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"Eco-labeling."
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Consumer perception and behavior for sustainable market success
The bioeconomy is one of the most significant economic sectors in the global economy, and numerous biobased products and services have been developed in recent years. Most assessments in the field of biobased products focus on process development, technologies, and sustainability assessment. In addition to the most common focus, one of the key areas is the understanding of consumer trends, which are a critical factor in biobased products. These trends are driven by psychological, economic, social, and cultural factors, and their assessment must be developed considering factors like gender, age, income, regional culture, and labeling. Developing effective strategies to introduce biobased products into the market is essential for advancing sustainable development and must be given due emphasis.
Journal Article
Global Coverage of Agricultural Sustainability Standards, and Their Role in Conserving Biodiversity
Voluntary sustainability standards have increased in uptake over the last decade; here, we explore their potential contribution to biodiversity conservation and other aspects of agricultural sustainability. We reviewed the content of 12 major crop standards and quantified their global coverage. All standards included some provisions for the protection of biodiversity, but we only identified two with criteria that prohibited all deforestation. We found records of certified cropland in 133 countries, and estimated that certified crop area increased by 11% (range 8.8–13.5%) per year from 2000 to 2012, but still only covered 1.1% (range 1.0–1.2%) of global cropland. The crops with the highest levels of certification were heavily traded commodities: coffee, cocoa, tea, and palm oil each had 10% or more of their total global production area certified. Coverage was lower for other crops, including the world's most important staple foods (maize, rice, and wheat). Sustainability standards have considerable potential to contribute to conservation, but there is an ongoing need for better evaluation of how effectively they are implemented. We present examples of ways in which governments, companies, financial institutions, and civil society can work together to scale up and target certification to places where it can have the greatest positive impact.
Journal Article
The Politics of Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives: The Crisis of the Forest Stewardship Council
Multi-stakeholder initiatives (MSIs) have become a vital part of the organizational landscape for corporate social responsibility. Recent debates have explored whether these initiatives represent opportunities for the \"democratization\" of transnational corporations, facilitating civic participation in the extension of corporate responsibility, or whether they constitute new arenas for the expansion of corporate influence and the private capture of regulatory power. In this article, we explore the political dynamics of these new governance initiatives by presenting an in-depth case study of an organization often heralded as a model MSI: the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). An effort to address global deforestation in the wake of failed efforts to agree a multilateral convention on forests at the Rio Summit (UNCED) in 1992, the FSC was launched in 1993 as a non-state regulatory experiment: a transnational MSI, administering a global eco-labeling scheme for timber and forest products. We trace the scheme's evolution over the past two decades, showing that while the FSC has successfully facilitated multi-sectoral determination of new standards for forestry, it has nevertheless failed to transform commercial forestry practices or stem the tide of tropical deforestation. Applying a neo-Gramscian analysis to the organizational evolution of the FSC, we examine how broader market forces and resource imbalances between non-governmental and market actors can serve to limit the effectiveness of MSIs in the current neo-liberal environment. This presents dilemmas for NGOs which can lead to their defection, ultimately undermining the organizational legitimacy of MSIs.
Journal Article
Perspectives on Sustainable Tourism Development in the Hotel Industry—A Case Study from Southern Europe
Sustainable development is in many ways the fundamental basis of tourism. The importance and role of sustainable tourism development in the 21st century is at the center of this paper on eco-certificates and green procurement in the hotel industry, within the field of the responsible or green economy. The green hotel economy implies the selection of accommodation in environmentally responsible hotels and other facilities, which are directing their business operations towards green procurement, eco-labeling, and the responsible economy. This paper includes quantitative research of the attitudes of 506 international tourists, who expressed their views on their needs regarding eco-hotels and the green economy in the hotel industry. This research also included the collection of data on green (responsible) businesses by surveying 100 hotels situated in the capitals of southern Europe. Comparing results from hotels with the needs of tourists in terms of the green economy in the hotel industry, significant results were obtained that contribute to sustainable tourism development.
Journal Article
The Impact of Enviropreneurial Orientation on Small Firms’ Business Performance: The Mediation of Green Marketing Mix and Eco-Labeling Strategies
Global green trends are creating new challenges and opportunities for entrepreneurs worldwide with customers now more environmentally aware and willing to pay extra for green services and products. In considering this phenomenon, the current study focuses on the positive influence of enviropreneurial orientation on the business performance of small firms and explores the mediation effects of green marketing mix and eco-labeling strategies. Drawing upon the natural resource-based view (NRBV) and the dynamic capability view (DCV), we tested our multiple mediation model with a sample of owners/managers of 160 small firms from Bangladesh, with these firms coming from the sectors of trading, manufacturing, and services. To test the study’s hypotheses, we employed the variance-based structural equation modeling (SEM) method, using the partial least squares (PLS) technique. The results reveal that green marketing mix and eco-labeling strategies transmit the effect of enviropreneurial orientation to business performance of small firms. Both strategies are found to be mediators in the relationship between enviropreneurial orientation and business performance of small firms. The study also offers suggestions for future research.
