'Healthier options tend to get lost in the noise of online' - Australian shoppers' experiences with online grocery platforms.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to understand what influences parents' purchasing behaviours when shopping for groceries online and potential ways to improve the healthiness of online grocery platforms. DESIGN: We conducted semi-structured interviews, guided by the Marketing Mix framework. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse data. SETTING: Online interviews were conducted with primary grocery shoppers. PARTICIPANTS: Parents (n 14) or caregivers (n 2) using online grocery platforms at least every 2 weeks. RESULTS: Most participants perceived purchasing healthy food when shopping for groceries online to be more challenging compared to in physical stores. They expressed concerns about the prominence of online marketing for unhealthy food. Participants from lower socio-economic backgrounds often depended on online supermarket catalogues to find price promotions, but healthy options at discounted prices were limited. Across socio-economic groups, fresh items like meat and fruit were preferred to be purchased instore due to concerns about online food quality.Participants believed online grocery platforms should make healthy foods more affordable and supported regulations on supermarket retailers to promote healthy options and limit unhealthy food promotion online. CONCLUSIONS: Participants had varied experiences with online grocery shopping, with both positive and negative aspects. Efforts to improve population diets need to include mechanisms to create health-enabling online grocery retail platforms. Government interventions to restrict marketing of unhealthy foods and promote marketing of healthy options on these platforms warrant investigation.

Social media heterogeneity and preventive behaviours during the COVID-19 outbreak: a survey on online shopping.

BACKGROUND: Residents' adoption of preventive behaviours proved beneficial in preventing the large-scale transmission of the virus during the early stages of the COVID-19 outbreak. It is critical to investigate how social media triggers residents' preventive behaviour decisions during the COVID-19 outbreak. METHODS: This paper selected online shopping as a specific preventive behaviour for empirical investigation. An online cross-sectional survey was conducted through the Sojump website from 1 to 15 March 2020, and a total of 1,289 valid questionnaires were collected from China. This paper uses multiple regression analysis to investigate the heterogeneous impacts of different information sources on residents' online shopping willingness and online shopping behaviour and the heterogeneous impacts of different information content in social media on the transformation of residents' online shopping willingness and online shopping behaviour. RESULTS: The findings indicate that both official-media and self-media positively promote residents' online shopping willingness and behaviour, with official-media having a stronger promotional effect than self-media. Furthermore, official-media and self-media can collaboratively promote residents' online shopping willingness and online shopping behaviour. The ease-of-use and usefulness of information significantly promoted the transformation of residents' online shopping willingness. CONCLUSIONS: This study analyses the heterogeneous impacts of social media on residents' preventive behaviours from the perspectives of information source differentiation and information content differentiation, which enriches related studies and provides feasible paths for promoting residents' preventive behaviours.

Current food labelling practices in online supermarkets in Australia.

BACKGROUND: Food product labelling can support consumer decision-making. Several food product labels (nutrition information panels (NIPs), ingredients lists, allergen declarations and country-of-origin) are mandated for physical product packaging in Australia, with a voluntary front-of-pack nutrition labelling system, Health Star Ratings (HSRs), also available. However, labelling requirements are not explicitly extended to online settings and the extent to which this information is available in these increasingly important food environments has not been assessed. METHODS: Data from all individual food product pages was collected from the online stores of the two dominant supermarket retailers in Australia using automated web scraping in April-May 2022 (n = 22,077 products collected). We assessed the proportion of pages displaying NIPs, ingredients, allergens, country-of-origin and HSRs after excluding products ineligible to display the respective label. We also assessed whether HSRs were differentially available for higher- (healthier) and lower-scoring (less healthy) products, with HSR scores drawn from a comprehensive Australian food composition database, FoodSwitch. A manual inspection of randomly selected product pages (n = 100 for each label type per supermarket), drawn from products displaying the relevant label, was conducted to assess whether the labels were immediately visible to users (i.e. without scrolling or clicking). Differences in labelling prevalence and visibility were compared using chi-squared tests. RESULTS: Across both supermarkets, country-of-origin labelling was almost complete (displayed on 93% of food product pages), but NIPs (49%), ingredients (34%) and allergens (53%) were less frequently displayed. HSRs were infrequently displayed (14% across both supermarkets) and more likely to be applied to higher-scoring products (22% on products with ≥ 3.5HSR v 0.4% on products with < 3.5HSR, p < 0.001). One supermarket was far more likely to make NIPs (100% v 2%, p < 0.001), ingredients (100% v 19%, p < 0.001) and allergens (97% v 0%, p < 0.001) information immediately visible, though the other made HSRs more apparent (22% v 75%, p < 0.001). Both supermarkets displayed country-of-origin labels prominently (100% v 86%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Food product labelling varies in online supermarkets in Australia overall and between supermarkets, while the design of online stores resulted in differences in labelling visibility. The near-complete display of country-of-origin labels and differential application of HSRs to higher-scoring products may reflect their use as marketing tools. Our findings highlight an urgent need for food labelling regulations to be updated to better account for online retail food environments.

