Environmental Claims Research Articles

The RAM signaling pathway links morphology, thermotolerance, and CO2 tolerance in the global fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans.

The environmental pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans claims over 180,000 lives each year. Survival of this basidiomycete at host CO2 concentrations has only recently been considered an important virulence trait. Through screening gene knockout libraries constructed in a CO2-tolerant clinical strain, we found mutations leading to CO2 sensitivity are enriched in pathways activated by heat stress, including calcineurin, Ras1-Cdc24, cell wall integrity, and Regulator of Ace2 and Morphogenesis (RAM). Overexpression of Cbk1, the conserved terminal kinase of the RAM pathway, partially restored defects of these mutants at host CO2 or temperature levels. In ascomycetes such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida albicans, transcription factor Ace2 is an important target of Cbk1, activating genes responsible for cell separation. However, no Ace2 homolog or any downstream component of the RAM pathway has been identified in basidiomycetes. Through in vitro evolution and comparative genomics, we characterized mutations in suppressors of cbk1Δ in C. neoformans that partially rescued defects in CO2 tolerance, thermotolerance, and morphology. One suppressor is the RNA translation repressor Ssd1, which is highly conserved in ascomycetes and basidiomycetes. The other is a novel ribonuclease domain-containing protein, here named PSC1, which is present in basidiomycetes and humans but surprisingly absent in most ascomycetes. Loss of Ssd1 in cbk1Δ partially restored cryptococcal ability to survive and amplify in the inhalation and intravenous murine models of cryptococcosis. Our discoveries highlight the overlapping regulation of CO2 tolerance and thermotolerance, the essential role of the RAM pathway in cryptococcal adaptation to the host condition, and the potential importance of post-transcriptional control of virulence traits in this global pathogen.

A Review of Recent Aerodynamic Power Extraction Challenges in Coordinated Pitch, Yaw, and Torque Control of Large-Scale Wind Turbine Systems

As the impacts of environmental change become more severe, reliable and sustainable power generation and efficient aerodynamic power collection of onshore and offshore wind turbine systems present some of the associated key issues to address. Therefore, this review article aims to present current advances and challenges in the aerodynamic power extraction of wind turbines, associated supporting technologies in pitch, yaw, and torque control systems, and their advantages and implications in the renewable energy industry under environmental challenges. To do this, first, mathematical modeling of the environmental characteristics of the wind turbine system is presented. Next, the latest technological advances consider the environmental challenges presented in the literature, and merits and drawbacks are discussed. In addition, pioneering research works and state-of-the-art methodologies are categorized and evaluated according to pitch, yaw, and torque control objectives. Finally, simulation results are presented to demonstrate the impact of environmental issues, improvement claims, findings, and trade-offs of techniques found in the literature on super-large wind turbine systems. Thus, this study is expected to lay the groundwork for future intensive efforts to better understand the performance of large-scale wind turbine systems in addressing environmental issues.

Life cycle assessment of peat for growing media and evaluation of the suitability of using the Product Environmental Footprint methodology for peat

PurposePeat extraction rapidly removes carbon from the peatland carbon store and furthermore leads to substantial losses of carbon from the extraction site by stimulating decomposition and erosion. Aim of this study is to evaluate whether the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) approach is suitable for assessing the environmental impacts of white and black peat used in growing media as well as to provide generic data collected from growing media producers and the scientific literature. It is not the aim of this study to compare different land use options for peatlands.MethodPEF is developed in order to make environmental product declaration claims more reliable, comparable and verifiable across the EU, and to increase consumer confidence in eco-labels and environmental impact information. For PEF-compliant studies all land use activities must be considered. For peat extraction either pristine peatland or previously drained peatland used for forestry or agriculture has to be transformed. Hence, the suitability of land use-related PEF indicators is also investigated.ResultsDiesel consumed for peat extraction, electricity used for peat processing and transport are the main contributors to acidification. Fuel production and consumption are the main contributors to human toxicity, with heavy metals to air and freshwater the contributing emissions. Ionising radiation, ozone depletion and resource depletion of minerals and metals are mainly caused by the electricity used. Climate change increased from 26 kg CO2eq per m3 processed white peat to 51 kg CO2eq per m3 processed black peat. The use of peat causes substantially higher GHG than the previous life cycle stages combined; white peat causes approximately 183 kg CO2eq per m3 and black peat 257 kg CO2eq per m3.ConclusionsEnvironmental impacts caused by peat are variable and depend on a number of spatial and temporal factors. Although most indicators used for PEF are suitable for assessing peat systems, that does not apply for the land use indicator and is at least questionable for the water use indicator, respectively, its weighting factor. Consequently, it is neither possible to identify the most relevant impact categories based on normalised and weighted results nor to calculate an overall single score for peat containing growing media. Since normalisation and weighting are mandatory steps for PEF conform impact assessment, the current PEF approach is not suitable to assess peat as intermediate product without adaptation of the land use indicator.

