An Extended TPB–VBN Model of Sustainable Consumption Intention and Behavior Among Engineering University Students in the Context of Sustainable Development Goal 12 (SDG 12)

Sustainable consumption has become a central pillar of Sustainable Development Goal 12 (SDG 12), as current consumption patterns continue to generate significant environmental impacts. Although environmental awareness has increased, understanding the factors that drive sustainable consumption behavior remains an important challenge, particularly among university students in emerging economies. This study aimed to analyze the determinants of sustainable consumption behavior among engineering students using an extended Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) model incorporating environmental awareness. A quantitative, cross-sectional design was employed using a structured questionnaire administered to 668 engineering students. The proposed relationships were evaluated through covariance-based structural equation modeling (SEM). The findings confirmed that attitude toward sustainable consumption was the strongest predictor of sustainable consumption intention (β = 0.93), while intention exerted a substantial positive effect on sustainable consumption behavior (β = 0.79). In addition, perceived behavioral control positively influenced sustainable consumption behavior (β = 0.27), whereas environmental awareness contributed indirectly by strengthening pro-sustainability attitudes. Overall, the results support the explanatory power of the extended TPB model, highlighting the complementary role of environmental awareness in promoting sustainable consumption behavior. This study contributes to the sustainable consumption literature by providing empirical evidence from engineering students in a Latin American context and offers practical implications for higher education institutions seeking to promote responsible consumption through educational strategies aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 12.