1932

Abstract

The past decades have seen the development of a multitude of sustainability-related food labels aimed at reducing the existing information asymmetry between food practitioners and consumers regarding the sustainability impact on the food supply chain. Sustainability-related food labels can correct market failures and contribute to a more sustainable world. This review discusses the effectiveness of sustainability-related food labels in promoting more sustainable food consumption around the world. We start by discussing the sustainable development goals in the food area and the challenge of defining these labels. We then investigate the demand- and supply-side issues related to the effectiveness of such labels in promoting the sustainable development goals that the labels serve. Finally, we discuss the questions raised by the state of research and their implications for food practitioners, consumers, and policy makers. We then identify future research avenues.

Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-resource-100518-094103
2020-10-06
2024-04-16
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

/deliver/fulltext/resource/12/1/annurev-resource-100518-094103.html?itemId=/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-resource-100518-094103&mimeType=html&fmt=ahah

Literature Cited

  1. Alves E, Edwards M. 2008. The case for green food labels. Sustain. Dev. Law Policy 76:51–55
    [Google Scholar]
  2. Annunziata A, Mariani A, Vecchio R 2019. Effectiveness of sustainability labels in guiding food choices: analysis of visibility and understanding among young adults. Sustain. Prod. Consumption 17:108–15
    [Google Scholar]
  3. Apaolaza V, Hartmann P, Echebarria C, Barrutia JM 2017. Organic label's halo effect on sensory and hedonic experience of wine: a pilot study. J. Sensory Stud. 32:1e12243
    [Google Scholar]
  4. Aschemann-Witzel J, Ares G, Thøgersen J, Monteleone E 2019. A sense of sustainability? How sensory consumer science can contribute to sustainable development of the food sector. Trends Food Sci. Technol. 90:180–86
    [Google Scholar]
  5. Asioli D, Aschemann-Witzel J, Caputo V, Vecchio R, Annunziata A, Næs T, Varela P 2017. Making sense of the “clean label” trends: a review of consumer food choice behavior and discussion of industry implications. Food Res. Int. 99:158–71
    [Google Scholar]
  6. Asioli D, Wongprawmas R, Pignatti E, Canavari M 2018. Can information affect sensory perceptions? Evidence from a survey on Italian organic food consumers. AIMS Agric. Food 3:3327–44
    [Google Scholar]
  7. Bazzani C, Asioli D, Canavari M, Gozzoli E 2016. Consumer perceptions and attitudes towards Farmers’ Markets: the case of a Slow Food “Earth Market”®. Econ. Agro-Alim. 3:283–305
    [Google Scholar]
  8. Bazzani C, Gustavsen GW, Nayga RM Jr., Rickertsen K 2018. A comparative study of food values between the United States and Norway. Eur. Rev. Agric. Econ. 45:2239–72
    [Google Scholar]
  9. Bellarby J, Foereid B, Hastings A, Smith P 2008. Cool farming: climate impacts of agriculture and mitigation potential Rep., Greenpeace Int Amsterdam: https://www.greenpeace.org/usa/wp-content/uploads/legacy/Global/usa/report/2009/4/cool-farming-climate-impacts.pdf
  10. Belz F-M, Peattie K. 2009. Sustainability Marketing: A Global Perspective Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons
  11. Bjelle EL, Steen-Olsen K, Wood R 2018. Climate change mitigation potential of Norwegian households and the rebound effect. J. Cleaner Prod. 172:208–17
    [Google Scholar]
  12. Bougherara D, Grolleau G, Thiébaut L 2005. Can labelling policies do more harm than good? An analysis applied to environmental labelling schemes. Eur. J. Law Econ. 19:15–16
    [Google Scholar]
  13. Bratanova B, Vauclair C-M, Kervyn N, Schumann S, Wood R, Klein O 2015. Savouring morality. Moral satisfaction renders food of ethical origin subjectively tastier. Appetite 91:137–49
    [Google Scholar]
  14. Casey S. 2007. Patagonia: blueprint for green business. Fortune May 29. https://archive.fortune.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/04/02/8403423/index.htm
