Consumers’ Perception of Risks to the Development of Sustainable Consumption

The article presents consumers’ perception of risks caused by the adoption of the sustainable consumption model in households. The research was based on primary materials from direct personal interviews conducted as part of a questionnaire survey. The results were subjected to a substantive analysis using elements of the content analysis developed by Berelson. The research revealed that consumers observed the risk of balancing consumption in their surroundings. The respondents listed the following risks as the most important: higher costs of consumption, time consumption, the need to engage in the implementation of new rules, control of consumer behaviour, greater consumer involvement, and difficulties resulting from the adoption of this consumption model. The knowledge of the risks caused by the adoption of a sustainable consumption model can be used to develop programmes promoting sustainable consumers’ attitudes and propagating these ideas. The awareness of sustainable consumption requires time to be developed. It is necessary to conduct a further research and analyses of sustainable consumption, because the knowledge and skills in affecting consumers’ attitudes are necessary to develop and strengthen consumption