging trends in the field.
Article Details
Section
How to Cite
References
2. Anuar A, Marwan NF, Smith J, Siriyanun S, Sharif A. Bibliometric analysis of immigration and environmental degradation: evidence from past decades. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int .2022;29(9):13729–41. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11356-021-16470-1
3. Arora N, Manchanda P. Green perceived value and intention to purchase sustainable apparel among Gen Z: The moderated mediation of attitudes. J Glob Fashion Mark .2022;13(2):168–85. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/20932685.2021.2021435
4. Babayemi JO, Dauda KT. Evaluation of solid waste generation, categories and disposal options in developing countries: A case study of Nigeria. J Appl Sci Environ Manage .2010;13(3). Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/jasem.v13i3.55370
5. Bota-Avram C. Bibliometric analysis of sustainable business performance: where are we going? A science map of the field. Econ Res-Ekon Istraž .2023;36(1):2137–76. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1331677x.2022.2096094
6. Braam RR, Moed HF, van Raan AFJ. Mapping of science by combined co-citation and word analysis. II: Dynamical aspects. J Am Soc Inf Sci .1991;42(4):252–66. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/(sici)1097-4571(199105)42:4<252::aid-asi2>3.0.co;2-g
7. Caputo A, Pizzi S, Pellegrini MM, Dabić M. Digitalization and business models: Where are we going? A science map of the field. J Bus Res .2021;123:489–501. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2020.09.053
8. Chen C. Science mapping: A systematic review of the literature. J Data Inf Sci .2017;2(2):1–40. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/jdis-2017-0006
9. Cobo MJ, López-Herrera AG, Herrera-Viedma E, Herrera F. An approach for detecting, quantifying, and visualizing the evolution of a research field: A practical application to the Fuzzy Sets Theory field. J Informetr .2011;5(1):146–66. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.joi.2010.10.002
10. de Leeuw A, Valois P, Ajzen I, Schmidt P. Using the theory of planned behavior to identify key beliefs underlying pro-environmental behavior in high-school students: Implications for educational interventions. J Environ Psychol .2015; 42:128–38. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2015.03.005
11. Dede E, Ozdemir E. Mapping and performance evaluation of mathematics education research in Turkey: A bibliometric analysis from 2005 to 2021. J Pedagog Res .2022; Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.33902/jpr.202216829
12. Disterheft A, Caeiro S, Azeiteiro UM, Leal Filho W. Sustainability science and education for sustainable development in universities: A way for transition. In: Sustainability Assessment Tools in Higher Education Institutions. Cham: Springer International Publishing; 2013. p. 3–27.
13. Donthu N, Kumar S, Mukherjee D, Pandey N, Lim WM. How to conduct a bibliometric analysis: An overview and guidelines. J Bus Res .2021;133:285–96. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.04.070
14. Donthu N, Kumar S, Pattnaik D. Forty-five years of Journal of Business Research: A bibliometric analysis. J Bus Res .2020;109:1–14. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.10.039
15. Ellili NOD. Bibliometric analysis of sustainability papers: Evidence from Environment, Development and sustainability. Environ Dev Sustain .2023;26(4):8183–209. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10668-023-03067-6
16. Falagas ME, Pitsouni EI, Malietzis GA, Pappas G. Comparison of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar: strengths and weaknesses. FASEB J .2008;22(2):338–42. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1096/fj.07-9492lsf
17. Fischer D, Böhme T, Geiger SM. Measuring young consumers’ sustainable consumption behavior: development and validation of the YCSCB scale. Young Consum Insight Ideas Responsible Mark .2017;18(3):312–26. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/yc-03-2017-00671
18. Gutiérrez-Salcedo M, MartÃnez MÃ, Moral-Munoz JA, Herrera-Viedma E, Cobo MJ. Some bibliometric procedures for analyzing and evaluating research fields. Appl Intell .2017; Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10489-017-1105-y
19. Hallinger P, KovaÄević J. Science mapping the knowledge base in educational leadership and management: A longitudinal bibliometric analysis, 1960 to 2018. Educ Manag Adm Leadersh .2021;49(1):5–30. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1741143219859002
20. Jacobs K, Petersen L, Hörisch J, Battenfeld D. Green thinking but thoughtless buying? An empirical extension of the value-attitude-behaviour hierarchy in sustainable clothing. J Clean Prod [Internet]. 2018;203:1155–69. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.07.320
21. Jarneving B. Bibliographic coupling and its application to research-front and other core documents. J Informetr .2007;1(4):287–307. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.joi.2007.07.004
22. Khan A, Goodell JW, Hassan MK, Paltrinieri A. A bibliometric review of finance bibliometric papers. Fin Res Lett .2022;47(102520):102520. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.frl.2021.102520
23. Leal Filho W, Wu Y-CJ, Brandli LL, Avila LV, Azeiteiro UM, Caeiro S, et al. Identifying and overcoming obstacles to the implementation of sustainable development at universities. J Integr Environ Sci .2017;14(1):93–108. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1943815x.2017.1362007
24. Li P, Hasnah Hassan S. Mapping the literature on Gen Z purchasing behavior: A bibliometric analysis using VOSviewer. Innov Mark .2023;19(3):62–73. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.21511/im.19(3).2023.06
25. Lu K, Wolfram D. Measuring author research relatedness: A comparison of wordâ€based, topicâ€based, and author cocitation approaches. J Am Soc Inf Sci Technol .2012;63(10):1973–86. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/asi.22628
26. Moral-Munoz JA, López-Herrera AG, Herrera-Viedma E, Cobo MJ. Science Mapping Analysis Software Tools: A Review. In: Springer Handbook of Science and Technology Indicators. Cham: Springer International Publishing; 2019. p. 159–85.
