| dc.description.abstract | This research investigates the prevalence of ethical coffee consumption among
Dalhousie University’s undergraduate student population. We analyse how individual
perspectives on the impacts of coffee production influence consumptive behaviours on
Studley Campus by collecting survey data and observing consumer choices. We have
determined that the relationship between environmentally conscious perspectives and ethical
coffee consumption behaviour is weak. 75% of survey participants indicate that they care
about the environmental implications of the coffee they consume on campus. However, 50%
of participants were unaware of which popular campus coffee shops carry fair-trade coffee
products, and on average, students claimed to prioritize cost, proximity, flavour, and
available food options over sustainability when deciding where to buy coffee. Our findings
suggest that this discrepancy may be due to the accessibility of information regarding the
coffee brands offered on campus and the environmental implications associated with these
products. Additionally, we found that Dalhousie undergraduate students feel constrained by
prices, and on average, prefer to buy the least expensive coffee on campus. We recommend
that future studies explore the correlation between coffee prices and product consumption at
Dalhousie University, so that consumer responsiveness to price changes on university
campuses can be predicted. In a broader context, this recommended research could be used to
model the effects of fair-trade coffee subsidies on consumer behaviour, or to illustrate the
benefits of educating students on the environmental impacts of the products they purchase
regularly. | en_US |
