Sustainable food consumption is crucial for mitigating environmental degradation and promoting social and economic well-being. Despite growing interest in sustainability, significant challenges persist in consumer adoption and market integration. This study conducted a systematic literature review (SLR) to explore the key drivers, obstacles, technological innovations, and corporate strategies shaping sustainable food consumption. The review synthesizes findings from peer-reviewed research published between 2015 and 2024, analyzing patterns across economic, geographic, and sociobehavioral contexts. Health concerns and environmental awareness are primary drivers, complemented by ethical values, taste perception, and social norms. However, economic constraints, limited product availability, lack of awareness, and behavioral inertia hinder its widespread adoption. Technological advancements, including digital platforms, AI-driven food safety solutions, blockchain for traceability, and alternative proteins, present opportunities to address these challenges. Corporate initiatives such as corporate social responsibility (CSR), fair-trade programs, and eco-labeling enhance consumer trust and accessibility. This study highlights key research gaps, particularly regarding cross-cultural variations in sustainable consumption patterns, long-term behavioral shifts, and the role of digital interventions in influencing consumer decision-making. A multi-stakeholder approach involving academia, businesses, and policymakers is crucial for developing strategies to facilitate the transition toward a sustainable and resilient food system.

Sustainable food consumption plays a vital role in mitigating environmental degradation and promoting social and economic wellbeing. Despite a growing interest in sustainability, significant challenges persist in consumer adoption and market integration. This study employs a systematic literature review (SLR) to identify the dominant motivations, barriers, technological advancements, and corporate initiatives that influence sustainable food consumption. The review synthesizes findings from peer-reviewed research published between 2015 and 2024, analyzing patterns across economic, geographic, and socio-behavioral contexts. The findings revealed that health concerns and environmental awareness are the primary drivers of sustainable food consumption, complemented by ethical values, taste perception, and social norms. However, economic constraints, limited product availability, a lack of awareness, and behavioral inertia significantly hinder widespread adoption. Technological advancements, including digital platforms, AI-driven food safety solutions, blockchains for traceability, and alternative proteins, present opportunities to address these challenges. Corporate initiatives such as Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), fair-trade programs, and eco-labeling further enhance consumer trust and accessibility. This study highlights key research gaps, including cross-cultural variations, long-term behavioral changes, and the impact of digital interventions. A multi-stakeholder approach involving academia, businesses, and policymakers is crucial for developing comprehensive strategies to facilitate the transition towards a more sustainable and resilient food system.

The transition to a low-carbon economy is a key challenge for Eastern Europe, where economic growth, energy investments, and emission reduction policies interact in complex ways. This study employs a spatial econometric approach to assess the effectiveness of renewable energy investments and government environmental spending in mitigating CO₂ emissions across the region. Using panel data and spatial Durbin models (SDMs), we identify significant spillover effects in emissions reduction, revealing those environmental policies in one country influence neighboring regions. The results indicate that renewable investments have a positive but localized impact on emissions reduction, whereas government environmental expenditure exhibits diminishing returns beyond a threshold of 0.01 GDP. Threshold regression analysis confirms that excessive spending may lead to inefficiencies, reversing its expected benefits. Additionally, stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) highlights disparities in energy efficiency, with some countries demonstrating stronger optimization strategies than others. These findings underscore the importance of policy coordination and targeted investment strategies to enhance the effectiveness of decarbonization efforts. Strengthening regional cooperation and optimizing environmental expenditure allocation can significantly improve sustainability outcomes in Eastern Europe.

This article presents a comprehensive analysis of the European Union’s e-commerce market within the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. It examines the correlation between demographic factors and the territorial convergence of e-commerce activities across EU member states. By leveraging empirical data and employing the General Linear Model – Repeated Measures (GLM-RM) to analyze temporal changes in the phenomena of interest across EU countries, the study provides a nuanced understanding of the market’s evolution during and after the pandemic. The research reveals a notable expansion in the EU’s e-commerce market value, leading to a reduction in economic disparities among member states. It highlights the role of consumer demographics in shaping online shopping behavior, with age being a pivotal factor that demonstrates significant variations. Additionally, the study delves into the differential performance of various product categories, reflecting a pattern of selective sectoral convergence. A key finding is the pandemic’s dual role as a disruptor and an accelerator for digital integration, particularly in enhancing digital inclusivity in less economically developed EU regions. This study contributes to the broader discourse on e-commerce market dynamics in times of global crises, offering valuable insights for policymakers and business strategists.

The transition to a low-carbon economy is a key challenge for Eastern Europe, where economic growth, energy investments, and emissions reduction policies interact in complex ways. This study employs a spatial-econometric approach to assess the effectiveness of renewable energy investments and government environmental spending in mitigating CO₂ emissions across the region. Using panel data and spatial Durbin models (SDM), we identify significant spillover effects in emissions reduction, revealing those environmental policies in one country influence neighboring regions. The results indicate that renewable investments have a positive but localized impact on emissions reduction, while government environmental expenditure exhibits diminishing returns beyond a threshold of 0.01 GDP. Threshold regression analysis confirms that excessive spending may lead to inefficiencies, reversing its expected benefits. Additionally, the stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) highlights disparities in energy efficiency, with some countries demonstrating stronger optimization strategies than others. These findings underscore the importance of policy coordination and targeted investment strategies to enhance the effectiveness of decarbonization efforts. Strengthening regional cooperation and optimizing environmental expenditure allocation can significantly improve sustainability outcomes in Eastern Europe.