    [Google Scholar]
  15. Chatzidakis A, Shaw D. 2018. Sustainability: issues of scale, care and consumption. Br. J. Manag. 29:2299–315
    [Google Scholar]
  16. Clifton D. 2012. Sustainable business: Are we heading in the right direction. Sustainability 4:4586–603
    [Google Scholar]
  17. Cohen MA, Vandenbergh MP. 2012. The potential role of carbon labeling in a green economy. Energy Econ 34:1S53–63
    [Google Scholar]
  18. Collins L. 1994. Environmental performance and technological innovation: the pulp and paper industry as a case in point. Technol. Soc. 16:4427–46
    [Google Scholar]
  19. Connor DJ. 2018. Organic agriculture and food security: a decade of unreason finally implodes. Field Crops Res 225:128–29
    [Google Scholar]
  20. Counc. Eur. Union 2007. Council regulation (EC) No 834/2007 of 28 June 2007 on organic production and labelling of organic products and repealing Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91, 2007 O.J. L 189 1
  21. Czarnezki J. 2011. The future of food eco-labeling: organic, carbon footprint, and environmental life-cycle analysis. Stanford Environ. Law J. 30:33–49
    [Google Scholar]
  22. Delmas MA, Nairn-Birch N, Balzarova M 2013. Choosing the right eco-label for your product. MIT Sloan Manag. Rev. 54:49–12
    [Google Scholar]
  23. Dragusanu R, Giovannucci D, Nunn N 2014. The economics of fair trade. J. Econ. Perspect. 28:3217–36
    [Google Scholar]
  24. Elkington J. 1998. Accounting for the triple bottom line. Meas. Bus. Excell. 2:318–22
    [Google Scholar]
  25. Engels SV, Hansmann R, Scholz RW 2010. Toward a sustainability label for food products: an analysis of experts’ and consumers’ acceptance. Ecol. Food Nutr. 49:130–60
    [Google Scholar]
  26. Eur. Comm. 2018. Corporate social responsibility & responsible business conduct Eur. Comm., Brussels. https://ec.europa.eu/growth/industry/sustainability/corporate-social-responsibility_en
  27. FAO (Food Agric. Organ.). 2014. Building a Common Vision for Sustainable Food and Agriculture: Principles and Approaches FAO: Rome
  28. Faruk AC, Lamming RC, Cousins PD, Bowen FE 2001. Analyzing, mapping, and managing environmental impacts along supply chains. J. Ind. Ecol. 5:213–36
    [Google Scholar]
  29. FIBL (Res. Inst. Organic Agric.). 2017. The World of Organic Agriculture: Statistics & Emerging Trends 2017 Frick, Switz: FIBL
  30. Foley JA, Ramankutty N, Brauman KA, Cassidy ES, Gerber JS et al. 2011. Solutions for a cultivated planet. Nature 478:337–442
    [Google Scholar]
  31. Franzen A. 2003. Environmental attitudes in international comparison: an analysis of the ISSP surveys 1993 and 2000. Soc. Sci. Q. 84:2297–308
    [Google Scholar]
  32. French MT, Neighbors DM, Carswell LK, Williams RA, Bush LM 1992. A model for estimating industry compliance costs of food labeling regulations. Agribusiness 8:2165–86
    [Google Scholar]
  33. Gadema Z, Oglethorpe D. 2011. The use and usefulness of carbon labelling food: a policy perspective from a survey of UK supermarket shoppers. Food Policy 36:6815–22
    [Google Scholar]
  34. Galarraga GI. 2002. The use of eco-labels: a review of the literature. Eur. Environ. 12:6316–31
    [Google Scholar]
  35. Godfray HCJ, Beddington JR, Crute IR, Haddad L, Lawrence D et al. 2010. Food security: the challenge of feeding 9 billion people. Science 327:5967812–18
    [Google Scholar]
  36. Grober U. 2010. Die Entdeckung der Nachhaltigkeit: Kulturgeschichte eines Begriffs Munich: Antje Kunstmann
  37. Grolleau G, Ibanez L, Mzoughi N, Teisl M 2016. Helping eco-labels to fulfil their promises. Climate Policy 16:6792–802
    [Google Scholar]
  38. Grunert KG. 2005. Food quality and safety: consumer perception and demand. Eur. Rev. Agric. Econ. 32:3369–91
    [Google Scholar]
  39. Grunert KG. 2013. Trends in food choice and nutrition. Consumer Attitudes to Food Quality Products: Emphasis on Southern Europe M Klopčič, A Kuipers, J-F Hocquette 23–30 Wageningen, Neth: Wageningen Acad.
