Analysis of consumption practices from the perspective of ecological economics

In recent years, the increasing severity of environmental problems has led to the questioning of traditional human-centered economic systems. This questioning process has brought alternative approaches to the agenda, promoting a shift toward models that balance the relationship between nature and the economy and place nature at the center. This transformation, which requires change on a societal scale, depends critically on the active involvement of all system components—from production to consumption and from governance to social participation—based on ecological limits and social responsibilities. In this context, the present study focuses on the consumption dimension of ecological transformation, aiming to explain the concept of ecological consumption from the perspective of ecological economics and to analyze individuals' ecological consumption behaviors. In this study, ecological consumption is not considered merely as a product choice but as a holistic reflection of various consumption practices embedded in individuals' daily lives. In this context, the study utilized data collected through surveys administered to 400 consumers in Istanbul who reported having engaged in at least one ecological consumption behavior in the past six months. First, an exploratory factor analysis was conducted to identify the key dimensions of ecological consumption. Then, based on the frequency of behaviors within these dimensions, consumers were grouped into four different clusters. These clusters were subsequently described in detail based on the patterns of behavior exhibited in each dimension. Finally, a multinomial logistic regression analysis was carried out to examine how these consumer clusters differ in terms of socio-demographic characteristics, levels of social awareness, and environmental attitudes. The findings reveal that ecological consumption exhibits a multi-dimensional structure, with consumers showing differentiated behavioral patterns across these dimensions. The four consumer clusters identified indicate that ecological consumption behaviors are not homogeneously distributed across society, with some consumer groups being highly active in ecological consumption, while others behave in a limited and selective manner. On the other hand, it has been found that low-cost ecological behaviors are widely practiced, while behaviors requiring structural support and access occur at a lower frequency. According to the findings of the multinomial logistic regression analysis, variables such as age, income, household size, frequency of donations, environmental concern, and cost perception were found to influence ecological consumption behavior. These results emphasize that policies and interventions to be implemented in the ecological transformation process should be shaped by taking consumer tendencies into account.