Exploring attitude-behaviour inconsistencies in organic food consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Klang Valley, Malaysia

Many consumers have shown positive attitude towards green consumption; nevertheless, these attitudes do not necessarily translate into intention and or behaviours. Human consumption patterns are responsible for approximately 40% of environmental challenges; therefore, consumer decisions and behaviours have a big impact on the environment. Food consumption is known to have an important impact on public health, individuals, and the environment. Organic food purchase is widely known to promote sustainable attitudes and lifestyles. The disparity between green concern (having a positive attitude and or intention) and green behaviour (the act of purchasing and consuming organic food) is known as the attitude-behaviour inconsistency or green gap in the scholarly sphere. To explore the attitude-behaviour inconsistency, this study employs exogenous influences such as motives and barriers which extends the original theory of planned behaviour. This qualitative study which was carried out during the COVID-19 pandemic involved 22 key respondents’ residents in the Klang Valley, Malaysia (KVM) using key informant interviews and interpretive phenomenological analysis. The findings indicated motives and barriers to purchase, coexist with a positive attitude (endogenous influence) and favourable intentions, resulting in real behaviour or purchase not being possible; therefore, the attitude-behavioural inconsistencies. To band the attitude-behaviour inconsistency, it is proposed that decision makers such as government agencies create a national environmental certification procedure and logo that verifies companies' environmental claims. Assisting the government, the private sector should be more proactive in implementing green lifestyle initiatives in their corporate policies and when conducting business.

Knowledge politics around water, development and ecosystem services in Ecuador: creative encounters and resistances

A vast amount of literature has investigated the conflicts between different ways of conceiving development in Latin America. Particular attention has been paid to power differentials among knowledge systems when it comes to decision-making, values and practices over water resources. The Ecosystem Services framework or Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) are often analysed as examples of technical and scientific tools typically produced by multilateral organizations, cooperation agencies and international experts. They are presented as discourses competing with environmental and water justice claims, or local and traditional knowledge, although they can sometimes support them and/or try to incorporate them. The question that arises is whether such incorporation depoliticises local understandings of sustainability and development. This paper aims to examine both the synergies and tensions among different forms of knowledge around development through one empirical case study in the Ecuadorian highlands. It focuses on the efforts of the Kayambi indigenous communities to create, negotiate and scale-up a water conservation funding scheme based on reciprocity and solidarity values. This contribution highlights the creative engagement of diverse actors in designing, cocreating and diffusing a diversity of perspectives on development. It challenges the frontiers between technoscientific and grassroots knowledge by paying attention to the situated practices of different actors. It argues that the coproduction of water and development knowledge between various actors is the result of negotiating worldviews possibly in tension and moving beyond traditional resistance.

Net Zero Nonsense? A Greenwashing Guide for Association Events

This article examines the challenges of assessing environmental claims and avoiding misleading information. The article explores the complexities of net zero and emphasises the significance of frameworks such as the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) and the Race to Zero. SBTi ensures adherence to scientific guidelines and specific activities, while Race to Zero mobilises organisations to achieve net zero by 2050. The article highlights the High-Level Expert Group on Net- Zero Emissions Commitments of Non-State Entities, which provides criteria to reduce greenwashing risks. It emphasises the need to transition from voluntary commitments to regulated requirements. The article urges organisations to act, collaborate, and evaluate net zero claims using credible tools. It warns against being climate bystanders and emphasises the importance of participation, ambition, and addressing greenwashing to meet the climate challenge.

