Exploring the Influence of Corporate Sustainability on Consumer Perceptions of Brand Sustainability within the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) Sector
Abstract
This research investigates the influence of corporate sustainability initiatives on consumer perceptions of corporate brands, focusing on generating positive brand symbolism, green brand trust, and green brand image, with brand evangelism as a mediating factor. Drawing from social psychology's literature on impression formation, it explores how these initiatives shape consumer attitudes. The theoretical model extends theories of information relevance and observational learning, providing a framework for ethical decision-making. An online survey of 219 respondents, conducted with a market research firm, evaluated various corporate brands across different industries. Findings reveal that brand sustainability significantly impacts purchasing intentions through brand evangelism. Key components influencing consumer perceptions include brand symbolism, green brand trust, and green brand image. These insights are particularly relevant for executives and marketers in the FMCG food sector, suggesting that leveraging symbolic elements of sustainability can enhance brand engagement, memorability, and profitability. The study identifies potential avenues for future research on corporate brand perceptions and sustainability.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.54663/2182-9306.2025.SpecialIssueIM.6-25
Keywords
Full Text:
PDFReferences
Acampora, A. L. (2022). The theoretical development and research methodology in green hotels research: A systematic literature review. Journal of Hospitality and Tourism Management,, 51, 512-528.
Akintoye, V. A. (2014). "Prospects for Achieving Sustainable Development Through the Millennium Development Goals in Nigeria.". European Journal of Sustainable Development, 33-33.
Alexandrov, A. &. (2020). What makes a brand interesting? Why care? Journal of consumer marketing. Journal of consumer marketing, 37(5), 501-510.
Amicarelli, V. G. (2022). Has the COVID-19 pandemic changed food waste perception and behavior? Evidence from Italian consumers.". Socio-Economic Planning Sciences.
Badar, H. A.-A.-C. (2023). Unravelling Consumer Preferences and Segments: Implications for Pakistan’s Mandarin Industry Development through Market Relocation. Land, 12(5), 953. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/land12050953
Batra, R. V.-B. (2014). Effects of brand local and nonlocal origin on consumer attitudes in developing countries. Cultural psychology, 83-96.
Becerra, E., & Badrinarayanan, V. (2013). The influence of brand trust and brand identification on brand evangelism. J. Prod. Brand Manag, 22, 371–383.
Bhat, S., & Reddy, S. (1998). Symbolic and functional positioning of brands. J. Consum. Mark, 15, 32–43.
Bhavani, S. a. (2023). The Role of Relationship Marketing in Improving Brand Loyalty with Special Reference to Online Shopping. IRE Journals, 6(12), 2456-8880.
Blau, P. (1964). Exchange and power in social life. Wiley, Inc., New York.
Budhwar, P. S. (2023). "Human resource management in the age of generative artificial intelligence: Perspectives and research directions on ChatGPT. Human Resource Management Journal, 33(3). doi: https://doi.org/10.1111/1748-8583.12524
Carroll, A. B. (2010). "The business case for corporate social responsibility: A review of concepts, research and practice." International journal of management reviews, 85-105.
Cha, M.-K. Y. (2016). Effects of customer participation in corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs on the CSR-brand fit and brand loyalty.". Cornell Hospitality Quarterly , 235-249.
Chagwesha, M. D. (2023). Influence of Green Marketing Strategies on Consumer Purchase Decision: Evidence from Fast-Moving Consumer Goods Industry in Zimbabwe.". Springer Nature, 327-343. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-28686-5_17
Cheikh, A. B. (2023). An Empirical Investigation of Student E-Trust and Enrolment Intention in an Online Paid Hult Prize Certificate Program: A COVID-19 Study.". Exploring Business Ecosystems and Innovation Capacity Building in Global Economics, pp. 66-91.
Chuah, S. H.-W.-M.-L. (2020). Sustaining customer engagement behavior through corporate social responsibility: The roles of environmental concern and green trust." Journal of Cleaner Production, 121348. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.121348
Cretu, A. E. (2007). The influence of brand image and company reputation where manufacturers market to small firms: A customer value perspective. Industrial marketing management, 36(2), 230-240.