Journal Article
Consumer Choices and Motives for Eco-Labeled Products in China: An Empirical Analysis Based on the Choice Experiment
Based on choice experiments conducted via face-to-face interviews with 435 participants in four provincial areas of China (Shanghai, Zhejiang, Jiangsu, and Guangdong), Chinese consumers’ preferences and motives for purchasing eco-labeled rice are examined in this study. The heterogeneous effects of each motivating channel are also investigated. The results reveal positive correlations between premiums for eco-labeled rice and consumers’ concerns about food safety and the environment, suggesting that health benefits and environmental considerations are the two critical motivations. The willingness to pay for eco-labeled rice does not increase with consumers’ knowledge of the different production standards indicated by each eco-label. Individual characteristics that determine each class are further explored through a seemingly irrelevant regression to identify the target group of consumers for policy-makers.
Journal Article
Children’s Perceptions about Environmental Sustainability, Food, and Nutrition in Chile: A Qualitative Study
Food is inextricably linked to human health and environmental sustainability; however, very little is known about children’s perceptions of the concept of sustainability in the context of food choices. We aimed to explore the perceptions of Chilean schoolchildren about environmental sustainability, food, and nutrition. Eight online focus groups were conducted with boys and girls aged 8–9 (n = 30). Questions related to environmental sustainability, pocket money, and food characteristics such as price, front-of-package (FOP) warning label, and eco-labels were included. Data analysis was conducted using ATLAS.ti through a hybrid content analysis approach. Five central themes were identified: (1) children’s favorite snacks, (2) knowledge of sustainability, (3) sustainability and eco-labels use, (4) healthfulness of food products, and (5) pocket money and food prices. Most children were not aware of the meaning of “environmental sustainability”, but the concept was understood when it was explained in plain language. Participants showed awareness about the environmental impact of their eating behavior, had a positive perception of eco-labels, and identified food with fewer warning labels as “better” options. Results indicate that children understand the concept of sustainability in food if it is communicated clearly, and that eco-labels may be an effective tool in that effort.
Journal Article
Showcasing green: how culture influences sustainable behavior in food eco-labeling
PurposeThe aim of this study is to verify, through Hofstede's 6-D model, the impact of national culture on the implementation of eco-labeling activities on the supplier side, in order to provide consumers information about the sustainable behavior adopted by firms.Design/methodology/approachThe authors tested the impact of culture dimensions through an econometric model, on a sample composed by several countries of the world, in which at least a food certification is in force.FindingsInteresting results have been obtained and discussed, proving the existence of a relationship between culture and corporate sustainability showcasing. Cultural heritage has a deep influence on sustainable consumption demand. Firms need to put more effort to showcase their green behavior. Economic indicators have a role in fostering sustainable behavior.Originality/valueFood labeling is little explored, despite its growing importance for consumers. This research is a window in green marketing issues, specifically in global branding strategies.
Journal Article
How Chinese Consumers’ Intentions for Purchasing Eco-Labeled Products Are Influenced by Psychological Factors
This paper studies how consumers’ psychological factors influence their intentional purchasing behavior towards eco-labeled products and investigates why consumers choose eco-labeled products. Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior, we develop an extended model including six constructs. Among these constructs, consumers’ intentional purchasing behavior, attitude towards the behavior, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control are applied from the original theoretical framework. Health consciousness and environmental awareness are integrated additionally to reflect consumers’ concerns about the natural environment and their health. Next, we conduct and analyze a survey-based empirical study with 336 samples using the Structural Equation Modeling. Our findings show that consumers’ attitude towards the behavior is positively influenced by environmental awareness, but the effects of it on intentional purchasing behavior are insignificant. Also, subjective norm has a positive influence on intentional purchasing behavior, but its effects on attitude towards the behavior are not significant. Moreover, the results also show that the total effects of health consciousness on intentional purchasing behavior are significantly higher than the effects of environmental awareness. Our results can provide a reference for business managers to attract consumers through eco-labeling as well as government policymaking.
Journal Article