This study aims to examine the effects of brand attachment on brand authenticity, brand image, and revisit intention, as well as the effects of brand authenticity on brand image and revisit intention, while investigating the moderating role of greenwa...
This study aims to examine the effects of brand attachment on brand authenticity, brand image, and revisit intention, as well as the effects of brand authenticity on brand image and revisit intention, while investigating the moderating role of greenwashing awareness in these relationships within the context of increasing importance of eco-friendly marketing and ESG management. The study specifically targets the coffee specialty shop industry, where eco-friendly marketing is active yet frequently accompanied by greenwashing controversies, focusing on Starbucks.
The research method involved a survey of consumers who had visited a Starbucks coffee shop within the past year, with 294 valid responses used for empirical analysis. Data were analyzed using SPSS 24.0 and Amos 24.
The key findings are as follows:
First, brand attachment positively influences brand authenticity.
Second, brand attachment positively influences both brand image and revisit intention.
Third, brand authenticity positively influences both brand image and revisit intention.
Fourth, contrary to the hypothesis that greenwashing awareness would weaken the relationship between brand attachment and brand image, it exhibited a positive moderating effect.
Fifth, greenwashing awareness showed no moderating effect on the relationship between brand attachment and revisit intention.
Sixth, greenwashing awareness negatively moderated the relationship between brand authenticity and brand image.
Seventh, greenwashing awareness showed no moderating effect on the relationship between brand authenticity and revisit intention.
Eighth, brand authenticity mediated the effects of brand attachment on both brand image and revisit intention.
This study holds theoretical significance by extending prior research, which has primarily treated brand authenticity as an antecedent of brand attachment, by empirically demonstrating the possibility of a reverse causal relationship where brand attachment influences perceptions of brand authenticity. Furthermore, it deepens understanding of consumer-brand relationships in the eco-friendly marketing context by integrating brand attachment, brand authenticity, cognitive evaluation (brand image), and behavioral outcomes (revisit intention), while verifying the moderating effects of greenwashing awareness.
Practically, the findings suggest that firms developing eco-friendly marketing strategies should consider consumers' levels of greenwashing awareness and emphasize consistent, transparent communication to avoid undermining brand attachment and authenticity.