Crona, B. I. (2023). Four ways blue foods can help achieve food system ambitions across nations. Nature, 616, no. 7955, 104-112.
Dalal, B. a. (2021). "How brand symbolism, perceived service quality, and CSR skepticism influence consumers to engage in citizenship behavior.". Sustainability, 13, no. 11.
de Oliveira, U. R. (2023). A systematic literature review on corporate sustainability: contributions, barriers, innovations and future possibilities. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 1-35.
Dincer, I. (2000). Renewable energy and sustainable development: a crucial review.". Renewable and sustainable energy reviews, 4, no. 2, 157-175.
Doane, D. (2005). Beyond corporate social responsibility: minnows, mammoths and markets. Futures , 215-229.
Elliott, R. a. (1998). "Brands as symbolic resources for the construction of identity.". International journal of Advertising, 131-144.
Eneizan, B. M.-W. (2016). "Effects of green marketing strategy on the financial and non-financial performance of firms: A conceptual paper.". Oman Chapter of Arabian Journal of Business and Management Review, 34, no. 3796,1-14.
Fatima, M., & Ahmed, Q. M. (2023). Examining thr theory of planned behaviour in green purchasing behaviour - A case of millennial's consumption of organic food. FUJBE, Vol 8(1).
Fombrun, C. J. (2000). The Reputation Quotient SM: A multi-stakeholder measure of corporate reputation. Journal of brand management, 7, 241-255.
Fornell, C. a. (1981). Evaluating structural equation models with unobservable variables and measurement error.". Journal of marketing research, 39-50.
Ganesan, S. (1994). Determinants of long-term orientation in buyer-seller relationships. Journal of marketing, 58(2), 1-19.
Gidaković, P. K. (2022). The influence of brand sustainability on purchase intentions: the mediating role of brand impressions and brand attitudes. Journal of Brand Management, 9(6), 556-568.
Gilg, A. S. (2005). Green consumption or sustainable lifestyles? Identifying the sustainable consumer. Futures, 37(6), 481-504.
Hajar, M. A.-S. (2023). The Role of Emerging Technologies in Shaping the Value Innovation Aptitude Toward Competitive Advantage and Sustainability. Smart Technologies for Organizations: Managing a Sustainable and Inclusive Digital Transformation, 153-164. doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-24775-0_9
Harman, H. H. (1976). Modern factor analysis. University of Chicago.
Hudson, S. M. (2015). The effects of social media on emotions, brand relationship quality, and word of mouth: An empirical study of music festival attendees. Tourism management, 47, 68-76. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2014.09.001
Hussain, Z. (2023). EXAMINING THE IMPACT OF GREEN MARKETING STRATEGIES ON ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE AND COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE. NUST Business Review, 05 (01), 1-18. doi:https://doi.org/10.37435/NBR23053002
Jinliang, W. K.-L. (2023). Integrated perspective of eco-innovation, green branding, and sustainable product: a case of an emerging economy.". Economic Research-Ekonomska Istraživanja, 36(3), 2196690.
Joshi, G. D. (2023). Was CSR in our minds? The relevance of CSR in the vision and mission of Indian companies through the lens of ownership. Social Responsibility Journal. doi:https://doi.org/10.1108/SRJ-04-2021-0154
Keränen, O. L. (2023). Changing the market for a sustainable innovation. Industrial Marketing Management, 108, 108-121.
Krejcie, R. V. (1970). Determining sample size for research activities. Educational and psychological measurement, 607-610.
Kumar, A. a. (2023). Social Media and Impact of Altruistic Motivation, Egoistic Motivation, Subjective Norms, and EWOM toward Green Consumption Behavior: An Empirical Investigation.". Sustainability, 15(5), 4222. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/su15054222
Lee, S. (2023). Online consumer reviews of experience goods: The Impact of Transparency in Ad Promotion on the Credibility of Influencer Online Reviews.". Bachelor's thesis, University of Twente.