    [Google Scholar]
  40. Grunert KG, Fernández Celemín L, Storcksdieck genannt Bonsmann S, Wills JM 2012. Motivation and attention are the major bottlenecks in nutrition labelling. Food Sci. Technol. 26:119–21
    [Google Scholar]
  41. Grunert KG, Hieke S, Wills J 2014. Sustainability labels on food products: consumer motivation, understanding and use. Food Policy 44:177–89
    [Google Scholar]
  42. Gustafsson I, Hallström KT. 2018. Hyper-organized eco-labels—an organization studies perspective on the implications of Tripartite Standards Regimes. Food Policy 75:124–33
    [Google Scholar]
  43. Hart SL. 1995. A natural-resource-based view of the firm. Acad. Manag. Rev. 20:4986–1014
    [Google Scholar]
  44. Hartikainen H, Roininen T, Katajajuuri J-M, Pulkkinen H 2014. Finnish consumer perceptions of carbon footprints and carbon labelling of food products. J. Cleaner Prod. 73:285–93
    [Google Scholar]
  45. Hoekstra AY, Chapagain AK. 2006. Water footprints of nations: water use by people as a function of their consumption pattern. Water Resour. Manag. 21:135–48
    [Google Scholar]
  46. Horne RE. 2009. Limits to labels: the role of eco-labels in the assessment of product sustainability and routes to sustainable consumption. Int. J. Consum. Stud. 33:2175–82
    [Google Scholar]
  47. Hornibrook S, May C, Fearne A 2015. Sustainable development and the consumer: exploring the role of carbon labelling in retail supply chains. Bus. Strategy Environ. 24:4266–76
    [Google Scholar]
  48. Jackson T. 2017. Prosperity Without Growth: Foundations for the Economy of Tomorrow London: Routledge. , 2nd ed..
  49. Karlsen KM, Hermansen Ø, Dreyer BM 2012. Eco-labeling of seafood: Does it affect the harvesting patterns of Norwegian fishermen. Mar. Policy 36:51123–30
    [Google Scholar]
  50. Krystallis A, Grunert KG, de Barcellos MD, Perrea T, Verbeke W 2012. Consumer attitudes towards sustainability aspects of food production: insights from three continents. J. Mark. Manag. 28:3–4334–72
    [Google Scholar]
  51. Lewis KA, Tzilivakis J, Warner D, Green A, McGeevo K, MacMillan T 2010. Effective approaches to environmental labelling of food products Final Rep. Defra Proj. FO0419, Agric. Environ. Res. Unit, Sci. Technol. Res. Inst., Univ Hertfordshire, UK: http://www.psi.org.uk/pdf/2011/food_labelling/annex_a.pdf
  52. Lim WM. 2017. Inside the sustainable consumption theoretical toolbox: critical concepts for sustainability, consumption, and marketing. J. Bus. Res. 78:69–80
    [Google Scholar]
  53. Liu T, Wang Q, Su B 2016. A review of carbon labeling: standards, implementation, and impact. Renew. Sustain. Energy Rev. 53:68–79
    [Google Scholar]
  54. Loureiro ML, Lotade J. 2005. Do fair trade and eco-labels in coffee wake up the consumer conscience. Ecol. Econ. 53:1129–38
    [Google Scholar]
  55. Meemken E-M, Qaim M. 2018. Organic agriculture, food security, and the environment. Annu. Rev. Resour. Econ. 10:39–63
    [Google Scholar]
  56. Messer KD, Costanigro M, Kaiser HM 2017. Labeling food processes: the good, the bad and the ugly. Appl. Econ. Perspect. Policy 39:3407–27
    [Google Scholar]
  57. Mick DG, Broniarczyk SM, Haidt J 2004. Choose, choose, choose, choose, choose, choose, choose: emerging and prospective research on the deleterious effects of living in consumer hyperchoice. J. Bus. Ethics 52:2207–11
    [Google Scholar]
  58. Miranda-Ackerman MA, Azzaro-Pantel C. 2017. Extending the scope of eco-labelling in the food industry to drive change beyond sustainable agriculture practices. J. Environ. Manag. 204:814–24
    [Google Scholar]
  59. Morris J. 1997. Green Goods? Consumers, Product Labels and the Environment London: IEA
  60. Nimon W, Beghin J. 1999. Are eco-labels valuable? Evidence from the apparel industry. Am. J. Agric. Econ. 81:4801–11
    [Google Scholar]
