Brand sustainability among young consumers: an AHP-TOPSIS approach

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to identify the dominant brand attributes based on the survey conducted among 100 young consumers to know their perceptions toward sustainable brands, using multi-criteria decision-making (MCDM) techniques, arithmetic hierarchical process (AHP) and technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS).

Design/methodology/approach

In total, 100 young consumers (18 to 24 age group) were asked to provide the pairwise comparisons for the 10 brands. MCDM methods were applied on triple bottom line dimensions to identify the best alternative. AHP is applied to compute weights for the brands’ attributes necessary for brand’s sustainability, further analyzed by TOPSIS method to rank Forbes’ top 10 brands as per young consumers’ intentions to buy.

Findings

Apple is the most sustainable brand perceived by young consumers followed by Google and Samsung. Being the top brand in Forbes list Apple also fulfills its responsibility toward the environment and recognizes young consumers’ perception accurately. Google is also contending with the same strategy and succeed in achieving a sustainable brand image. Samsung despite at number seven and second-highest revenues after Apple has managed excellently in building sustainable brand image.

Research limitations/implications

Findings have shown that the top global brands do not show the same order as they exhibit in their top ranking (Forbes, 2019), and thus, create a research gap to be fulfilled by identifying the causes for the same. The results show that brand consistency and performance can be achieved through implementing sustainable and green practices such as acting social responsibility, high-quality green products, environment protection, etc., and transforming these into capabilities.

Practical implications

The study is an attempt to further validate Forbes’s top brands based on their perception among young customers. The study may help practitioners and policymakers to understand and get familiar with a new methodology to evaluate brands and also how to develop a positioning strategy for targeting young consumers. The paper will be a useful source of information for marketers to know how young consumers from developing countries perceive top brands on the basis of sustainability.

Social implications

The social benefits of brand sustainability are related to improvements in the quality of environment, health and well-being. To link these, an enabling environment must be created that optimizes resource use, allocation and distribution.

Originality/value

The study is a unique attempt to use AHP and TOPSIS to evaluate the best – performing green brand from the perception of young customers in developing counties. Besides, the study provides brands attributes’ framework for sustainability and is significant for developing a model as per the choices of the young consumers.

Citation

Sharma, M. and Joshi, S. (2019), "Brand sustainability among young consumers: an AHP-TOPSIS approach", Young Consumers, Vol. 20 No. 4, pp. 314-337. https://doi.org/10.1108/YC-12-2018-0914