Liu, Y. a. (2023). A new model to evaluate the success of electronic customer relationship management systems in industrial marketing: the mediating role of customer feedback management. Total Quality Management & Business Excellence, 34, no. 5-6, 515-537. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/14783363.2022.2071694
Lu, J. R. (2020). The influence of a firm’s CSR initiatives on brand loyalty and brand image. 12(2), 106.
Lyon, T. P. (2015). A. W. J. O., & Environment. The means and end of greenwash, 28(2), 223-249.
Majeed, M. U. (2022). Green Marketing Approaches and Their Impact on Green Purchase Intentions: Mediating Role of Green Brand Image and Consumer Beliefs towards the Environment. Sustainability, 14(no. 18), 11703. doi: https://doi.org/10.3390/su141811703
Milman, O. (2021). Apple and Disney among companies backing groups against us climate bill. The Guardian, 1.
Mishra, D. K. (2023). Combating of Associated Issues for Sustainable Agri-Food Sectors. Sustainability, 13, 15. doi:https://doi.org/10.3390/su151310096
Nagar, K. (2015). Modeling the effects of green advertising on brand image: Investigating the moderating effects of product involvement using structural equation.". Journal of global marketing, no. 3-5, 152-171.
Ndubuka, N. N.-M. (2019). Capability approach for realising the Sustainable Development Goals through Responsible Management Education: The case of UK business school academics. he International Journal of Management Education, 3, 17. doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijme.2019.100319
Nyadzayo, M. W. (2020). The impact of relational drivers on customer brand engagement and brand outcomes.". Journal of Brand Management, 27, no. 5, 561-578. doi:https://doi.org/10.1057/s41262-020-00198-3
Olazo, D. B. (2023). Measuring the impact of CSR practices on customer satisfaction during pandemic: a quantitative study in the Philippines. Social Responsibility Journal.
Ortiz‐de‐Mandojana, N. a. (2016). The long‐term benefits of organizational resilience through sustainable business practices. Strategic Management Journal, 37(8), 1615-1631. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/smj.2410
Osmanova, I. O. (2023). Examining the Relationship between Brand Symbolism and Brand Evangelism through Consumer Brand Identification: Evidence from Starbucks Coffee. Brand. Sustainability,, 15(2), 1684.
P. Becerra, E. a. (2013). The influence of brand trust and brand identification on brand evangelism. Journal of Product & Brand Management, 22, no. 5/6, 371-383.
Padgett, D. &. (1997). Communicating experiences: A narrative approach to creating service brand image. Journal of advertising, 26(4), 49-62.
Parkes, C. A. (2017). "The Principles for responsible management education (PRME): The first decade–What has been achieved? The next decade–Responsible management Education’s challenge for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).". The international journal of management education, 61-65.
Podsakoff, P. M. (2012). Common method bias in marketing: Causes, mechanisms, and procedural remedies. Journal of retailing, 88(4), 542-555.
Ramadani, V. S. (2022). "Sustainable competencies of social entrepreneurship for sustainable development: Exploratory analysis from a developing economy.". Business Strategy and the Environment, 7, 3437-3453. doi: https://doi.org/10.1002/bse.3093
Ramtiyal, B. P. (2023). "Investigating the effects of corporate social responsibility on sustainable consumer purchase behavior.". Journal of Global Operations and Strategic Sourcing.
Rao, V., Agarwal, M., & Dahlhoff, D. (2004). How is manifest branding strategy related to the intangible value of a corporation? Journal of marketing, 68, 126–141.
Rathee, S. a. (2023). Sustainability advertising: literature review and framework for future research.". International Journal of Advertising, 1-29.
Rungruangjit, W. a. (2022). Building stronger brand evangelism for sustainable marketing through micro-influencer-generated content on Instagram in the fashion industry.". Sustainability, 14(23), 15770.
Salehzadeh, R. K. (2016). Brand personality, brand equity and revisit intention: an empirical study of a tourist destination in Iran. Tourism Review, 71(3), 205-218.
Salehzadeh, R. S. (2023). Elucidating green branding among Muslim consumers: the nexus of green brand love, image, trust and attitude. JIMA, 14(1), 250-272. doi:DOI: 10.1108/JIMA-08-2019-0169
Sarkar, J. G. (2022). Prosumption through advergames: leveraging on advergame format and reward elements to create a sacred brand. European Journal of Marketing, 2649-2676.