  61. Pezzey J. 1992. Sustainable Development Concepts: An Economic Analysis World Bank Washington, DC:
  62. Pomarici E, Asioli D, Vecchio R, Næs T 2018. Young consumers’ preferences for water-saving wines: an experimental study. Wine Econ. Policy 7:165–76
    [Google Scholar]
  63. Potts T, Haward M. 2007. International trade, eco-labeling, and sustainable fisheries—recent issues, concepts and practices. Environ. Dev. Sustain. 9:191–106
    [Google Scholar]
  64. Prieto-Sandoval V, Alfaro JA, Mejía-Villa A, Ormazabal M 2016. ECO-labels as a multidimensional research topic: trends and opportunities. J. Cleaner Prod. 135:806–18
    [Google Scholar]
  65. Qaim M. 2009. The economics of genetically modified crops. Annu. Rev. Resour. Econ. 1:665–94
    [Google Scholar]
  66. Reisch L, Eberle U, Lorek S 2013. Sustainable food consumption: an overview of contemporary issues and policies. Sustain. Sci. Pract. Policy 9:27–25
    [Google Scholar]
  67. Roe BE, Teisl MF, Deans CR 2014. The economics of voluntary versus mandatory labels. Annu. Rev. Resour. Econ. 6:407–27
    [Google Scholar]
  68. Ruini L, Marino M, Pignatelli S, Laio F, Ridolfi L 2013. Water footprint of a large-sized food company: the case of Barilla pasta production. Water Resour. Ind. 1–2:7–24
    [Google Scholar]
  69. Schäufele I, Hamm U. 2017. Consumers’ perceptions, preferences and willingness-to-pay for wine with sustainability characteristics: a review. J. Cleaner Prod. 147:379–94
    [Google Scholar]
  70. Sengstschmid H, Sprong N, Schmid O, Stockebrand N, Stolz H, Spiller A 2011. EU ecolabel for food and feed products—feasibility study Rep. ENV.C.1/ETU/2010/0025, DG Environ., Eur. Comm. Brussels:
  71. Sharp A, Wheeler M. 2013. Reducing householders’ grocery carbon emissions: carbon literacy and carbon label preferences. Australas. Mark. J. 21:4240–49
    [Google Scholar]
  72. Shi X. 2010. Carbon footprint labeling activities in the East Asia summit region: spillover effects to less developed countries Paper presented at the International Workshop on Carbon Footprint of Products in East Asia, Tokyo, Feb. 13
  73. Shiers D, Keeping M. 1996. The “green” refurbishment of commercial property. Facilities 14:3/415–19
    [Google Scholar]
  74. Sirieix L, Delanchy M, Remaud H, Zepeda L, Gurviez P 2012. Consumers’ perceptions of individual and combined sustainable food labels: a UK pilot investigation. Int. J. Consum. Stud. 37:2143–51
    [Google Scholar]
  75. Sörqvist P, Haga A, Langeborg L, Holmgren M, Wallinder M et al. 2015. The green halo: mechanisms and limits of the eco-label effect. Food Qual. Pref. 43:1–9
    [Google Scholar]
  76. Stavins RN. 1990. Innovative policies for sustainable development: the role of economic incentives for environmental protection. Harv. Public Policy Rev. 7:13–25
    [Google Scholar]
  77. Strange T, Bayley A. 2008. Sustainable Development: Linking Economy, Society, Environment OECD: Geneva
  78. Tagbata D, Sirieix L. 2008. Measuring consumer's willingness to pay for organic and Fair Trade products. Int. J. Consum. Stud. 32:5479–90
    [Google Scholar]
  79. Teisl M, Roe B. 2005. Evaluating the factors that impact the effectiveness of eco-labelling programmes. Environment, Information and Consumer Behaviour S Krarup, C Russell 65–90 London: Edward Elgar
    [Google Scholar]
  80. Tencati A, Zsolnai L. 2012. Collaborative enterprise and sustainability: the case of Slow Food. J. Bus. Ethics 110:3345–54
    [Google Scholar]
  81. Testa F, Iraldo F. 2010. Shadows and lights of GSCM (Green Supply Chain Management): determinants and effects of these practices based on a multi-national study. J. Cleaner Prod. 18:10953–62
    [Google Scholar]
  82. Thøgersen J. 2010. Country differences in sustainable consumption: the case of organic food. J. Macromarketing 30:2171–85
    [Google Scholar]
