Green Products Purchase Intention in Chilean Consumers: Comparing Three Models Using Structural Equations / Intención de Compra de Productos Ecológicos en Consumidores Chilenos: Comparación de Tres Modelos por Ecuaciones Estructurales

Abstract The objective of this study was to compare three models: the theory of reasoned action (TRA), the theory of planned behavior (TPB), and its extended form (ETPB), to predict the intention of Chilean consumers for purchasing green products. Five hundred people were surveyed, establishing an inter-rater reliability analysis, and a discriminant, convergent and construct validity using three structural equation models (SEM). The results showed that the ETPB model is useful to explain the consumption behavior intention for green products based on a triple bottom line, whose main contribution is the indirect effect of EC on the model. The study found that of the three variables, PBC was the strongest predictor of purchase intention, followed by attitude. In conclusion, both the ETPB model and the green products purchase intention instrument contribute to broaden the studies about consumer behavior in sustainable marketing in Chile.

Resumen El objetivo del presente estudio fue comparar los modelos de teoría de acción razonada (TAR), teoría de comportamiento planificado (TCP) y su forma extendida (TCPE), para predecir la intención de compra de productos ecológicos en consumidores chilenos. Se encuestaron 500 personas y se estableció un análisis de fiabilidad interjuez, validez discriminante, convergente y de constructo a través de modelos de ecuaciones estructurales (SEM). Los resultados señalan que el modelo TCPE es útil para explicar la intención de comportamiento de consumo ante productos verdes con base en una triple línea de fondo, cuya principal contribución es el efecto indirecto de PA sobre el modelo. De las tres variables, se evidencia que el CCP era la predictora más fuerte de la intención de compra, seguida de la actitud. En conclusión, tanto el modelo TCPE como el instrumento de intención de compra de productos verdes contribuyen a la ampliación de estudios sobre el comportamiento del consumidor en marketing sustentable en Chile.

Microalgae: Cultivation Aspects and Bioactive Compounds

Abstract Microalgae are aquatic unicellular microorganisms that can be found both in freshwater and marine systems; are capable of photosynthesis; and can grow as individual cells or associated in chains or small colonies. Microalgae cultivation has gained large momentum among researchers in the past decades due to their ability to produce value metabolites, remarkable photosynthetic efficiency, and versatile nature. The wide technological potential, and thus increasing amount of scattered knowledge, may become the very first barrier that a post graduating student, or any non-specialist reader, will face when introduced to the subject. In this review paper, we access the core aspects of microalgae technology, covering their main characteristics, and comprehensively presenting the main features of their various cultivation modes and biological activity from metabolites.