Schurr, P. H. (1985). Influences on exchange processes: Buyers' preconceptions of a seller's trustworthiness and bargaining toughness. Journal of consumer research, 11(4), 939-953.
Sharif, S. R. (2023). "Consumer quality management for beverage food products: analyzing consumer’ perceptions toward repurchase intention". The TQM Journal. doi:https://doi.org/10.1108/TQM-01-2022-0012
Shiau, W. L. (2019). Internet research using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM). Internet Research, Vol. 29 No. 3, pp. 398-406. doi:https://doi.org/10.1108/IntR-10-2018-0447
Shimul, A. S. (2023). Consumers' preference for eco-friendly packaged products: pride vs guilt appeal. Marketing Intelligence & Planning, 41(2), 186-198.
Siahtiri, V. A. (2022). "Unlocking consumer consideration set size formation for luxury services: A study of self‐identification, brand status and anticipated emotions.". International Journal of Consumer Studies, 46, no. 6, 2488-2502.
Stahl, G. K. (2020). Enhancing the role of human resource management in corporate sustainability and social responsibility: A multi-stakeholder, multidimensional approach to HRM.". Human Resource Management Review, 30(3). doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hrmr.2019.100708
Steg, L. (2005). Car use: Lust and must. Instrumental, symbolic and affective motives for car use. Transp. Res. Part A Policy Pract, 39, 147–162.
Sun, Y. L. (2023). "The Impacts of Executive Equity on Green Corporate Innovation.". Sustainability, 13 (2023).
Sun, Z. Y. (2022). The Impact of Customer Participation on Customer Value: Does Customer Resource and Regulatory Focus Matter?. Sustainability, 14(24), 16685.
Susilo, D. M. (2023). Sustainability in Industry: The Lack of Implementation Running in the FMCG Industry. Jurnal Ekonomi Dan Bisnis Digital, 2(2), 461-476.
Sweeney, J. C.-K. (2015). Customer effort in value cocreation activities: Improving quality of life and behavioral intentions of health care customers. Journal of Service Research, 18(3), 318-335.
Szabo, S. a. (2021). "Perceived greenwashing: the effects of green marketing on environmental and product perceptions.". Journal of business ethics , 719-739.
Van Dam, P. (2022). "The Age of Interdependence: Varieties of Sustainability in the Low Countries during the Twentieth Century. "BMGN: Low Countries Historical Review, 137, no. 4.
Vuong, T. K. (2023). The role of corporate social responsibility activities in employees’ perception of brand reputation and brand equity. Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering, 100313.
Wang, S. Y.-K.-Y. (2021). The role of corporate social responsibility perceptions in brand equity, brand credibility, brand reputation, and purchase intentions. Sustainability, 13( no. 21), 11975.
Winit, W. S. (2023). Toward a Sustainability Brand Model: An Integrative Review.". Sustainability, 15, no. 6.
Xu, Y., & Chen, Z. (2006). Relevance judgment: What do information users consider beyond topicality? J. Am. Soc. Inf. Sci. Tec, 57, 961–973.
Zameer, H. Y. (2020). "Reinforcing green competitive advantage through green production, creativity and green brand image: implications for cleaner production in China.". Journal of cleaner production, 247.
Zeb, H. K. (2011). Influence of brands on female consumer's buying behavior in Pakistan.". International Journal of Trade, Economics and Finance, no. 3, 225.
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
Copyright (c) 2025 Mehreen Fatima, Qazi Ahmed, Muhammad Arsalan Nazir

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
International Journal of Marketing, Communication and New Media
ISSN: 2182-9306
DOI: 10.54663/2182-9306
Qualis Periódicos - CAPES: B2
REBIB: Q2
Indexing:
WEB OF SCIENCE (WoS) & JOURNAL CITATION REPORTS (JCR)
QUALIS - GOOGLE SCHOLAR - LATINDEX - REDIB - RCAAP - OAJI - DRJI - MIAR - LIVRE - ERIH PLUS - INDEX COPERNICUS