Environmental Claims Research Articles

Combating Greenwashing of Construction Products in New Zealand and Australia: A Critical Analysis of Environmental Product Declarations

The construction industry’s increasing environmental impact has led to the widespread adoption of sustainability claims, yet the prevalence of greenwashing—where organizations make misleading environmental claims—threatens genuine sustainable development efforts. Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) have emerged as a potential solution, particularly in the New Zealand and Australia construction sectors, where recent government climate regulations have accelerated their adoption. However, the effectiveness of EPDs in combating greenwashing and their practical implementation remain understudied. This research addresses this gap through a comprehensive analysis of EPDs in construction, employing a systematic literature review of 82 articles from 2010 to 2024 across major databases. Using ATLAS.ti 9 software, this study makes three key contributions: (1) develops a novel framework for evaluating EPD programs and their effectiveness in preventing greenwashing, (2) establishes a standardized methodology for assessing the completeness and accuracy of life cycle assessment information in EPDs, and (3) provides evidence-based recommendations for improving EPD implementation in the construction industry. The findings reveal critical shortcomings in current EPD practices, including inconsistent assessment methodologies and incomplete life cycle data. This study proposes specific reforms to enhance EPD reliability and transparency, offering practical guidelines for industry stakeholders to verify environmental claims. These contributions advance both the theoretical understanding of environmental certification systems and practical implementation of sustainable construction practices by developing regulatory frameworks.

The Double Materiality Audit: Attestation of ESG Disclosures in Financial Statements

SYNOPSIS Auditors are required to evaluate the reliability of financial numbers and potentially provide attestation of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) claims disclosed in financial statements. Double-materiality refers to assessing materiality from two aspects: first, the extent necessary for an understanding of the company’s financial position, and second, the ESG impact of the company’s activities on a broad range of stakeholders. For an audit, these are interconnected, meaning that despite their inherently nonfinancial nature, ESG factors are closely associated with financial outcomes and potential business risks. This research provides an understanding of such a double materiality audit by recognizing the role of external auditors regarding the interaction between a financial audit and ESG attestation and suggests an audit analysis roadmap that incorporates both quantitative and big ESG data. Specifically, it proposes extended audit procedures for data collection, verification, and analysis and highlights the ongoing challenges and opportunities. JEL Classifications: G18; G30; G32; G38; M14; M41; M42; M48.

THE EFFECT OF GREEN MARKETING MOTIVATION FACTORS ON CONSUMERS' PURCHASE INTENTION THROUGH THE MEDIATING ROLE OF GREEN BRAND TRUST TO COUNTER GREENWASHING

This study examines the influence of green marketing motivational factors on Algerian consumers' purchase intentions, specifically focusing on the mediating role of green brand trust in mitigating greenwashing's impact. The research, conducted in Maghnia, a city on the western border of Algeria, surveyed 262 consumers using a structured questionnaire. Analyzing the data using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), the study reveals that green brand trust acts as a critical mediator between green marketing factors and purchase intentions. It finds that positive reception of green advertising and a strong green brand image significantly enhance green brand trust, which in turn, strongly influences consumers' intentions to purchase green products. Further analysis demonstrates that while non-deception and transparency do not directly impact green brand trust, they act as important moderators, enhancing the link between green advertising reception and trust. Notably, the study highlights the pervasive issue of greenwashing in Algeria, demonstrating how misleading environmental claims undermine consumer trust and purchase intentions. The study underscores the need for companies to prioritize genuine environmental efforts and ethical marketing practices to build lasting consumer relationships. Furthermore, the research emphasizes the importance of promoting environmental awareness among consumers through education programs and awareness campaigns, as well as strengthening environmental legislation to prevent deceptive practices. By understanding the complex relationship between green marketing factors, green brand trust, and purchase intentions, this study offers valuable insights for developing sustainable consumption patterns in developing economies while mitigating the negative effects of greenwashing.

Metro/Nonmetro Migration as a Risk Factor for Opioid Use Disorder Among Older Medicare Beneficiaries: A Longitudinal Analysis of 2013-2018 Data.