Not All E-commerce Emits Equally: Systematic Quantitative Review of Online and Store Purchases' Carbon Footprint.

Although it has been studied extensively throughout the past 20 years, the environmental impact of e-commerce can still be considered a controversial subject. Particularly for those wondering whether online shopping constitutes a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional store-based shopping, evidence can be found that quantitatively supports affirmative as well as opposing claims. Findings differ widely because the contexts and assumptions of the studies from which they are drawn differ widely as well. To advance our understanding of this question and inform actions that can actually reduce the environmental impact of shopping, we carried out a systematic quantitative review of environmental impact assessments that compares the carbon footprint of online and store purchases. Based on over twenty scientific studies, we compiled a dataset of 244 purchases, their estimated carbon footprint and information on the contextual, distribution, behavioral, and geographical conditions on which the calculations are based. We conclude from the reviewed studies that online purchases generally generate a lower carbon footprint than store purchases, but only in the case of car-dependent lifestyles, and possibly only because the studies largely overlook transformations in consumer behavior and in the consumption landscape.

Transition from physical to online shopping alternatives due to the COVID-19 pandemic - A case study of Italy and Sweden.

Using 530 responses from an online questionnaire, this study aims to investigate the transition from physical to online shopping alternatives during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic at the individual level. The focus areas of the study are Sweden and Italy, two European countries that implemented contrasting prevention measures. This study analyses the impacts of the pandemic on the transition to online shopping activities, and identifies who among the respondents changed their shopping behaviour the most and how; and what the different shopping strategies are and who adopted them. Multivariate statistical analyses, including linear and binary logistic regressions and multinomial logit models, were used to analyse the dataset. In the analysis, the dataset was split between Italy and Sweden to take into account the contrasting prevention measures and the different social and economic backgrounds of the two countries; the results of this study confirm and highlight these differences. Moreover, the socio-demographic and household structures of the respondents were found to influence the amount and the direction of change in shopping behaviour during the first wave of the pandemic. The study also indicates some policies that can be implemented and/or further strengthened to increase the resilience of citizens in facing pandemics and to derive benefit from the behavioural changes that took place during the first wave of the pandemic.

The COVID-19 state sales tax windfall.

Policymakers were surprised to find increases in sales tax revenues in 2020 due to expectations that they would drop 8-20%. We investigate this puzzle and provide novel insights into consumption taxes based on this experience. Using a case study from the State of Utah, we document that shifts in the structure of consumption played a significant role in the robustness of sales tax revenue. Two factors stand out in our results. The first factor is the structure of the tax base for sales taxes in the USA. This tax base covers only a subset of personal consumption, excluding, for example, many services. During the pandemic, when services were restricted or shut down, this caused a shift in spending toward goods that are more likely to be in the sales tax base. The second factor is the boom in e-commerce during the pandemic, which boosted sales tax collections. This was catalyzed by recent legal changes that made the collection of sales taxes in e-commerce easier. Interestingly, this e-commerce boost also shifted the point of sale and related sales tax revenues away from urban areas toward suburban areas. Our case study of the pandemic's effect on sales taxes in the USA generally, and Utah's experience specifically, provides lessons for consumption taxes, such as the VAT more broadly, and lessons on the role of consumption taxes for tax revenue volatility.

