Carbon Footprint Labels Research Articles

Choice architecture promotes sustainable choices in online food-delivery apps.

Greenhouse gas emissions from the food system constitute about one-third of the global total, hence mitigation in this sphere of human activity is a vital goal for research and policy. This study empirically tests the effectiveness of different interventions to reduce the carbon footprint of food choices made on food-delivery apps, using an incentive-compatible online randomized controlled trial with 4,008 participants. The experiment utilized an interactive web platform that mimics popular online food-delivery platforms (such as Just Eat) and included three treatment conditions: a sign-posted meat tax, a carbon-footprint label, and a choice-architecture intervention that changed the order of the menu so that the lowest carbon-impact restaurants and dishes were presented first. Results show that only the choice-architecture nudge significantly reduced the average meal carbon footprint-by 0.3 kg/CO2e per order (12%), driven by a 5.6 percentage point (13%) reduction in high-carbon meal choices. Moreover, we find evidence of significant health and well-being co-benefits. Menu repositioning resulted in the average meal order having greater nutritional value and fewer calories, whilst significantly increasing self-reported satisfaction with the meal choice. Simple back-of-the-envelope calculations suggest that menu repositioning would be a highly cost-effective policy instrument if implemented at scale, with the return on investment expected to be in the range of £1.28 to £3.85 per metric ton of avoided CO2 emissions, depending on implementation costs.

Environmental footprint and material composition comparison of single-use and reusable duodenoscopes.

Infection outbreaks associated with contaminated reusable duodenoscopes (RUDs) have induced the development of novel single-use duodenoscopes (SUDs). This study aimed to analyze the material composition and life cycle assessment (LCA) of RUDs and SUDs to assess the sustainability of global and partial SUD implementation. A single-center study evaluated material composition analysis and LCA of one RUD and two SUDs from different manufacturers (A/B). Material composition analysis was performed to evaluate the thermochemical properties of the duodenoscope components. The carbon footprint was calculated using environmental software. We compared the sustainability strategies of universal use of RUDs, frequent use of RUDs with occasional SUDs, and universal use of SUDs over the lifetime of one RUD. RUDs were substantially heavier (3489 g) than both SUD-A (943 g) and SUD-B (716 g). RUDs were mainly metal alloys (95%), whereas SUDs were mainly plastic polymers and resins (70%-81%). The LCA demonstrated the sustainability of RUDs, with a life cycle carbon footprint 62-82 times lower than universal use of SUDs (152 vs. 10 512-12 640 kg CO2eq) and 10 times lower than occasional use of SUDs (152 vs. 1417-1677 kg CO2eq). Differences were observed between SUD-A and SUD-B (7.9 vs. 6.6 kg CO2eq per endoscope). End-of-life incineration emissions for SUDs were the greatest environmental contributors. Widespread adoption of SUDs has greater environmental challenges; it requires a balance between infection control and environmental responsibility. Carbon footprint labelling can help healthcare institutions make sustainable choices and promote environmentally responsible healthcare practices.

Attention to carbon footprints in food choices and the crowding out effect of attention‐leading nudges

AbstractConsumer attention to carbon footprint labels may trigger efforts to adjust the agri‐food sector toward more sustainable production. To assess attention levels, we used milk and bread products in an information display matrix (IDM), allowing consumers to direct attention or ignore various food product attributes. Our method improved upon previous IDM applications by introducing real‐world complexity, featuring 25 attributes per product and multiple trade‐offs. A randomizer ensured fairness by determining the order of attribute display. Results show that carbon footprints are not the primarily attended attributes. A salience nudge favoring carbon footprints directs attention to it but halves the attention paid to more holistic environmental footprints. We discuss strategies to promote environmental dimensions jointly and provide implications and recommendations for future labeling policies and marketing strategies.