Opioid use disorder (OUD) among older adults (65+) has drawn researchers' attention. Nonetheless, whether migration between a metropolitan (metro) and nonmetropolitan (nonmetro) county shapes the risk of OUD remains underexplored. The drift hypothesis argues that individuals susceptible to a certain health condition tend to move, increasing the prevalence of the health condition in the destinations. By contrast, the environmental breeder hypothesis claims that migration alters the exposures to residential environment factors, which are associated with the occurrence of health conditions. Applying fixed-effects modeling to longitudinal data of older Medicare beneficiaries moving at least once between 2013 and 2018 (N = 6,227, person-year = 28,874), this study finds that older beneficiaries moving between metro and nonmetro counties demonstrated a higher risk of OUD than those who did not move. The positive association between migration and OUD risk is particularly strong for those moving from metro to nonmetro counties and the drift hypothesis receives stronger support.

Ethnic Environmentalism in the Russian Regions: National Identity and Nature Protection

Increased public awareness of environmental problems and the strengthening of diverse identities may lead to the emergence of ‘ethnic environmentalism’. These movements make environmental claims associated with the interests of an ethnic community. We develop this concept by examining protests in the Russian regions. Our findings suggest that ethnic identity facilitates environmental activism under the following conditions: the ethnic group claims a special cultural relationship to the natural environment; environmental concern and ethnic identity are linked to the unfair distribution of resources; and blame is directed towards regional actors rather than the federal government.

Article: The Neglected Public Interest in Investor-State Dispute Settlement: Environmental and Human Rights Considerations

With the rapid expansion of bilateral investment treaties (BITs), investor-state arbitration has paved its way to becoming the most preferred dispute settlement method by investors. However, the investment arbitration system has also attracted ‘backlash’. One reason is the challenge to balance between protection of foreign investors and the recognition of host states’ legitimate public interests. With the current pressures to reform the investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) system, there is a pressing need to offer a better balance between investor protection and host states’ sovereign right to regulate, as well as the wider public good such regulatory measures might have, especially in the context of environmental protection and human rights. This article argues for a better symmetry between foreign investor’s treaty-based claims and host states’ environmental and human rights (EHR) claims to acknowledge the public interests – social, economic, welfare, etc. In particular, it advocates for: the strengthened presence of independent experts and amicus curiae, a proportionality approach; and the overarching development of counterclaims as a consideration not only of the host state’s capacity to regulate but also the wider repercussions of such regulations on the public as well as the conduct of foreign investors.

Requirements for Environmental Claims in Marketing Based on Third-Party Certification

Requirements for Environmental Claims in Marketing Based on Third-Party Certification

The Impact of Greenwashing Advertising on Consumer Behavior

The economic motive of businesses in manipulating environmental aspects in increasing sales turnover so that consumers feel harmed by the advertising information. Greenwashing has significant negative impacts, both for consumers and companies that are truly committed to sustainability. For consumers, greenwashing can lead to misinformation and inappropriate purchasing decisions. Consumers who feel deceived by false environmental claims may experience disillusionment and lose trust in environmental claims as a whole. This can also be detrimental to companies that truly strive to carry out sustainable business practices, as it is difficult to differentiate themselves from companies that only pretend to care about the environment. This study aims to analyze theimpact of advertising greenwashing on consumer behavior. Methode in this research used yuridis normative with conceptual approach and legislation approach related to consumer protection and mediaenvironmentally friendly campaigns on goods and/or services. The results of this study indicate that rregulations related to consumer protection have not specifically regulated the concept of greenwashing, but have regulated the rights and obligations of business actors related to the act of greenwashing which mis leads to consumer decision making. Acts of greenwashing committed by business actors have violated consumer rights relating to correct and clear information and not misleading about the condition of goods and/or services traded. Business actors must be responsible in terms of withdrawing these advertisements and/or must be prepared to take responsibility for the resulting impact on consumers and/or the environment.

