Health, Environment or Taste? Using the Theory of Planned Behaviour to Predict Plant-Based Milk Consumption

Dairy farming contributes significantly to global greenhouse gas emissions, highlighting the need for a dietary shift toward more sustainable products. Plant-based milks have gained popularity as a lower-calorie, more environmentally sustainable alternative to dairy milk. The aim of this study was t...

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Main Authors: Indita Dorina, Ava Nikpour, Barbara Mullan, Hannah Uren
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Foods
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/11/1970
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author Indita Dorina
Ava Nikpour
Barbara Mullan
Hannah Uren
author_facet Indita Dorina
Ava Nikpour
Barbara Mullan
Hannah Uren
author_sort Indita Dorina
collection DOAJ
description Dairy farming contributes significantly to global greenhouse gas emissions, highlighting the need for a dietary shift toward more sustainable products. Plant-based milks have gained popularity as a lower-calorie, more environmentally sustainable alternative to dairy milk. The aim of this study was to apply an adapted theory of planned behaviour (attitude, subjective norms and behavioural beliefs), expanded to include environmental, health and taste motives, to predict individuals’ intention to consume and consumption of plant-based milks. The participants (<i>N</i> = 286) completed a two-part online questionnaire assessing theory constructs at time one and behaviour at time two. Multiple regression analyses revealed that taste-focused attitude and health-focused behavioural beliefs significantly predicted intention to consume plant-based milks (<i>R</i><sup>2</sup> = 0.53, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Intention was the only significant predictor of plant-based milk consumption (<i>R</i><sup>2</sup> = 0.60, <i>p</i> < 0.001). These findings offer valuable insights into the motivators of plant-based milk consumption. Intentions should be targeted in interventions to encourage plant-based milk consumption by emphasising the taste value and by instilling individuals’ confidence to attain health benefits.
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spelling doaj-art-a966a75bd7bf40d3a64fbf561a9a4fae2025-08-20T03:11:22ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582025-06-011411197010.3390/foods14111970Health, Environment or Taste? Using the Theory of Planned Behaviour to Predict Plant-Based Milk ConsumptionIndita Dorina0Ava Nikpour1Barbara Mullan2Hannah Uren3Behavioural Science and Health Research Group, enAble Research Institute, School of Population Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6102, AustraliaBehavioural Science and Health Research Group, enAble Research Institute, School of Population Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6102, AustraliaBehavioural Science and Health Research Group, enAble Research Institute, School of Population Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6102, AustraliaBehavioural Science and Health Research Group, enAble Research Institute, School of Population Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA 6102, AustraliaDairy farming contributes significantly to global greenhouse gas emissions, highlighting the need for a dietary shift toward more sustainable products. Plant-based milks have gained popularity as a lower-calorie, more environmentally sustainable alternative to dairy milk. The aim of this study was to apply an adapted theory of planned behaviour (attitude, subjective norms and behavioural beliefs), expanded to include environmental, health and taste motives, to predict individuals’ intention to consume and consumption of plant-based milks. The participants (<i>N</i> = 286) completed a two-part online questionnaire assessing theory constructs at time one and behaviour at time two. Multiple regression analyses revealed that taste-focused attitude and health-focused behavioural beliefs significantly predicted intention to consume plant-based milks (<i>R</i><sup>2</sup> = 0.53, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Intention was the only significant predictor of plant-based milk consumption (<i>R</i><sup>2</sup> = 0.60, <i>p</i> < 0.001). These findings offer valuable insights into the motivators of plant-based milk consumption. Intentions should be targeted in interventions to encourage plant-based milk consumption by emphasising the taste value and by instilling individuals’ confidence to attain health benefits.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/11/1970plant-based milkdairy alternativesenvironmental behaviourhealth behaviourtheory of planned behaviour
spellingShingle Indita Dorina
Ava Nikpour
Barbara Mullan
Hannah Uren
Health, Environment or Taste? Using the Theory of Planned Behaviour to Predict Plant-Based Milk Consumption
Foods
plant-based milk
dairy alternatives
environmental behaviour
health behaviour
theory of planned behaviour
title Health, Environment or Taste? Using the Theory of Planned Behaviour to Predict Plant-Based Milk Consumption
title_full Health, Environment or Taste? Using the Theory of Planned Behaviour to Predict Plant-Based Milk Consumption
title_fullStr Health, Environment or Taste? Using the Theory of Planned Behaviour to Predict Plant-Based Milk Consumption
title_full_unstemmed Health, Environment or Taste? Using the Theory of Planned Behaviour to Predict Plant-Based Milk Consumption
title_short Health, Environment or Taste? Using the Theory of Planned Behaviour to Predict Plant-Based Milk Consumption
title_sort health environment or taste using the theory of planned behaviour to predict plant based milk consumption
topic plant-based milk
dairy alternatives
environmental behaviour
health behaviour
theory of planned behaviour
url https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/14/11/1970
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