Introduction. The aim of this paper is to provide a synthetic and critical analysis of the literature on the segmentation of Generation Z consumers in the context of their willingness to consume sustainable food containing edible insects. An integrative literature review was conducted, covering publications from 2015 to 2025 indexed in Scopus, Web of Science, EBSCO and BazEkon. The analysis included quantitative, qualitative and experimental studies addressing the sustainable consumption of insect-based foods and consumer segmentation. The findings were synthesized within a comparative framework, with particular emphasis on psychographic and behavioral approaches.
Results and conclusions. The results indicate that Generation Z demonstrates a high level of declared pro-environmental orientation, which is not fully reflected in actual consumer behavior. The cross-study analysis reveals recurring segmentation patterns, regardless of geographical context or methodological approach. The predominance of self-reported data, the frequent use of non-representative samples and the lack of standardization in the variables analyzed limit the comparability of findings and their generalizability. Moreover, the cross-sectional design of most studies prevents the assessment of segment stability over time. These limitations point to the need for longitudinal and cross-cultural research, as well as for studies integrating declarative measures with actual consumer behavior. The findings suggest that communication strategies should be adapted to consumers‟ levels of neophobia and risk perception, while greater emphasis should be placed on product forms that reduce the visibility of the insect component. This paper contributes to the literature by integrating dispersed research findings and synthesizing them from a segmentation perspective. It identifies recurring consumer typologies and systematizes the determinants of acceptance of sustainable food containing edible insects, thereby providing a foundation for further theoretical and empirical research.