The Influence of Brand Greenwashing on EV Purchase Intention: The Moderating Role of Consumer Innovativeness and Peer Brand Attitude

In the context of new energy Electric Vehicles (EVs), certain car manufacturers engage in deceptive behaviors known as “greenwashing”, including activities such as “subsidy cheating”, “exaggerating carbon reduction claims”, and “selective disclosure of environmental information”. These behaviors have a negative impact on industry progress. While previous studies suggest that consumers’ perceptions of greenwashing towards individual brands extend to the industry as a whole and influence their overall purchase intentions, there remains a gap in understanding how these behaviors specifically affect consumers’ willingness to purchase EVs. To address this gap and enrich the literature on the relationship between greenwashing and consumer choice, this study uses ABC attitude theory and experimental methods to investigate the impact of greenwashing in the EV sector on consumers’ vehicle preferences in three experiments. The results show that consumers’ perceptions of greenwashing in one EV brand negatively influence their purchase intentions towards other brands, mediated by a general skepticism towards environmental claims in the industry. In addition, consumers’ innovativeness and attitudes towards other brands play a negative moderating role in this relationship. The research findings provide comprehensive insights into the complex impact of brand greenwashing on consumer behavior within the EV industry.

Do Consumers Value Agri-Food Industries' Environmental Commitment? The Case of the Table Olive Industry.

An increasing number of food companies are voluntarily adopting environmental policies and sustainability initiatives to tackle climate change. The aims of this study were to analyse the presence of environmental labels on table olive products, to explore consumer perceptions of these companies' environmental commitment and initiatives, and to evaluate the influence of these messages on purchasing decisions. For this purpose, a market study was conducted in different hypermarkets and supermarkets in Spain, and an online survey was submitted to consumers (n = 227). The results show that environmental claims and/or certifications related to sustainability do not appear on table olive products, despite most of the companies that produce and/or market table olives having adopted environmental and sustainability policies and commitments (34.3% have their environmental policy published on their website). More than 85% of consumers positively value these companies' sustainability commitments and consider environmental initiatives to be very important. As a sector of consumers pays close attention to environmental commitments, it would be interesting for table olive companies to identify their sustainability policies on their products' labelling to, thus, facilitate pro-environmental consumer purchase choices. These results could help the food industry develop the best strategies to publicise their social and environmental policies and commitments.

Beyond Purchase Intentions: How Technology 4.0 Validates Green Consumer Choices and Corporate Environmental Claims

Beyond Purchase Intentions: How Technology 4.0 Validates Green Consumer Choices and Corporate Environmental Claims

Green Marketing and Consumer Environmental Awareness: A Bibliometric Review of Social Education and Campaigns

This study employs bibliometric analysis to explore the expansive landscape of green marketing and consumer environmental awareness research. Utilizing data from VOSviewer, we analyzed thematic clusters, research trends, emerging topics, and author collaboration networks from a comprehensive dataset spanning several decades. Our findings reveal distinct thematic areas, including core marketing strategies, consumer behavior, corporate responsibility, and the critical evaluation of greenwashing practices. A temporal analysis indicates a shift in focus from traditional marketing tactics to nuanced understandings of consumer attitudes and the authenticity of environmental claims. Additionally, we identified potential research opportunities in underexplored areas such as green hotels and green markets, which could provide new insights into sector-specific sustainability practices. The author collaboration network analysis highlights a somewhat segmented academic community with opportunities for more interdisciplinary and integrative research efforts. This study not only charts the evolution and current state of green marketing research but also points to future directions that could bridge existing gaps and foster broader collaborative networks.

An urban political ecology of populism

In this paper we develop a relational understanding of populism informed by urban political ecology. We argue that an urban political ecology of populism is necessary for a popular-democratic denunciation of the environmental claims of the far right. This article thereby aims to further develop a critique of liberal environmentalism and right-wing populism. We do so by first staging a dialogue between literatures in urban political ecology and Gramscian inflected readings of populism. Both have sought to interpret how spatial – and ecological – claim making becomes central to struggles over hegemony. The second half of the paper analyses these tensions in the Dutch farmers movement, which has become one of the most important political forces in the Netherlands since 2019. Abstracting “the local”, “the rural” or “the farm” out of the broader processes of urbanisation is central to struggles over the representation of farmers. Right-wing movements thus seek to further a broader disillusionment with formal politics, while effectively deploying spatial and ecological abstractions that pit the “rural” against the “urban”. We conclude by instead emphasising the crucial connections between populism and ecology, and call for a popular-democratic political ecology.