Understanding energy-efficiency choices through consumption values: the central role of consumer's attention and trust in environmental claims

PurposeThis study examines how consumption values influence consumers' purchase intention of energy-efficient home appliances in South Africa, an emerging market. The study further investigates the mediating role of consumers' attention to energy-efficient labels affixed on home appliances while making a purchase decision and the moderating effect of consumer trust in the environmental claims.Design/methodology/approachUsing a quantitative approach, this study relied on self-administered questionnaires to collect data from 505 household representatives in South Africa's Gauteng Province. The proposed conceptual model was empirically tested using structural equation modelling, moderation and mediation analyses.FindingsThe results revealed that economic, emotional and social values can only influence consumers' intention to purchase energy-efficient appliances if consumers pay attention to the energy-efficiency label affixed on the appliance. Functional value, however, has a significant direct impact on purchase intention. Moreover, the results indicate that trust in energy-efficiency labels strengthens the effect of functional and emotional values on consumers' attention to energy-efficiency labels.Originality/valueFindings of this study highlight the importance of capturing the attention of consumers to energy-efficiency labels during the buying process as well as increasing their trust in those labels. Results indicate that consumers are more attracted to the functional and social values that energy-efficient appliances provide. This study is of particular interest to policymakers, retailers and manufacturers, as it sheds light on key strategies to implement to effectively promote the purchase of energy-efficient household appliances in South Africa.

Impact of firms’ Greenwashing practices on customer green trust and green brand attachment: Pakistan`s home appliances consumers’ perspective

The usage of green products has increased dramatically in the recent decade. The compelling reason behind this behavioral change is the consumer understanding of climate change and its negative impact on the planet. However, firms’ engagement in greenwashing is causing a detrimental impact on this green cause, and it is leading customers to disbelieve the environmental claims of the firms. This study investigates the impact of firms’ greenwashing practices on consumer green trust and green brand attachment. Moreover, it examines the intermediation factors of green perceived risk, green perceived value, green confusion, and green brand image. This study follows a quantitative research design and deductive approach. Data was collected from the home appliances consumers through an online and in-person survey questionnaire. Respondents were contacted by using the non-probability sampling technique and a sample of 330 valid responses was used to analyze the data. Confirmatory Factor Analysis was used to test the reliability of the variables and Structural Equation Modeling to test the nine hypotheses that were proposed in this study. The findings suggest that Greenwashing negatively affects Green Perceived Value (GPV) and GPV positively affects Green Trust (GT). GT showed a positive impact on Green Brand Attachment (GBA). Hence, it is proved that greenwashing may reduce the trust and Brand Attachment of the consumers with the green product. Greenwashing has a positive impact on Green Confusion and a negative impact on Green Brand Image. These findings augment the existing knowledge on the relationship between greenwashing and green brand attachment. It is suggested that if organizations want to increase consumers` green trust and green brand attachment, they must refrain from greenwashing. Green brand trust is a significant driver of the relationship-building process and organizations should strive to build it by furnishing real green values to the consumers, thus it will result in increasing the market share of the companies.

Cognitive Operations in Eco-friendly Car Advertising

This paper presents a corpus-based analysis of printed eco-friendly car advertisements in English in line with the growing consumer interest in environmental issues and the development of green advertising. The aim of the research is threefold: 1) to unveil the content cognitive operations (for the purpose of this research, metonymy, metonymic chain, metaphoric amalgam and metaphor) underlying the ads and their modes of representation; 2) to examine the relationship between (i) these conceptual operations and the environmental claims made by advertisers, and (ii) the environmental claims made by advertisers and the text-image interaction. In this light, the paper yields two major findings: a) the cognitive operations underlying our corpus are usually rendered in the visual and verbal modes; b) the environmental claims underlying the ads correlate with the conceptual content and the text-image interplay. The conscious use of these mechanisms by advertisers can help the manner in which messages are interpreted.