The European Union's Ecodesign Directive – Analysis of Carbon Footprint Assessment Methodology and Implications for Photovoltaic Module Manufacturers

With an increasing shift away from fossil fuels toward renewable energy sources within the European Union (EU), photovoltaics (PV) are projected to see substantial growth with estimates of nearly 600 GWp of capacity by 2030. As the use of PV technology continues to expand, the European Commission has introduced various policy instruments, enabling consumers to make informed choices. Among those, the Ecodesign directive 2009/125/EC sets a carbon footprint threshold as a minimum qualification for the European market to cut out the least sustainable PV modules. For this directive, the methodological guidelines for the complex carbon footprint calculation of PV modules are under development. To this end, this analysis compares the two methodologies, namely Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) and the Ecodesign adaptation of Product Environmental Footprint Category Rules (PEFCR), emphasizing the implications of choosing one over the other for the PV industry. This study illustrates how varying parameters, like module lifetime, degradation rate, and purchased renewable electricity certificate allowance limit, stemming from the differing methodological approaches can influence the carbon footprint calculation. Apart from the strengths and weaknesses of each methodology, this article emphasizes the need for globally harmonized standards to ensure consistency in evaluating the carbon footprint of PV modules. The observations made in this study should be considered not just for Ecodesign directive but for any such market regulation policy like the recently passed EU Net Zero Industry Act or the EU Ecolabel for PV modules. It underlines the significance of choosing a transparent and fair approach to ensure the credibility of carbon footprint labels and meet the EU's decarbonization objectives successfully, propelling the transition toward a more sustainable energy landscape.

Research on enterprise production decision‐making considering consumer heterogeneity under carbon labeling system

AbstractThe article focuses on consumers with heterogeneous preferences for product carbon footprints under two carbon labeling systems: carbon reduction labels and carbon footprint labels. Using mathematical models, the study explores the optimal decision‐making behavior of enterprises under the carbon labeling system based on consumer utility theory at the enterprise level. It also investigates consumer surplus, environmental improvement, and social welfare under different production modes of the carbon reduction label and carbon footprint label systems at the societal level. The research findings are as follows: (1) At the level of economic benefits for enterprises, choosing to produce products with carbon reduction labels is more favorable when the investment costs for emission reduction are high, while choosing to produce products with carbon footprint labels is more favorable when the investment costs for emission reduction are low. The optimal prices of products under the two carbon labeling systems show opposite trends compared to the investment costs for emission reduction. (2) At the level of environmental benefits for enterprises, under the carbon reduction labeling system, whether through full production or a mixed production mode, enterprises are only willing to reduce the carbon footprint of products to the standard value. However, under the carbon footprint labeling system, especially in the mixed production mode, enterprises show a stronger willingness to overachieve in emission reduction target. (3) At the level of social benefits, compared to the situation under the carbon reduction labeling system, when the investment costs for emission reduction are low, the carbon footprint labeling system is more favorable in terms of consumer surplus and social welfare. However, this advantage gradually diminishes as the investment costs for emission reduction increase. (4) Excessive investment costs for emission reduction are detrimental to the implementation of both carbon reduction and carbon footprint labeling systems. The research conclusions suggest that companies should develop appropriate production strategies based on actual circumstances. Additionally, it is necessary for both the government and companies to reduce investment costs in emissions reductions by improving the system and optimizing emission reduction methods in order to better implement carbon labeling policies.

Social influence and climate change issues affecting consumer behavioral intention toward carbon footprint label: A study of Taiwanese consumers

Amidst the global urgency to address climate change, Taiwan stands at the forefront of implementing sustainable solutions, notably introducing carbon footprint labels on food products. This initiative aims to usher consumers towards more environmentally-conscious purchasing decisions by providing insights into the ecological impact of their food choices. Our comprehensive research explores a variety of determinants that sway Taiwanese consumers in their buying behaviors, specifically focusing on the influence of these carbon footprint labels. Surprisingly, while one might anticipate media exposure to be a dominant force in shaping opinions, our findings suggest its role remains relatively limited in this context. Instead, personal experiences with climate events and robust influences from family and peers emerge as the primary drivers in purchasing decisions. These direct interpersonal interactions, both in terms of shared experiences and word-of-mouth recommendations, offer profound insights into shaping consumer behavior. As Taiwan ambitiously targets net-zero emissions by 2050, harnessing the power of these social dynamics becomes imperative. Through strategic interventions that amplify these social channels of influence, there's potential to bolster the public's inclination towards sustainable consumption, ensuring the success of initiatives like carbon footprint labeling.

