Sustainable food consumption is critical for addressing global environmental challenges and promoting health and ethical practices. Understanding what drives sustainable food choices among younger generations, particularly Generation Z, is essential for developing effective strategies to encourage sustainable consumption patterns. Using the Theory of Planned Behavior as the theoretical framework, this study aims to explore how the variables of the theory (personal attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control), along with consumer knowledge, trust, and health concerns, affect Generation Z’s intentions to buy sustainable food. The research was carried out in Poland via the online interview method (CAWI), with 438 users ranging between the ages 18 and 27. The results show that attitudes and knowledge are significant predictors of sustainable food consumption among Generation Z, while subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, health consciousness, and trust do not significantly affect purchase intentions. This research underscores the importance of educational campaigns and marketing strategies that enhance consumer knowledge and shape positive attitudes towards sustainable food. These insights offer valuable implications for policymakers, marketers, and educators aiming to encourage sustainable practices. Understanding the drivers of Generation Z’s sustainable food consumption behaviors can provide valuable insights for developing effective strategies to promote sustainable consumption patterns. This study adds to the body of knowledge on sustainable food consumption by highlighting the specific factors that drive Generation Z’s purchasing intentions.

The fruit processing industry generates enormous amounts of byproducts, which are primarily removed through landfill or incineration. However, these processes cause carbon dioxide and methane emissions and release dioxin into the environment. The management of fruit processing byproducts is important for reducing the amount of food waste that is sent to landfills and for developing strategies through the reuse of these products for valorization and economic added value. Fruit processing byproducts are rich sources of bioactive compounds and fermentable and nonfermentable sugars. Therefore, these materials are very attractive feedstocks for developing integrated multifeed biorefineries that coproduce a wide range of natural products and bioenergy. The studies presented here have shown sustainable strategies for managing fruit processing byproducts via a biorefinery approach to achieve full valorization via a circular economy. The full valorization project proposed five main phases, namely, pretreatment, extraction, dark or aerobic fermentation, anaerobic digestion, and post-treatment, as well as two additional pathways to generate additional bioelectricity. When choosing the appropriate directions for the presented concept, a technoeconomic analysis should be carried out, considering the type of biomass and its availability at the site of the biorefinery and throughout the year of production. Applying the proposed concept of biorefineries in closed-loop technology is a promising way to enhance economic efficiency and decrease environmental influence in accordance with sustainable development.

Research background: Health and environmental concerns linked to food production and consumption have become crucial both for policy makers and for consumers for modern society. Some consumers are becoming increasingly careful about what they eat, giving value to the impacts of everyday food choices on their health and on the environment. There have been few studies that have jointly analyzed these consumption patterns and that have looked for their association. Purpose of the article: The objective of the study is to develop a Polish (PL) and Czech (Cz) young-adult consumers? segmentation based on health and environ-mental attitudes and values in food choices. The research is needed to diagnose consumption trends in this segment of the market to enable creating a market offer tailored to this group of consumers. Methods: A total of 631 students from two Universities ? one in Poland (University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn (323)) and on in the Czech Republic (University of South Bohemia (308)) were selected to participate in the research. The sample of students was chosen because of the importance of young-adult consumers as the participants of the market with a specified purchasing potential. The data were collected through a survey questionnaire, in which a Likert type scale was used to determine the health and environmental attitudes and values in food choices. The results obtained were analyzed statistically using Statistica 13.1 using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) with Varimax rotation, cluster analysis using the k-means method and ANOVA. Findings & Value added: The survey demonstrated that the students presented both health and environmental attitudes, and that their food choices were driven to a lesser extent by the environmental than by the health-related values. Results demonstrated that the two distinguished factors significantly differentiated both the Polish and the Czech students into two clusters, with the first cluster being represented by consumers presenting stronger health and environmental attitudes (PL N=58%, Cz N=48%) compared to the students from the second cluster. It adds value to recent young consumers? behavior knowledge by jointly analyzing their attitudes toward health and environmental values in food choices. These findings may be useful in developing effective educational and marketing campaigns and understanding the demand for certain products.

The aim of this study was to identify and analyse consumer perceptions regarding the health benefits of different dairy products in Poland. This study examines the consumption frequency of selected dairy products in Poland and the health benefits which consumers associate with their regular consumption. It also explores how demographic factors, such as age, gender, and consumption frequency, influence these perceptions and identifies which dairy products are the most linked to specific health benefits. This study involved a quantitative survey of a representative sample of 2009 Polish consumers aged 19–30 and 66–75 years. This study revealed that the vast majority of the consumers recognise the health benefits of dairy products, particularly in areas such as better bone health, enhanced immune function, and improved digestion. The benefits associated with the regular consumption of milk, natural fresh cheeses, and natural fermented milk beverages were most frequently recognised. The respondents’ age had no significant effect on their perceptions of the health benefits of the selected dairy products. A statistically significant effect of gender was found only for the perceived benefits of consuming flavoured, fermented milk beverages. The frequency of consumption had a significant effect on the respondents’ perceptions of the benefits of all the studied groups of dairy products. In general, the consumers had positive attitudes towards the dairy products and believed in their potential health benefits. These findings have important implications for policy-makers. They underline the need for targeted public health campaigns to promote the consumption of dairy products as part of a balanced diet, emphasizing their specific health benefits. Such efforts could be especially effective if tailored to demographic factors such as gender and dietary habits.

The aim of the research was to determine the relationship between the perception of organic food characteristics and the demographic and social profile of consumers on the Polish market. The research focused on the general characteristics and features of plant and animal products offered on the organic food market compared to conventional food. The study was conducted on a sample of 1020 respondents from different regions of Poland using structural equation modelling, which allowed for the assessment of regression and covariance relationships between variables. The models allowed an in-depth assessment of the relationships between several variables and the identification of latent factors. The results of the study showed that demographic (gender and age) and economic (income and expenditure on organic food) characteristics of Polish consumers significantly influence consumer perceptions and preferences towards organic food. Women were more likely to emphasise the importance of sensory attributes (e.g., freshness and taste), while consumers with higher incomes appreciated the organic benefits of products, especially animal products (e.g., no preservatives or hormones). Surprisingly, education was not found to be a significant differentiator in the perception of organic products. The study also provided important insights for the producers and marketers of organic food, highlighting the need to differentiate marketing strategies according to the demographic and social profile of consumers.