Lifestyle Eco-Influencers Advertising: Is Engagement Driven by Content or Fandom?

This research examines the main common characteristics among the contents of five eco-influencer accounts from different Western countries. A quantitative content analysis was performed on 187 Instagram posts published by eco-influencers from the United Kingdom, United States, Belgium, Spain, and Peru. The topics that eco-influencers deal with the most are promoting veganism, spirituality, environmental and political claims, product advertising (their own and third-party), and personal life, generating the most interactions in the accounts. Carousels win on engagement for eco-influencers on Instagram despite videos being sponsors’ favorite format. Both sponsored content and sponsors themselves are well-received, with over half of all posts featuring them. It seems evident that the social capital of influencers encourages environmental commitment, although there is a particular bias to appreciate the person more than their activist message. In light of the results, this research contributes to the social capital theory of influencers by demonstrating that influencers show personal content and emotional appeals, such as activities with their families, personal reflections, and political statements that give them a high sense of authenticity, but which, blurs the barriers between the public and private spheres.

What to do With Cross-Border Environmental Pollution: Legislative Aspects

Abstract – Environmental torts and possibility of trans-border dispute settlement thereof has gained significant prominence in the recent years. Cases such as Urgenda foundation v the State of the Netherlends, Milieudefensie et al. v. Royal Dutch Shell plc., ClientEarth v. Enea, Neubauer et al. v. Germany demonstrate that environmental tort cases can be brought by stakeholders globally rather than relying on involvement of a relevant national responsible authority. EU climate policy of decreasing GHG emissions and the ambitious target of reaching climate neutrality by 2050 has resulted in a rapid development of environmental law. Thus, environmental regulation is becoming increasingly complex and possible breaches may cause serious legal consequences affecting everyone not just selected individuals or states. These developments could possibly lead to a necessity of a forum or rules where any natural person or an NGO could bring a claim against a state or multinational corporation which engages in illegal activities causing harm the environment on a global scale. Using litigation as a tool to empower society to stand against environmental wrongdoers may serve as a deterring factor to maintain order when it comes to environmental regulation. While such reasoning may seem farfetched and extreme, nevertheless it still raises a question of current regulation on determination of jurisdiction and the applicable law and whether it would be possible to benefit from developing these rules. By engaging in a systematic literature analysis identifying the relevant terms, the research shall explore the basic principles of private international law in relation to assigning jurisdiction and determining applicable law in claims concerning environmental torts. The research shall develop a methodology with the aim of covering and identifying a wider range of problems related to the determination of jurisdiction and application of law in cross-border environmental tort claims. Some of the main issues concern the determination of defendants in cases involving multinational corporations, multi-claimant cases, and the compensation of indirect damages. An exploration of material aspects in the developments of the current EU regulation and guidelines shall be analysed in conjunction with the aforementioned notion. The result of the study not only will reflect the specifics of the application of the Brussels Ibis Regulation and Rome II regulation in cross-border environmental torts, but also how the EU environmental regulation could potentially promote corporate responsibility and environmental protection. Thus, developing research on interaction between private international law and environmental law. Keywords - environmental tort, SEG emissions, jurisdiction, applicable law, cross-border pollution

Discovering the sustainable development role of fintech credit and the pilot low carbon project on greenwashing in China

AbstractLow-carbon development is important to reduce global warming, allow people to live in normal temperatures and climates, and limit the loss of labor productivity by avoiding air pollution. However, greenwashing prevents low-carbon development by making companies appear more eco-friendly than they are. Therefore, this study examines the influence of financial technology (FinTech) credit and the implementation of the Pilot Low Carbon Project on corporate greenwashing in China from 2015 to 2021. The study uses the method of moment quantile regression (MMQR) to determine that FinTech credit and low- carbon projects prevent greenwashing behavior and promote environmentally sustainable corporate practices in China. Fintech plays a crucial role in monitoring the environmental impact of urban development, especially in the context of the Low Carbon City Initiative. The influence of Fintech Credit on greenwashing experiences a notable reduction in the higher quantiles, especially between the 75th and 95th culminating in a significant decrease to approximately − 0.07. Companies outside the low carbon city areas consistently experience a negative impact of Fintech Credit on greenwashing. This investigation contributes significantly to the discourse on the interplay between greenwashing, FinTech and sustainable urban development. It also provides valuable insights for the development of strategies aimed at mitigating misleading environmental claims made by companies.