Significant UK Environmental Law Cases 2021–22

Abstract This article comments on significant UK environmental law cases for the period 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022. It begins with an overarching introduction focussing on the standard of review in environmental claims in the public law context and drawing attention to tension on the domestic bench on matters of approach. It then addresses a selection of significant cases in the fields of climate change (both inside and outside the environmental impact assessment regime), strategic environmental assessment, habitats, species, discretion under section 31(2A) of the Senior Courts Act 1981, representative actions under CPR Rule 19.6, waste, licensing and human rights.

Locally Procured Wild Game Culinary Trends in the US: A Study of the Ruffed Grouse as Entrée and Accompanying Nutritional Analysis

Wild-caught foods including game and fish can be part of a local, sustainable food system. Beneficial environmental, personal health, and nutrition claims are often linked to locally-sourced foods. Yet, because many species of wild game and fish that are legal to hunt or catch do not have nutrient data in the USDA food composition database these claims, especially in the realm of nutrition, are not well substantiated. To address this gap, the Cornell research team collaborated with USDA scientists to address shortcomings in nutrition information for several wild game and fish species, in this case Ruffed Grouse. A wildlife biologist with the Ruffed Grouse Society collected bird samples according to USDA-determined collection protocols to obtain edible meat portions. Nutrient analysis was conducted on raw Ruffed Grouse breast meat samples at USDA-validated laboratories using approved quality assurance procedures. Analytical data were sent to NDL scientists, who reviewed and compiled the data into full nutrient profiles for Ruffed Grouse which were made available in the USDA food composition database. This new nutritional information supplements the already-well-appreciated epicurean qualities of the Ruffed Grouse and contributes to the complex social construction of the notion of hunted food as gourmet entrée.

Will Greenwashing Result in Brand Avoidance? A Moderated Mediation Model

Greenwashing has become a widespread phenomenon and obstructs green products, but literature on how consumers react to misbehaving brands is still scarce. This study aims to investigate the effect of greenwashing on consumers’ brand avoidance, integrating the mediating effect of brand hypocrisy and the moderating effect of CSR–CA belief. Data were acquired from a questionnaire survey of 317 consumers. Hypotheses were tested in a first-stage moderated mediation model with a bootstrapping method using the PROCESS program in SPSS. The empirical results demonstrated that greenwashing has a positive effect on brand avoidance, which is partially mediated by brand hypocrisy. Meanwhile, the positive effects of greenwashing on brand hypocrisy and brand avoidance are both weaker at higher levels of CSR–CA belief. Furthermore, the mediating effect of brand hypocrisy is also weaker at higher levels of CSR–CA belief. Based on these findings, we recommend that brands fulfill their environmental claims and balance their quality control, manufacturing costs and environment protection. Moreover, the government and environmental protection organizations should educate the public that there is not necessarily a tradeoff between corporate social responsibility (CSR) and corporate capability (CA).

Environmental and sociocultural claims within maritime boundary disputes

Coastal livelihoods and marine environmental protection are key ocean governance concerns. Consequently, the international legal framework addresses these needs in a holistic manner. Maritime boundary delimitation should not be the exception. Increasingly, international courts and tribunals are being asked to incorporate a wider range of issues in the resolution of maritime boundary disputes. Therefore, drawing on the full compendium of international marine boundary dispute cases from 1969 to 2021, this paper examines how litigation over maritime boundary disputes reflects broader ocean governance objectives. It concludes that, first, court cases on maritime boundaries are increasing, and second, environmental and sociocultural motives are gaining prominence in the pleas made by nations. Moreover, our analysis suggests that: a) arguments to the courts progressively emphasize holistic and ecosystem-based management and the recognition of traditional ocean-related living practices; and b) although courts and tribunals are called to weigh other types of factors, they are still more receptive to conventional arguments embodied in the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). We argue that the newer arguments should have a greater influence during conflict resolution and maritime delimitation processes, in particular, given the greater need for sustainable and equitable ocean governance.