Technological Addictions.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Modern methods of communication and engagement, such as social media, video games, and online shopping, use a variety of behavioral techniques to encourage and reward frequent use, opening the door to addiction. The technological addictions (TAs) are a set of disorders that accompany the technological advances that define the digital age. The TAs are an active source of research in the literature, with promising treatment options already available. RECENT FINDINGS: There are promising therapeutic and psychopharmacologic treatments for a broad range of TAs. Stimulants, antidepressants, and cognitive therapies may all be effective for internet gaming disorder (IGD). Cognitive therapies may be effective for other TAs, such as social media addiction (SMA), online shopping addiction (OSA), and online porn addiction. Society's dependence on addictive technologies will only increase. Many of the TAs can be addressed with medication and therapy, with more research and literature developing at a rapid pace.

Environmental assessment of recycling waste corrugated cartons from online shopping of Chinese university students.

College students in China are among the main consumers of online shopping and the corrugated cartons used to ship items are piling up on campus. However, the generation characteristics of waste corrugated cartons (WCCs) in universities and the environmental consequences along their recycling pathway remain to be addressed. Taking Nanjing University (NJU) as an example, this study conducted a questionnaire survey on campus to analyze the generation characteristics of WCCs and evaluated the life cycle environmental impacts of their recycling process using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method. The results showed that WCC generation on campus varied by educational level, sex, grade and major, with doctoral students and female students being more active in online shopping and thus generating more WCCs. It was further estimated that a total of 0.27 Mt of WCCs were generated by college students in China in 2020, of which recycling would result in 0.31 Mt of CO2 eq of GHG emissions. Pulping and papermaking processes are the main contributors to the life cycle environmental impacts of WCC recycling, together accounting for at least 77% of the total. This study suggests the need for joint efforts from universities, students, and recycling enterprises to reduce WCC generation in Chinese universities and to make its recycling chain more environmentally sustainable.

The Long-Term effects of COVID-19 on travel behavior in the United States: A panel study on work from home, mode choice, online shopping, and air travel.

A critical challenge facing transportation planners is to identify the type and the extent of changes in people's activity-travel behavior in the post-Covid-19 pandemic world. In this study, we investigate the travel behavior evolution by analyzing a longitudinal two-wave panel survey data conducted in the United States from April 2020 to May 2021. Encompassing nearly 3,000 respondents across different states, we explored the effects of the pandemic on four major categories of work from home, travel mode choice, online shopping, and air travel. We utilized descriptive and econometric measures, including random effects ordered probit models, to shed light on the pandemic-induced changes and the underlying factors affecting the future of mobility in the post-pandemic world. Upon concrete evidence, our findings substantiate significant observed (i.e., during the pandemic) and expected (i.e., after the pandemic) changes in people's habits and preferences. According to our results, 48% of the respondents anticipate having the option to WFH after the pandemic, which indicates an approximately 30% increase compared to the pre-pandemic period. In the post-pandemic period, auto and transit commuters are expected to be 9% and 31% less than pre-pandemic, respectively. A considerable rise in hybrid work and grocery online shopping is expected. Moreover, 41% of pre-covid business travelers expect to have fewer flights (after the pandemic) while only 8% anticipate more, compared to the pre-pandemic.

Measuring consumers' level of satisfaction for online food shopping during COVID-19 in Italy using POSETs.

The pandemic COVID 19 has upset the economic, social, financial, and general behavioral systems. Global crisis has a large impact overall and related fallouts significantly affect existent structural paradigms in every country and region across the world. In particular, the spread of COVID-19 pandemic has led to having to rethink the way we produce and consume food. Within this global change, a rise in the number of consumers who purchase food products online in order to comply with the rules aimed at limiting the circulation of the virus should be emphasized. Consequently, probably causing a long-term positive effect on m-commerce. The purpose is to elaborate on the index of the satisfaction level of consumers of purchasing food online via food shopping channels, by using key factors that characterize the online spending behavior. The analysis was carried out by collection of data deriving from an anonymous online questionnaire administrated via social networks and emails, during the 'hot' months of the pandemic progression in Italy, which is March-May 2020. We analyse both dimensions of customer satisfaction (process and outcome), by means of two systems of indicators. We reduce their complexity using synthesis obtained with the Partially ordered set. Results highlight the differences between the two dimensions of customer satisfaction. Online shopping can surely contribute to reduction of food waste thanks to elimination of frenzied shopping routines at supermarkets and can open space to new fields of study. On the other hand, defining an index of the consumer's satisfaction can alter sales strategies of m-commerce managers and entrepreneurs.