Consumers preferences and social sustainability: a discrete choice experiment on ‘Quality Agricultural Work’ ethical label in the Italian fruit sector

The Italian legislator has adopted several instruments to discourage undeclared work and exploitative labour in agriculture, mostly of a penal-repressive nature. Among the direct and indirect policy measures, the ‘Quality Agricultural Work Network’ represents an interesting approach to producing a ‘whitelist’ of farmers compliant with labour regulations. A law proposal intends to establish the ‘Quality Agricultural Work’ (QAW) ethical label to incentivise farmers to join the network, to which a limited percentage of farms have signed up. This study aims to investigate consumer preferences for the QAW label in the Italian fruit sector. We conducted a choice experiment on a sample of 324 consumers. Willingness to pay for ethical labels was estimated before and after information treatment was administered to evaluate the prospective effects of promotional and information campaigns. The information treatment conveyed a clear and concise message about the QAW project and its ethical label. The results show that consumers would pay a high price premium for fruit produced under fair working conditions, indicating that there may be a market space for the QAW label. Moreover, consumers perceive environmental and social sustainability claims as complementary contexts where both dimensions of sustainability are relevant.Graphical abstract

An experimental test of a greenwashing inoculation intervention in Ireland: Effects of ‘pre-bunking’ on identification, consumer trust and purchase intentions

Misleading claims about the environmental performance of a product or service (i.e., “greenwashing”) hinder consumers from making informed choices and penalise genuinely sustainable companies. We designed a greenwashing ‘inoculation’ intervention (i.e., an educative intervention to pre-bunk commonly used greenwashing tactics prior to exposure). We first pre-tested the intervention using a student sample (N = 206) and then ran a pre-registered replication using a nationally representative sample (N = 2000). Participants were randomised to one of three groups. The intervention group (n = 892) learned about greenwashing and how to identify it whereas the control group (n = 902) read a piece of text about climate change. A third group acted as a ‘no-contact’ control (n = 206). Participants then judged six real advertisements (three greenwashed and three with genuine environmental claims) on greenwashed content, brand trust, and willingness to purchase. The intervention increased greenwashing ratings for two of the greenwashed advertisements, with corresponding decreases in brand trust and purchase intentions. The unaffected greenwashed advertisement was for a dairy-free milk alternative from a familiar brand, suggesting that familiarity and product sustainability may mitigate greenwashing interventions. However, participants also judged two of the three genuine advertisements as greenwashed, implying a broadly-applied scepticism of environmental claims, particularly towards unfamiliar brands. Despite difficulty distinguishing between greenwashed and genuine advertisements, participants were more confident in their ability to identify greenwashing and had stronger resolves to act in pro-environmentally in the future. The findings have implications for greenwashing policy.

An overview of labelling and environmental claims on fish and seafood products in New Zealand supermarkets