Efficacy and Hurdles of Carbon Footprint Labels in Shaping Consumer Choices

The purpose of this study is to look into the impact of carbon footprint labels on consumer behavior and to examine the benefits and challenges associated with their adoption. The goal of the study is to shed light on the obstacles that prevent consumers from incorporating carbon footprint labels into their decision-making processes and how well they work to encourage eco-friendly behavior. Both primary and secondary data are used in the study, which has a descriptive research design. Primary data is obtained through the use of a structured questionnaire, and secondary data is obtained from a variety of sources, such as websites, journals, and research papers. The results are interpreted using statistical techniques like weighted mean, frequency analysis, and Henry Garrett analysis. With the focus of the world on environmental sustainability, this study aims to address the barriers that prevent carbon footprint labels from being successfully incorporated into consumer choices. The legitimacy of such labels is weakened by a number of issues, including the absence of standardized measurement methodologies, consumer skepticism, and the possibility of greenwashing. A varied consumer landscape with variable product usage durations and influential factors is revealed by the data analysis. Customers are motivated to make environmentally conscious decisions by media coverage, corporate responsibility, and health concerns. Although a significant percentage appreciates carbon footprint labels as a means of promoting sustainable decisions, opinions and understanding regarding environmental friendliness vary widely. The analysis prioritizes factors associated with the advantages of carbon footprint labeling, suggesting that businesses who wear these labels have an edge over competitors and are encouraged to improve supply chain efficiency. In order to promote sustainability, the study highlights the importance of consumer awareness, company CSR profiles, and open information sharing.

Young consumers’ perceptions of and preferences for alternative meats: an empirical study in Japan and China

IntroductionAlternative meats have the potential to shape a sustainable food system. This study examined young consumers’ perceptions of and preferences for plant-based and cultured meats. Since comparative studies on consumer preferences for alternative meats in different key Asian markets remain insufficient, this study was conducted in Japan and China, both of whom have promising alternative meat markets in Asia.MethodsWe conducted a discrete choice experiment and co-occurrence networks among 2006 (n = 887 in Japan and n = 1,119 in China) young consumers. This study adopted a treatment-control design where respondents in the treatment groups received health information on the use of antibiotics in meat production.ResultsRespondents in both countries perceived meat alternatives to be substitutes to conventional meat and associated them with plant-based proteins, processed products, and health benefits. In general, Japanese and Chinese respondents differed in their preferences for burger patties but had similar preferences for other attributes. Respondents in both countries were willing to pay a premium for “antibiotic-free,” “traceable,” and low carbon footprint labeling. This study reveals the heterogeneity of consumer preferences and the complexity of the impact of information interventions on consumer preferences.DiscussionPlant-based meat is already available on the market in both countries, whereas cultured meat is still in the research and development stage. Hence, young consumers were more familiar with plant-based meat than cultured meat. It is worth noting that young Japanese consumers preferred cultured meat to conventional meat. This is attributed to the concerns about food security and food animal welfare. Furthermore, this study found that information intervention can induce and direct respondents’ attention to an aspect of alternative meats that is negatively perceived. Based on the findings, this study has three implications for promoting alternative meat products: marketing messaging, food labeling, and product development.

Unsustainable burgers? Deploying carbon footprint labels to enhance sustainability perceptions of animal-based food products

Environmental sustainability stands at the forefront of global issues, with many consumers changing their habits to reduce their carbon footprint. A prime example is the cutback in meat consumption and increased adoption of a plant-based diet by consumers across the globe. This research examines this phenomenon and considers the impact of the carbon footprint label in shifting consumers’ perceptions of environmental sustainability of plant-based and animal-based food products; identifying implications for purchase intent. Additionally, the research explores how the effect varies with different levels of consumer perceived believability. A study of 605 online Proflific participants from the US provided data for analysis using PROCESS macro in SPSS. Results indicate that as perceived believability increases, a carbon footprint label has an increasingly positive effect on perceived environmental sustainability for animal-based products but not for products derived from plant protein. We add to current theory and practice by examining emerging nuances in plant-based food consumption, identifying a halo effect for plant-based foods that impact consumer perceptions derived from package labels.

