Abstract
The concept of the bioeconomy is associated with sustainable development changes and involves transitions in both production and consumption within systems. Many of these transitions relate to using renewable resources, like forest biomass, to meet basic needs, such as food, energy and housing. However, consumers must become aware of the forest-based bioeconomy so that they can contribute to the transition. This study aims to contribute to an understanding of this matter that may lead to social acceptance of the forest-based bioeconomy and, in particular, to Swedish consumer awareness of the concept and of a particular product (wooden multi-story buildings) representing the forest-based bioeconomy. The results show consumer awareness of forest sequestration capacity but less awareness of the connection to the forest-based bioeconomy and the role of wooden multi-story buildings. The results indicate a slow transition that is hindered by path dependence and limited comprehension among consumers of the effects of their choices for a forest-based bioeconomy. This study provides valuable insights for future studies of how consumer awareness and social acceptance of the forest-based bioeconomy are interconnected.
Highlights
During recent decades, there has been a rapid acceleration in global greenhouse gas emissions [1]
It seems likely that there is a need to gain widespread political support in order to implement the forest-based bioeconomy (FBB) in the Swedish economy, especially since the present study indicated that respondents who were more familiar with the concept were more positive towards it
The results of this study indicated that there is some market acceptance of wooden multi-story building (WMB) among the Swedish consumers that participated in the survey, even though WMBs are not well established in the marketplace and the concept is not understood and accepted by all
Summary
There has been a rapid acceleration in global greenhouse gas emissions [1]. Scientists, societies and politicians around the world agree that human activities are contributing to global warming and that actions need to be taken. One example of such action is the Paris Agreement, ratified in November 2016 [2], which stresses the importance of low carbon solutions [3]. Low carbon transitions are seen as substantial changes in the systems that serve society, so that these systems have less impact on the climate. Such systems include transportation, energy, agriculture and housing.
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