Inoculation & Greenwashing: Defending Against Misleading Sustainability Messaging

This study sought to investigate whether an inoculation message could influence attitudes and purchase intentions toward sustainability apparel and footwear that some have claimed use ambiguous and misleading environmental claims. Participants (N = 156) were assigned to either an experimental condition in which they received an inoculation message or a control condition where they received a non-threat-inducing message. The results of the experiment indicated that participants in the inoculation condition were more likely than those in the control condition to both resist attitude change and buy sustainable products. These findings provide initial support for the effectiveness of inoculation in “vaccinating” against greenwashing information.

Scales of inequality: The role of spatial extent in environmental justice analysis

Although environmental justice scholars have been addressing spatial scale for at least thirty years, one of its components remains largely overlooked, namely extent. In this paper, we investigate the effects of extent variation in environmental (in)justice patterns by analyzing the statistical associations between socio-economic marginality and environmental vulnerability at three different spatial scopes: metropolitan areas, municipalities, and boroughs. Using census and geospatial data, our case study focuses on the relations between income and color/race, on the one hand, and susceptibility to flooding and landslides, on the other, in Brazil’s two largest cities (São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro). We constructe an integrated, census tract-level database using areal weighting interpolation combining census with susceptibility data to perform k-means multivariate clustering analysis. Although our results show that the most vulnerable to landslides and flooding are non-white, low-income people – confirming common environmental justice claims – they also suggest that spatial extent impinges on statistical patterns. While the clusters are very similar in the metropolitan and municipal scales, pointing to a fractal-like structure, they differ significantly at the borough scale. This smaller scale reveals a different picture, one in which well-to-do white people are just as exposed to hazards (especially flooding) as non-white, middle- to lower-middle-class people. We argue this is a result of elite self-exposure to risk, which is supported by socio-spatially unjust distribution of risk-mitigation infrastructures. Policymakers should pay attention to such scale-dependent complexities in devising ways to cope with the increasing inequities brought about by climate change.

ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS AND ENVIRONMENTAL RIGHTS IN NIGERIA: PREFERENCE FOR ECONOMIC GAINS THAN PREVENTION OF GENOCIDE IN THE NIGER DELTA

Environmental politics includes the choices the leaders had to make on the gains from environmental resources exploitation and the preservation of those resources for the future generations; as well as their decision and policies on the protection of the human environment and its remediation in occasions of pollutions. The basic requirements for the enforcement of environmental rights and claims in Nigeria had not been understood by the many lays and jurists alike. The Courts are making it difficult for a robust jurisprudence in the field of enforcement especially when the politics of economic gains are preferred to the prevention of genocide by the executive arm of the federal government. The fears of the collapse of the nation’s economy which is largely dependent on oil and gas top priority in the debate for environmental protection against the gains of exploration and exploitation of oil and gas in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. This paper discussed Environmental politics involves the evolution of environmental movement and parties; public policies analysis on environment at all levels of governance: individuals, local, national and international; ideas generated by the various movement and organisations; and, salient environmental issues. It tends to balance the activities of government with environmental policies available against conservation, protection and remediation issues as raised by environmental movements and organisations. The primary concerns for environmental politics are: the irreversibility or diminution of the earth’s life support systems; the consequences of development: ever-increasing need for materials and non-renewable energy sources as means of satisfying public needs or resolving (and or avoiding) conflicts; and, the injustice of uneven distribution of environmental benefits and harm. It examined how sections 104 (1) & 107 of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 and section 3 of the Associated Gas Re-Injection Act 1979 (for the yet to be converted licence or lease tenures) on one hand are genocidal to the Niger Delta environment and, whether the right to life includes right to unpolluted environment. Critical detailed analyses of municipal and international law provisions on safe environment were examined. The findings of this paper were that development can thrive in line with nature and economic development goals with flare permits on our petroleum laws.

