Toggle Main Menu Toggle Search

Open Access padlockePrints

Antecedents and outcomes of customer engagement with climate-friendly transportation services

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Saleh Bazi, Dr Chloe HuangORCiD, Professor Matthew GortonORCiD, Dr Barbara ToccoORCiD

Downloads


Licence

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).


Abstract

Despite widespread awareness of climate change, more environmentally friendly products often struggle to generate customer engagement (CE). To address this disconnect, the paper investigates the antecedents and outcomes of CE with climate-friendly services in the transportation sector through two empirical studies. Study 1 uses an online experiment (n = 261) to investigate CE with an e‑cargo bike delivery service, employing PLS-SEM to test how openness-to-experience, conscientiousness, and message framing affect CE. Results show that both personality traits positively influence CE, and that altruistic message appeals generate significantly higher CE than egoistic appeals. CE, in turn, enhances consumer attitudes and purchase intentions. Study 2 (n = 400) extends the investigation to an EV hire service, testing the psychological mechanism underpinning message framing effects. It identifies that altruistic appeals enhance self-worth, which in turn increases CE with climate-friendly services. Together, the studies advance CE theory and offer guidance for designing communication strategies.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Bazi S, Huang J, Gorton M, Tocco B

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Journal of Business Research

Year: 2026

Volume: 214

Print publication date: 01/09/2026

Online publication date: 22/05/2026

Acceptance date: 10/05/2026

Date deposited: 22/05/2026

ISSN (print): 0148-2963

ISSN (electronic): 1873-7978

Publisher: Elsevier Inc.

URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2026.116285

DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusres.2026.116285


Altmetrics

Altmetrics provided by Altmetric


Funding

Funder referenceFunder name
National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise (NICRE) (RED-2019-07)
Research England

Share