Green Purchasing and Consumption within Sustainable Economic Discourse: A Bibliometric Systematic Review

Abstract

This study examines how research on green purchasing and consumption is positioned within broader sustainable economic discourse through a bibliometric systematic review. Using the PRISMA 2020 framework, 86 peer-reviewed open-access journal articles indexed in Scopus (2016–2026) were systematically identified and analyzed. Bibliometric mapping with VOSviewer was employed to explore keyword co-occurrence, thematic clustering, density structures, and temporal evolution. The findings show a marked increase in publications after 2020, indicating growing scholarly attention to linking consumer behavior with sustainability-oriented economic discussions. Network and density visualizations identify green economy and consumption behavior as dominant thematic anchors, while green purchase intention and consumer attitude remain central explanatory constructs. Overlay analysis reveals a progression from macro-level sustainability concerns toward behaviorally oriented and empirically refined investigations. Despite these connections, the literature exhibits a structural imbalance. Micro-level behavioral models are more developed than macro-level economic transformation frameworks. The study highlights the need to integrate institutional mechanisms, governance structures, and production–consumption linkages to better align consumer behavior research with broader sustainable economic transitions.