Analysis and modeling of changes in online shopping behavior due to Covid-19 pandemic: A Florida case study.

The emergence of eCommerce and online shopping commenced a new episode in human life and changed trading patterns. Online shopping provided access to a broader range of products and facilitated their delivery, which increased demand. To respond to the increased demand, more heavy commercial vehicles need to be on the roads to deliver orders. This is while the road infrastructure is not ready for such a swift shift, and most roads and bridges were planned and constructed during the 19s when online shopping was not coined yet. The continued increase of heavy vehicles on roads can intensify the deterioration of roads and structures such as bridges. Therefore, there is a significant need for an update on new shopping trends, especially changes in people's behavior due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, and to assess if the pandemic permanently changed the trends of in-store and online shopping. This study first examines the NHTS 2017 data to find the attributes that are significant to online shoppers' behavior. Then a survey is developed to scrutinize Covid-19 effects on the online shopping behavior of users before, during, and after the Covid-19 pandemic. 206 records of data are interpreted through descriptive analysis and discrete choice modeling of users' responses to find the most significant attributes affecting their online shopping behavior. The findings of discrete choice modeling and descriptive analysis support that people tend to go back to stores after the pandemic. The findings of this study show that online and in-store shopping would be balanced after the pandemic and would pursue their normal trends as they were before the pandemic. Based on the findings of this study, it is hard to state that online shopping can vanish in-store shopping due to Covid-19. People still need to go to stores to fulfill their needs for the joy of shopping, interactions with other people, and touching the products they would like to buy. Therefore, transportation stakeholders need to pay special attention to both in-store and online shopping for their planning and operation management of ground transportation infrastructure.

Managing Problematic Usage of the Internet and Related Disorders in an Era of Diagnostic Transition: An Updated Review.

INTRODUCTION: Problematic Usage of the Internet (PUI) refers to a broad and likely heterogeneous group of Internet-related conditions associated with behavioural disturbances and functional impairment. METHODS: Within PUI several conditions have been reported, including Gaming Disorder, Shopping Addiction, Cyberchondria, Gambling Disorder, Cyberpornography Addiction and Cyberbullying. While increasing reports in the field try to define the epidemiologic and clinical boundaries of these conditions, the rapid and continuous evolution of Internet related behaviours as well as their problematic/pathological expressions are often difficult to diagnose, assess, approach with treatment interventions and follow-up. RESULTS: In addition, some of the PUI-related conditions show characteristics of addiction to the Internet as a preferential tool to engage in specific behaviours, while some others exclusively manifest on the Internet, making it necessary to find distinct assessment and treatment pathways. CONCLUSION: The inclusion of Internet Gaming Disorder in Section III by the DSM-5 and the recognition of Gaming Disorder by the ICD-11 opened the way for a systematic clinical investigation of this and other PUI-related conditions, particularly in terms of preventive and therapeutic strategies. The present article is aimed at offering an updated clinical overview on the main expressions of PUI, focussing on the latest acquisitions in this evolving field.

An Environmental Dilemma for China During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Explosion of Disposable Plastic Wastes.

Plastic pollution control has been on top of the political agenda in China. In January 2020, China announced a phased ban on the production and usage of various types of single-use plastics as a solution to environmental pollution problems. However, the outbreak of COVID-19 seems to be a new obstacle to the ban on single-use plastic products. To basically satisfied the daily necessities and contain the spread of SARS-CoV-2 under the background of the regular epidemic prevention and control in China, online ordering, contactless delivery and wearing mask have become an important and feasible way of daily life. However, the unrestrained use of disposable plastic bags, lunch boxes and masks within the nationwide quarantine leads to hundreds of millions of plastics wastes every day. The potential environmental pollution caused by the use of disposable plastic products during the pandemic should arouse social concern. The Chinese government should manage environmental protection in parallel with anti-pandemic endeavors as the situation of the pandemic evolves.