What can we learn from the 2008 financial crisis for global power decarbonization after COVID-19?

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, power generation and the associated CO2 emissions in major countries have experienced a decline and rebound. Knowledge on how an economic crisis affects the emission dynamics of the power sector would help alleviate the emission rebound in the post-COVID-19 era. In this study, we investigate the mechanism by which the 2008 global financial crisis sways the dynamics of power decarbonization. The method couples the logarithmic mean Divisia index (LMDI) and environmentally extended input-output analysis. Results show that, from 2009 to 2011, global power generation increased rapidly at a rate higher than that of GDP, and the related CO2 emissions and the emission intensity of global electricity supply also rebounded; the rapid economic growth in fossil power-dominated countries (e.g., China, the United States, and India) was the main reason for the growth of electricity related CO2 emissions; and the fixed capital formation was identified as the major driver of the rebound in global electricity consumption. Lessons from the 2008 financial crisis can provide insights for achieving a low-carbon recovery after the COVID-19 crisis, and specific measures have been proposed, for example, setting electricity consumption standards for infrastructure construction projects to reduce electricity consumption induced by the fixed capital formation, and attaching energy efficiency labels and carbon footprint labels to metal products (e.g., iron and steel, aluminum, and fabricated metal products), large quantities of which are used for fixed capital formation.

Consumer Attitudes and Preferences for Healthy Boxed Meal Attributes in Taiwan: Evidence from a Choice Experiment

Consumers have realized the importance of a healthy diet, hoping to reduce the occurrence of obesity and chronic diseases. Therefore, healthy boxed meals with low calories and high protein are gaining attention. This study divided the attributes of healthy boxed meals into five categories, namely, taste, nutrition facts, traceability certification, carbon footprint label, and price, and investigated the relationship between consumer preferences and willingness to pay (WTP) using a choice experiment. A purposive sampling procedure was used to collect 495 valid questionnaires. The results indicate the following: (1) when purchasing healthy boxed meals, the respondents were most concerned with traceability certification and nutrition facts; (2) the respondents were willing to pay a premium for meals with traceability certification (NTD 4.6) and nutrition facts (NTD 4.4); (3) respondents > 40 years with an average monthly salary of > NTD 30,000 who worked out regularly and were in the process of muscle building, fat loss, or weight control had higher WTP for meals with nutrition labels; and (4) female respondents who were 30-39 years old with a college or university education or above had higher WTP for meals with traceable ingredients. The results may help healthy boxed meal companies understand and pay attention to consumer needs, which will, in turn, provide a reference for future product development and marketing strategies.

Incorporating sustainability into food-based dietary guidelines by “Traffic Light Ecolabelling”

Context: Food-Based Dietary Guidelines (FBDGs) are science-based recommendations in the form of guidelines for healthy eating. They provide information and advice on foods and dietary patterns to consumers to promote the overall health and prevent chronic disease. As of now, these FBDGs lack information about the sustainability of food products. Consumer food choices have a large impact on human and planetary health and wellbeing, as the production and processing of diets make up between 20% and 30% of the total greenhouse gas emission of consumable goods in the European Union (EU). A plethora of different ecolabels exist to aid consumers in making sustainable choices when purchasing items, both food and non-food products. These ecolabels make it easier for consumers to choose eco-friendly product alternatives, with the aim of lowering the environmental impact of the products a consumer buys. While the growth of ecolabels may be interpreted as a sign of success, label overload and gaps in the understanding might result in confusion for consumers, resulting in the limit of use of these already existing ecolabels. Therefore, this policy brief proposes the development of a universal, understandable ecolabel for food products, to enable consumers to make better informed decisions. Policy Options: Three policy options are examined. Firstly, a hypothetical ‘do nothing’ scenario is considered, in which food ecolabels are not used. As a second alternative, the use of carbon footprint labelling is examined. Lastly, the implementation of a “traffic light” colour pattern label that uses the colours green, orange and red to demonstrate low, medium and high environmental impact, respectively, is examined. Recommendations: In order to determine the best policy option, the three proposed policy options are compared using five evaluation criteria (time of implementation, cost of implementation, ease of implementation, consumer friendliness and positive environmental impact). The traffic light ecolabel had the highest overall score, and it is thus recommended that this food ecolabel should be used. Lastly, it is recommended that the ecolabel is incorporated into the already existing EU ecolabel, in an effort to increase consumer knowledge and understanding of this novel ecolabel.