  83. Tietenberg T, Lewis L. 2018. Environmental and Natural Resource Economics New York: Routledge. , 11th ed..
  84. Tonkin E, Meyer SB, Coveney J, Webb T, Wilson AM 2016. The process of making trust related judgements through interaction with food labelling. Food Policy 63:1–11
    [Google Scholar]
  85. Tzilivakis J, Green A, Warner D, McGeevor K, Lewis K 2012. A framework for practical and effective eco‐labelling of food products. Sustainability Account. Manag. Policy J. 3:150–73
    [Google Scholar]
  86. UNEP (UN Environ. Prog.). 2005. The trade and environmental effects of ecolabels: assessment and response Rep., UNEP Nairobi:
  87. Upham P, Dendler L, Bleda M 2011. Carbon labelling of grocery products: public perceptions and potential emissions reductions. J. Cleaner Prod. 19:4348–55
    [Google Scholar]
  88. Van Amstel M, Driessen P, Glasbergen P 2008. Eco-labeling and information asymmetry: a comparison of five eco-labels in the Netherlands. J. Cleaner Prod. 16:3263–76
    [Google Scholar]
  89. Van Dam YK, van Trijp HCM 2011. Cognitive and motivational structure of sustainability. J. Econ. Psychol. 32:5726–41
    [Google Scholar]
  90. Van Loo E, Caputo V, Nayga R, Verbeke W 2014. Consumers’ valuation of sustainability labels on meat. Food Policy 49:Part 1137–50
    [Google Scholar]
  91. Verghese K, Lewis H, Fitzpatrick L 2012. Packaging for Sustainability London: Springer
  92. Visser W. 2009. Landmarks for Sustainability: Events and Initiatives That Have Changed Our World Sheffield, UK: Greenleaf
  93. Walker K, Wan F. 2012. The harm of symbolic actions and green-washing: corporate actions and communications on environmental performance and their financial implications. J. Bus. Ethics 109:2227–42
    [Google Scholar]
  94. Waterfield G, Kaplan S, Zilberman D 2020. Willingness to pay versus willingness to vote: consumer and voter avoidance of genetically modified foods. Am. J. Agric. Econ. 102:2505–24
    [Google Scholar]
  95. WCED (World. Comm. Environ. Dev.). 1987. Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development: our common future Rep., United Nations New York:
  96. Weinrich R, Spiller A. 2016. Developing food labelling strategies: multi-level labelling. J. Cleaner Prod. 137:1138–48
    [Google Scholar]
  97. Yenipazarli A. 2015. The economics of eco-labeling: standards, costs and prices. Int. J. Prod. Econ. 170:275–86
    [Google Scholar]
  98. Zilberman D. 2014. Fellows Address: the economics of sustainable development. Am. J. Agric. Econ. 96:2385–96
    [Google Scholar]
  99. Zilberman D, Kaplan S, Gordon B 2018. The political economy of labeling. Food Policy 78:6–13
    [Google Scholar]
/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-resource-100518-094103
Loading
/content/journals/10.1146/annurev-resource-100518-094103
Loading

Data & Media loading...

  • Article Type: Review Article
This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error