Nudging while online grocery shopping: A randomized feasibility trial to enhance nutrition in individuals with food insecurity.

Food insecurity, the inability to acquire adequate food due to insufficient resources for food, is associated with an increased risk for obesity and associated health problems. This study assessed the feasibility and initial efficacy of a prefilled online grocery shopping cart (i.e., default option) in promoting healthier grocery purchases in individuals with food insecurity. Fifty participants recruited from food pantries in New York in 2018 were randomized to review nutrition information before purchasing groceries online (n = 23) or modify a prefilled, nutritionally balanced online shopping cart (n = 27) based on a budget corresponding to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. Compared to nutrition education, the default shopping cart resulted in the purchase of significantly more ounces of whole grains (Mean Difference [Mdiff] = -4.05; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] = -6.14, -1.96; p < .001), cups of fruits (Mdiff = -1.51; 95% CI = -2.51, -0.59; p = .002) and vegetables (Mdiff = -2.21; 95% CI = -4.01, -0.41; p = .02), foods higher in fiber (mg; Mdiff = -15.65; 95% CI = -27.43, -3.87; p = .01), and lower in sodium (mg; Mdiff = 1642.66; 95% CI = 660.85, 2624.48; p = .002), cholesterol (mg; Mdiff = 463.86; 95% CI = 198.76, 728.96; p = .001), and grams of fat (Mdiff = 75.42; 95% CI = 42.81, 108.03; p < .001) and saturated fat (Mdiff = 26.20; 95% CI = 14.07, 38.34; p < .001). The use of a default online shopping cart appears to improve nutritional quality of food purchases in individuals facing financial constraints.

Prominent positioning and food swaps are effective interventions to reduce the saturated fat content of the shopping basket in an experimental online supermarket: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Interventions to reduce the saturated fat (SFA) content of food purchases may help reduce SFA consumption and lower cardiovascular risk. This factorial RCT aimed to examine the effect of altering the default order of foods and being offered a swap on the SFA content of food selected during an online shopping experiment. METHODS: UK adults who were the primary grocery shoppers for their household were recruited online and invited to select items in a custom-made experimental online supermarket using a 10-item shopping list. Participants were randomly allocated to one of four groups (i) to see products within a category ranked in ascending order of SFA content, (ii) receive an offer to swap to a product with less SFA, (iii) a combination of both interventions, or (iv) no intervention. The primary outcome was the difference in percentage energy from SFA in the shopping basket between any of the four groups. The outcome assessors and statistician were blinded to intervention allocation. RESULTS: Between March and July 2018, 1240 participants were evenly randomised and 1088 who completed the task were analysed (88%). Participants were 65% female and aged 38y (SD 12). Compared with no intervention (n = 275) where the percentage energy from SFA was 25.7% (SD 5.6%), altering the order of foods (n = 261) reduced SFA by [mean difference (95%CI)] -5.0% (- 6.3 to - 3.6) and offering swaps (n = 279) by - 2.0% (- 3.3 to - 0.6). The combined intervention (n = 273) was significantly more effective than swaps alone (- 3.4% (- 4.7 to - 2.1)) but not different than altering the order alone (- 0.4% (- 1.8 to 0.9)), p = 0.04 for interaction. CONCLUSIONS: Altering the default order to show foods in ascending order of SFA and offering a swap with lower SFA reduced percentage energy from SFA in an experimental online supermarket. Environmental-level interventions, such as altering the default order, may be a more promising way to improve food purchasing than individual-level ones, such as offering swaps. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ISRCTN13729526 https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN13729526 26th February 2018.

Online selling of wildlife part with spurious name: a serious challenge for wildlife crime enforcement.

We examined an online sold product "Hatha Jodi" synonym of "paired arm" for the confirmation of its biological source. It was declared as a plant root. The morphological features of these samples were matched with the "intromittent organs" or "hemi penis" of the monitor lizard. For further confirmation, we used sequencing of a partial fragment of mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b gene. Sequence comparison indicated that these claimed plant products were actually biological samples of a common monitor lizard, Varanus bengalensis. Hence, it exhibited the ongoing illegal trade of the intromittent organ of a prohibited species with a misleading name using low risk and widely adopted modern trading method that imposes a severe challenge for combating against the wildlife crime.

