Volume 40, Issue 9 pp. 1830-1849
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Less saturated, more eco-friendly: Color saturation and consumer perception of product sustainability

Marco Pichierri

Corresponding Author

Marco Pichierri

Department of Economics, Management and Business Law, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Bari, Italy

Correspondence Marco Pichierri, Department of Economics, Management and Business Law, University of Bari “Aldo Moro”, Largo Abbazia Santa Scolastica 53, Bari 70124, Italy.

Email: [email protected]

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Giovanni Pino

Giovanni Pino

Department of Economics, “G. D'Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara, Pescara, Italy

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First published: 19 June 2023
Citations: 7

Abstract

Color saturation—the color's purity and intensity (also known as vividness)—is a visual feature that has been under-investigated in the context of green marketing. To advance knowledge of this topic, we performed five experimental studies to confirm that consumers tend to unconsciously associate low color saturation with a product's “gentler” impact on the environment. This perception of eco-friendliness, in turn, increases their trust in the product maker's greenness. Our research disentangles the direct and indirect impact (via consumers' perceptions of materials' naturalness, product authenticity, and product durability) of low-saturation colors on the perceived eco-friendliness of consumer products. Furthermore, the results reveal that, by fostering perceptions of eco-friendliness and green trust, such colors favorably influence consumers' behavioral intentions (i.e., their purchase intention and intention to pay a premium price for the product). Ultimately, the paper provides useful insights for companies and marketers interested in leveraging the meaning of color saturation to elicit perceptions of environmental compatibility.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST STATEMENT

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the authors upon reasonable request.

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