Exploring the Impact of Socio-Economic Dynamics, Product Cost Perception on Environmental Education, and Sustainable Consumer Behavior: A Household Level Analysis

To achieve environmental sustainability, especially in developing nations, the world needs immediate action because of present environmental trends. Sustainable consumer behavior (SCB) is very important for both improving environmental sustainability and mitigating climate change. Libya is dealing with increasing environmental problems, such as desertification, water shortages, and inadequate waste management. However, there are limited studies on factors influencing SCB at the household level in Libya from a social and economic point of view. This study investigates the socio-economic, attitudinal, and educational determinants of SCB among households in Libya. The primary objective is to examine the direct effects of socio-economic characteristics, environmental concern, price consciousness, and environmental education (EE) on SCB, as well as the mediating role of EE. A quantitative research design was employed using survey data collected from approximately 500 households. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was applied to test the hypothesized relationships. The results indicate that education, income, environmental concern, price consciousness, and environmental education significantly influence SCB, while EE plays a key mediating role between several antecedents and sustainable behavior. The findings highlight the importance of environmental education in facilitating sustainable consumption in economically constrained contexts and provide insights for policy interventions in Libya.