Fish and other seafood are a major component of New Zealanders’ diet; the 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 New Zealand Health Survey found that nearly three quarters of New Zealanders eat seafood at least once a week(1). Environmental and ethical factors influence New Zealand consumers’ purchase of seafood and consumers prefer to get their information about seafood at the point of purchase(2). However, environmental claims are not regulated under the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code, unlike health and nutrition claims. Some seafood products are certified by programmes (e.g. Best Aquaculture Practice (BAP)), ensuring the seafood was sourced according to specific criteria related to environmental management, but other products carry self-declared environmental claims that have not been independently verified. This study aimed to describe labelling practices, including environmental claims, on fish and seafood packaged products sold in major New Zealand supermarkets and available in the 2022 Nutritrack database. Nutritrack is an annual survey conducted by trained fieldworkers who take photographs of all packaged food and beverage products displaying a nutrition information panel (NIP) from 4 major supermarkets in New Zealand. Information from the photographs, including the NIP and the ingredients list is entered into the Nutritrack database. For this study, data (including fish species, harvest location, processing country, fishing method, environmental certifications and self-declared environmental claims) were extracted from the archived photographs of all sides of the packaged fish and seafood products in the 2022 Nutritrack database. Self-declared environmental claims were assessed against the ISO 14021 standard for “Environmental labels and declarations — Self-declared environmental claims (Type II environmental labelling)” on specific criteria that were relevant for seafood products, including if the self-declared claim mentioned the word “sustainable” (as this term is difficult to substantiate and should be avoided); was vague and non-specific; or overstated the benefits (to imply multiple benefits from a single environmental change). There were 369 fish and seafood products included in this study. Eighty-eight products (23.8%) displayed a certification; the Marine Stewardship Council’s certification (MSC) for wild fish was the most common and was featured by 72 products (19.5%). One hundred and fifty-two products (41.2%) displayed at least one self-declared claim. Thirty-three distinct self-declared environmental claims were identified, 16 (48.5%) of which breached the ISO 14021 standard for environmental declarations because they used the term “sustainable” and 26 (78.8%) of which breached the ISO 14021 standard because they were vague. This analysis suggests that stricter regulation is needed for self-declared environmental claims on fish and other seafood products available for purchase in New Zealand, to prevent greenwashing and to provide consumers transparent, accurate and substantiated information.

Processed vegan food packaging: influencing vegan diet and lifestyle consumption choices

As the demand for plant-based meat analogues (PBMAs) continues to surge globally, understanding the marketing strategies that drive consumer choice becomes imperative(1). This research project, part of a larger study at Massey University, explores the design and packaging of vegan food products, specifically focusing on processed PBMAs and how this influences vegan diet consumption choices in New Zealand vegans. We examined the packaging of vegan processed food available in New Zealand supermarkets and those promoted online, with a focus on processed PBMAs. This informed the development of an online survey including: demographics, motivations for following a vegan diet, and questions related to perceptions and preferences about vegan diets and processed PBMA packaging. The survey was offered to individuals who had previously participated in vegan research at Massey University and followed a strict vegan diet. There were 235 participants of whom 198 completed the survey. This consisted of primarily females (n = 156, 74%) and individuals of New Zealand European descent (n = 159, 71%), aged 18 to 76 years (37.8 ± 12.3). The participants had varying durations of following a vegan diet, with the largest group (n = 87, 42%) adopting it for 5 to 10 years. The primary motivation for following a vegan diet was animal welfare (n = 205), followed by environmental concerns (n = 189) and health (n = 175). Participants were able to select more than one option, suggesting there are often multiple reasons for choosing to follow a vegan diet. Factors influencing purchase decisions for PBMAs included nutrient claims on packaging, with protein having the highest positive influence. Environmental concerns also played a significant role, with eco-friendly packaging and positive environmental claims being important. Packaging images, particularly of the final prepared product, had a significantly positive impact on purchasing decisions (4.12 ± 0.78) where 1 represented a negative influence and 5 represented a positive influence on a Likert Scale. The majority sometimes, or always checked the nutrition information panel (n = 167, 85%) and examined the ingredients (n = 191, 98%). Participants reported concern about the nutritional value of processed PBMAs (n = 94), and reported that they are aware that these foods are classified as ‘ultra-processed (n = 91). This research provides valuable insights into the reasons people choose vegan diets and what influences their choices when it comes to purchasing PBMAs. It highlights the significance of marketing strategies in the plant-based meat alternatives industry. However, to gain a more comprehensive understanding of this evolving market, further research is necessary. Future research should consider a wider range of demographics and regional distinctions to better understand how consumer preferences in plant-based diets are changing. This should also include looking at how the market is maturing, with buyers becoming more aware of things like nutrients and the processing of food, which can impact the sustainable food choices individuals make.