27. Page MJ, McKenzie J, Bossuyt P, Boutron I, Hoffmann T, Mulrow C d., et al. Updating guidance for reporting systematic reviews: development of the PRISMA 2020 statement .BITSS. 2020. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.31222/osf.io/jb4dx
28. Peers, J. (2021, July). Gen Z: Who else? https://www.mirova.com/sites/default/files/2021-07/Gen Z who else_ENG.pdf
29. Pichler S, Kohli C, Granitz N. DITTO for Gen Z: A framework for leveraging the uniqueness of the new generation. Bus Horiz .2021;64(5):599–610. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bushor.2021.02.021
30. Pilcher J. Mannheim’s sociology of generations: An undervalued legacy. Br J Sociol .1994;45(3):481. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.2307/591659
31. Pinho M, Gomes S. Generation Z as a critical question mark for sustainable tourism – An exploratory study in Portugal. J Tour Futures .2023; Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/jtf-07-2022-0171
32. Priporas, C.-V., Stylos, N., & Kamenidou, I. (Eirini). (2020). City image, city brand personality and generation Z residents’ life satisfaction under economic crisis: Predictors of city-related social media engagement. Journal of Business Research, 119, 453–463. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2019.05.019
33. Ruspini E. The future of tourism: innovation and sustainability. Anatolia .2019;30(1):162–4. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13032917.2018.1552055
34. Schewe CD, Meredith G. Segmenting global markets by generational cohorts: determining motivations by age. J Consum Behav .2004;4(1):51–63. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cb.157
35. Streimikis J, Saraji MK. Green productivity and undesirable outputs in agriculture: a systematic review of DEA approach and policy recommendations. Econ Res-Ekon Istraž .2022;35(1):819–53. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1331677x.2021.1942947
36. Turner A. Generation Z: Technology and social interest. J Individ Psychol (1998) .2015;71(2):103–13. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1353/jip.2015.0021
37. UNWTO. Global Report on The Power of Youth Travel .2016. Available from: https://www.wysetc.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Global-Report_Power-of-Youth-Travel_2016.pdf
38. Wang M, Chai L. Three new bibliometric indicators/approaches derived from keyword analysis. Scientometrics .2018;116(2):721–50. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11192-018-2768-9
39. Wang X, Qin Y, Xu Z, Škare M. A look at the focus shift in innovation literature due to Covid-19 pandemic. J Bus Res .2022;145:1–20. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2022.02.067
40. Wang X, Xu Z, Qin Y, Skare M. Service networks for sustainable business: A dynamic evolution analysis over half a century. J Bus Res .2021;136:543–57. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.07.062
41. Wang X, Xu Z, Su S-F, Zhou W. A comprehensive bibliometric analysis of uncertain group decision making from 1980 to 2019. Inf Sci (Ny) .2021;547:328–53. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ins.2020.08.036
42. Wuelser G, Pohl C. How researchers frame scientific contributions to sustainable development: a typology based on grounded theory. Sustain Sci .2016;11(5):789–800. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11625-016-0363-7
43. Xu Z, Wang X, Wang X, Skare M. A comprehensive bibliometric analysis of entrepreneurship and crisis literature published from 1984 to 2020. J Bus Res .2021;135:304–18. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2021.06.051
44. Yamane T, Kaneko S. Is the younger generation a driving force toward achieving the sustainable development goals? Survey experiments. J Clean Prod .2021;292(125932):125932. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.125932
45. Yamane T, Kaneko S. Is the younger generation a driving force toward achieving the sustainable development goals? Survey experiments. J Clean Prod .2021;292(125932):125932. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.125932
46. Żarczyńska A. Nicola DE Bellis: Bibliometrics and citation analysis, from the science citation index to cybermetrics, Lanham, Toronto, Plymouth 2009. Toruńskie Stud Bibliol .2012;5(1 (8)). Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.12775/tsb.2012.009
47. Zhou X, Zhou M, Huang D, Cui L. A probabilistic model for co-occurrence analysis in bibliometrics. J Biomed Inform .2022;128(104047):104047. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jbi.2022.104047
48. Zupic I, Čater T. Bibliometric methods in management and organization. Organ Res Methods .2015;18(3):429–72. Available from: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1094428114562629