Byte into Sustainability: A Scoping Review of Digital Food Environment Attributes Influencing Consumers’ Sustainable Food Perceptions and Behaviors

Published: October 27, 2025
Source: International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity

Background

Current global food systems contribute significantly to environmental degradation, depletion of natural resources, and human health challenges such as undernourishment and obesity. Policymakers worldwide emphasize transitioning to sustainable food systems, aligned with initiatives like the EU Green Deal and UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Digitization has transformed how consumers interact with food, introducing the concept of the digital food environment—an online space where digital actors (e.g., influencers, platforms) shape food-related experiences. This environment encompasses various platforms including e-commerce, social media, and documentaries, offering potential avenues to promote sustainable diets.

Objective

This scoping review seeks to:

1. Map the current body of research on the relationship between digital food environment attributes and consumers’ sustainable food outcomes.
2. Identify specific digital attributes that influence consumers’ sustainability-related perceptions, attitudes, intentions, and behaviors across social, economic, and environmental dimensions.

Methodology

• Systematic search of Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus for English-language peer-reviewed articles published between 2014-2024.
• Inclusion criteria required studies to investigate at least one digital food environment attribute affecting sustainable food outcomes, defined by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) sustainability dimensions.
• Studies included quantitative (91%), qualitative, and mixed methods research; mostly from high-income countries (46.9%), involving general adult populations (88.3%).
• A total of 57 articles met all criteria for inclusion. This review followed PRISMA-ScR guidelines and was preregistered with PROSPERO and the Open Science Framework.

Key Findings

Growth & Geographic Focus

• Research has steadily increased since 2014, reflecting rising academic interest.
• Majority of studies focus on high-income countries, indicating a gap in low- and middle-income regions.

Digital Media Studied

• Five digital media types were identified with 86 discrete digital attributes studied.
• E-commerce platforms dominated the research landscape (57.9%), particularly regarding informative messaging (e.g., product carbon footprints) and platform design features.
• Social media accounted for 28.1%, focusing mainly on marketing tactics by influencers and brands to affect sustainable food choices.
• Other media, such as documentaries, accounted for less than 10%, showing underrepresentation.

Digital Attributes Influencing Sustainability Outcomes

• Informative features like sustainability labels and product sorting filters on e-commerce sites positively impacted consumers’ purchase intentions.
• Social media influencers contributed to attitude and behavioral shifts towards sustainable diets by promoting reduced meat consumption and plant-based alternatives.
• Platform design encouraging user engagement and community sharing fostered sustainable food perceptions.

Conclusion and Recommendations

This review confirms a growing but still fragmented research focus on how digital food environment attributes shape sustainable food outcomes. While e-commerce and social media dominate the discourse, underexplored media and consumer experiences warrant further study.

Future research should:

• Expand beyond high-income country contexts to include diverse populations.
• Investigate a wider range of digital media, including emerging platforms and formats.
• Explore deeper consumer-experience dimensions and their interaction with digital attributes.

This comprehensive understanding could help stakeholders, from marketers to policymakers, harness digital environments to promote sustainable food choices effectively.

Implications for Sustainable and Organic Food Advocates

• Leverage e-commerce tools: Highlight sustainability certifications and carbon footprints visibly to influence consumer choices online.
• Engage digital influencers: Collaborate with trusted online personalities to normalize sustainable eating practices.
• Design interactive platforms: Encourage community participation that supports knowledge sharing on sustainable food.

Harnessing the digital food environment strategically can accelerate shifts towards sustainable diets beneficial to both planetary and human health.

For a sustainable lifestyle, understanding and engaging with digital food attributes is crucial in today’s connected world.

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