Vendors' Perceptions and Experiences with WIC Online Shopping Implementation.

Background: Online shopping (OS) holds promise for improving the shopping experience for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). However, little is known about vendors' perspectives on implementing OS in the context of WIC. Objectives: The present study aimed to understand vendors' experiences, needs, and barriers to WIC OS implementation. Methods: We recruited vendors at various stages of WIC OS planning and implementation (n = 16). Semistructured interviews were conducted, transcribed, and coded using subconstructs of the i-PARIHS framework domains (e.g., Characteristics of the Innovation, recipient, context, and facilitation) to assess determinants related to adoption and implementation of WIC OS among vendors. Results: Interviewees represented various organizations, including local (n = 5), regional (n = 4), and national (n = 5) entities, along with enablement platforms (n = 2). The interviews yielded themes related to experiences planning and implementing a WIC OS system (n = 7) and perceived needs and barriers (n = 3). Vendors drew on prior experiences with Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) OS to inform WIC OS projects, stressing the importance of building relationships and collaborating, particularly in technical partnerships, during WIC OS implementation. They also highlighted the value of leveraging existing OS systems to implement WIC OS projects, discussed WIC OS perceived benefits, emphasized the role of educating staff and participants on its usage, and valued WIC OS implementation guidance provided by WIC agencies. Needs and barriers for vendors contemplating WIC OS implementation included the need for evidence of successful implementation of WIC OS projects, understanding current regulatory implications, and appraising existing priorities and financial considerations for adopting and implementing WIC OS. Conclusions: WIC OS innovations are integral to modernizing the federal food assistance program. The present study highlights the role of vendor engagement, collaboration, guidance from WIC agencies, and knowledge sharing in ensuring WIC OS success. These insights can inform how WIC State agencies engage vendors to implement WIC OS.

Role of self-control, financial attitude, depression, anxiety, and stress in predicting consumers' online shopping addiction.

Online shopping addiction is a behavior that creates serious problems and has become increasingly prevalent in modern society. When addressing online shopping addiction, the direct or indirect causes of individuals' shopping actions must be taken into consideration. The present study aims to examine the effects of self-control, financial attitude, depression, anxiety, and stress on online shopping addiction by determining online shopping addiction, self-control, and financial attitude levels of consumers. The sample of this study consists of 694 voluntarily participating consumers selected through convenience sampling methods from a city in Türkiye. Data were collected through Google Forms and uploaded to the SPSS 25.0 package program. During the research process, the relationship patterns between self-control, financial attitude, depression, anxiety, and stress on online shopping addiction were examined by using structural equation modeling. It was determined in this study that consumers have moderate levels of financial attitude and self-control, and low levels of online shopping addiction. Given the results related to the relationships and hypotheses between variables, anxiety, depression, and financial attitude were found to have statistically significant effects on online shopping addiction, whereas stress and self-control were found to not have a significant effect. Within the scope of this study, it was identified that anxiety and depression positively affect online shopping addiction, whereas financial attitude has a negative effect.

The Mediating Role of Affect Dysregulation and Dissociation in the Relationship Between Attachment and Compulsive Online Shopping: A Path Analysis Model.

Objective: Online shopping has been described by the scientific literature both for its benefits and the potential risks when excessive usage is involved. Indeed, compulsive online shopping is commonly conceptualized as a potential behavioural addiction that substantially impacts the lives of individuals afflicted by it. In light of this, the present research aimed at exploring the association between possible risk and protective factors for compulsive online shopping, by specifically exploring the role of adult attachment, affect dysregulation, and dissociation. Method: 285 participants (75% females, 25% males; Mage = 31.57, SD = 11.379) were involved in the research and completed an online survey. The collected data was analysed implementing a path analysis model. Results: Results showed significant total effects in the relationship between secure/fearful attachment patterns and compulsive online shopping. Such associations were significantly mediated by the sequential effect of affect dysregulation and dissociation. Conclusions: The present study provides useful information to guide tailored interventions concerning both preventive activity and clinical practice.