Carbon footprint labels involving traffic lights foster sustainable food choices

One reason consumers buy unsustainable products is that judging the environmental impact of food choices is very difficult. This study examines whether using carbon footprint labels to convey relevant impact information increases the tendency to choose low-carbon food items. In a pre-registered online experiment, 1,126 participants chose between low-CO2 and high-CO2 products 14 times (e.g., chili sin carne versus chili con carne or margarine versus butter). The two alternatives were either presented without labels (control), with a label communicating the food alternative’s relative sustainability within its food category (traffic light), with a label communicating the absolute carbon emissions in kg CO2 (absolute), or with a label communicating both the relative sustainability and absolute carbon emissions (combined). The results show that the traffic light label and the combined label increased the chance of choosing a low-CO2 (versus a high-CO2) food item. There were no interactions between carbon footprint labels and environmental concern / cognitive reflection. Our research contributes to the discussion on the effectiveness and practical relevance of carbon footprint labels by testing a specific traffic light design and demonstrating the limited impact of communicating absolute carbon emissions.

Should Carbon Footprint Labeling Be Mandatory for All Food Products? Rct Shows No Benefit Beyond Labeling the Top Third

Should Carbon Footprint Labeling Be Mandatory for All Food Products? Rct Shows No Benefit Beyond Labeling the Top Third

Carbon tax salience counteracts price effects through moral licensing

Carbon taxes raise the costs of carbon-intensive products to penalize their consumption. Policymakers can decide whether the carbon tax is hidden or indicated explicitly as a component of the retail price. This policy design decision has effects on demand that have been overlooked. Here we show that salient carbon taxes are less effective than hidden taxes in reducing demand because being aware of paying a carbon tax activates a moral licensing process that encourages consumption. Across four experimental studies and two pilot experiments, we found that participants’ purchase intention was consistently higher when the carbon tax was salient. This effect remained robust with different products, carbon tax levels, and additional carbon footprint labels. Salient carbon taxes had a stronger effect on the purchase intention of the climate change concerned and less conservative individuals because they were more susceptible to a boost in moral self-concept triggered by paying the carbon tax.

Using the water footprint concept for water use efficiency labelling of consumer products: the Greek experience

Freshwater is crucial for food supply, as irrigation water and as production or incorporated water in industrial production of consumer goods (e.g. food, cosmetics). Manufacturing industries follow different protocols and receive different certifications for water management and efficiency in their plants, which are also labelled on the packaging. Nowadays, consumers appear to be increasingly concerned about environmental challenges, therefore many sustainability labels have been developed (carbon, water, ecological footprint) to facilitate consumers to make more sustainable choices concerning their purchases. Consumers’ behaviour towards carbon footprint labels has been thoroughly examined in international literature; however, WF labelling studies are very limited. The key to water efficiency labelling in consumer products could be the water footprint (WF), as it measures the total volume of freshwater used to produce a product, over the full supply chain, including virtual water, “hidden” in the products, services and processes. The implementation of WF labelling of consumer products in Greece was investigated, using a questionnaire with demographical data and statements on water sustainability. The results indicate that younger consumers are not quite aware of environmental challenges related to water. According to the findings, WF could be an effective marketing driver towards water sustainability since consumers prefer a quantified label concerning water consumption, regardless of their educational level, and they are willing to pay an extra price for water sustainable products even if they have an unstable job. Manufacturers could then promote their sustainable profile and performance effectively by adopting a WF relevant labelling.

Carbon neutrality cognition, environmental value, and consumption preference of low-carbon products

It is now the mainstream scientific consensus that carbon emissions cause global climate change. Achieving the goal of China’s carbon neutrality is essential for environmental protection and economic sustainable development worldwide. In the above context, this paper aims to explore the carbon neutrality cognition, environmental value, and consumption preference for low-carbon products from the perspective of consumption end. Thus, we built and checked a new conceptual model of consumers’ carbon neutrality cognition and the consumption preference for low-carbon products. The TF-IDF algorithm in machine learning was used to confirm the dimensions of carbon neutrality cognition based on text data collected from an academic database CNKI. Then, we used data from a social investigation (N = 405) to test hypotheses and models using bootstrapping and independent sample t-tests. The results showed that altruistic (β = 0.168, 95% CI: [−0.54514, 0.8819]) and egoistic values (β = −0.066, 95% confidence interval [CI]: [−0.6361, 0.6772]) mediated the impact of carbon neutrality cognition on the consumption of low-carbon products, whereas the egoistic value did not (β = −0.066, 95% CI: [−0.6361, 0.6772]). Additionally, based on the characteristics of current Chinese consumers and the market, we argue for two boundary factors: face consciousness and carbon footprint label. The moderation of face consciousness (Mhigh = 5.395 vs. Mlow = 3.312) and carbon footprint label (Mwith = 6.394 vs. Mwithout = 5.432) were revealed. The empirical results support our conceptual model, and our findings provide insights to policymakers and enterprises regarding people’s carbon neutrality cognition, which will allow them to develop more appropriate policies and sustainable development strategies.

Do carbon footprint labels promote climatarian diets? Evidence from a large-scale field experiment

We estimate the causal effect of carbon footprint labels on individual food choices and quantify potential carbon emission reductions, using data from a large-scale field experiment at five university cafeterias with over 80,000 individual meal choices. Results show that carbon footprint labels led to a decrease in the probability of selecting a high-carbon footprint meal by approximately 2.7 percentage points with consumers substituting to mid-carbon impact meals. We find no change in the market share of low-carbon meals, on average. The reduction in high-carbon footprint meals is driven by decreases in sales of meat meals while sales of mid-ranged vegan, vegetarian and fish meals all increased. We estimate that the introduction of carbon footprint labels was associated with a 4.3% reduction in average carbon emissions per meal. We contrast our findings with those from nudge-style interventions and discuss the cost-effectiveness of carbon footprint labels. Our results suggest that carbon footprint labels present a viable and low-cost policy tool to address information failure and harness climatarian preferences to encourage more sustainable food choices.

Spatial consumption-based carbon footprints: two definitions, two different outcomes

The spatial consumption-based assessment tradition is already 30 years old. However, while all the well over 100 studies in this field over the past 30 years have been published under the same consumption-based carbon footprint label, the studies actually fall into two main categories, which have substantial differences between them, by definition in what they include, and how they allocate the emissions. The first utilizes the territory principle and the other the residence principle, meaning that it is partly different consumption activities that are included in the two. The territory principle means that consumption activities are included based on where consumption takes place regardless of who the consumers are, whereas the residence principle means that all consumption of the residents is included regardless of where they consume. Overall, the two lead to potentially very different estimates, and fit to different study situations. So far, this important issue has gone without much attention. In this paper we provide in-depth discussion, through a theoretic example, on how the scopes and the allocation principles vary between the two approaches, and on how the approach choice affects the outcome of an assessment. The provided discussion shows how profoundly different the two approaches can be, and emphasizes the importance of being clear in communicating the allocation principle in every spatial consumption-based study. One approach is not superior to another, but instead they show different perspectives, and the practitioner should carefully select the approach with a better fit with the aim of the study in question.

The development of green skills across firms in the institutional context of Thailand

The development of green skills across firms in the institutional context of Thailand