როგორ მართავენ საკონსტიტუციო სასამართლოები კლიმატის ცვლილებასთან დაკავშირებულ სასამართლო პროცესებს

Despite continuous warnings of global warming by scientists, the legislatives and the executives around the world are failing to implement sufficient countermeasures. This has led to an influx of climate litigation cases. From 2017 to 2020, climate litigation cases almost doubled worldwide. As a result of climate litigation courts often refine environmental protection mechanisms. Those are either vested in constitutions as a subjective right of the individual or as a state directive (policy goals). In deviationm from previous interpretation some courts now interpret state directives more widely than before: Courts namely discover substantive environmental rights based on a state directive in combination with other civil liberties vested in the constitution. These interpretations of environmental state directives are (beyond their immediate impact on the climate commitments of a country) of interest from a comparative law point of view, given that many other social rights have also been enshrined as state directives in constitutions. Climate litigations can be broadly divided into three categories: (1) the state is required to take a certain action to protect the environment, (2) the state is prohibited from initiating or continuing harmful environmental actions and (3) the standard of environmental protection is strengthened by the interpretation of the constitution. International agreements such as the Paris Agreement also have noticeably impacted national jurisprudence. This demonstrates that national courts can enforce compliance with international climate protection agreements and related constitutional environmental protection claims such as ensuring intergenerational equity. General environmental principles, such as the “polluter pays principle” are beginning to form part of the debate of negotiated solutions. In general, climate litigation and their adjudication have in several countries become a tool to compel policymakers and executives to act in a climate conscious manner, enforcing and achieving climate goals that their countries have committed to.

Facile integration of a novel Sm-doped CoFe2O4@ g-CN heterostructure to expedite PMS and H2O2 assisted degradation of pharmaceutical pollutants

The persistence of pharmaceutical compounds in the aquatic system has cascading effects on environment and the living world. In order to address the grave concerns regarding pharmaceutical pollution, samarium (Sm) doped cobalt nanoferrite (CS) was merged with a π conjugated carbonaceous material i.e. graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) to form a series of heterojunction nanocomposites, (CS@x%g-CN) via ultrasonic assisted method. The structure, morphology, magnetic and optical properties of the fabricated nanocomposites were systematically characterized. The synthesized nanocomposites were highly efficient to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as oxidizing agents for degradation of model pharmaceutical pollutants i.e. levofloxacin, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin and doxorubicin. As compared to H2O2, PMS as oxidant exhibits astonishing results for removal of pollutants. The degradation of tetracycline by employing CS@20 %g-CN (0.25 g/L) nanocomposite as catalyst and PMS (2.2 mM) as oxidant was observed in less than 3 min. Among all, CS@20 %g-CN nanocomposite exhibits highest catalytic activity ascribed to synergistic effect of tunable band structure, high surface area and improved separation of charge carriers across the heterojunction. The newly designed nanocomposites can be recycled up to four catalytic cycles and thus offers a promising strategy in meeting future environmental claims for the removal of refractory compounds from wastewater.

Effect of informative claims on the attitude of Italian consumers towards cultured meat and relationship among variables used in an explicit approach

Cultured meat (CM) is a potential sustainable novel food. Consumers’ attitude towards this product is currently under investigation but a direct comparison of the effect of different types of information on consumers’ response to CM is lacking. This study aimed: 1. to compare the efficacy of different informative claims in improving attitude towards CM; 2. to verify the effect of previously studied variables on attitude towards CM. Four information types were compared (human safety; animal welfare; environmental impact; no additional information: control), each envisaging two additional claims (‘Antibiotic-free’ and ‘Pathogen- and zoonosis-free’ for human safety; ‘No animal breeding’ and ‘No animal slaughtering’ for animal welfare; ‘82–96% reduction of water consumption’ and ‘99% reduction of soil usage’ for environmental impact). The response variables were favour towards CM, willingness to try, willingness to purchase, and willingness to substitute traditional meat with CM. Data from 603 participants (61% females, 15–80 years old) randomly assigned to four blocks, each corresponding to one type of information, were analysed. Participants were uniform among blocks in terms of socio-demographic data, frequency of consumption of traditional meat, previous knowledge of CM, food neophobia, and disgust sensitivity. The type of information given to respondents improved favour and willingness to substitute compared to the control, without differences across blocks. The effects of the additional claims were comparable. Environmental claims unified respondents, while human safety and animal welfare claims were divisive for sex and age groups. Favour, willingness to try, willingness to purchase, and willingness to substitute were positively correlated (r 0.38–0.72) but the weak correlation between willingness to try and willingness to substitute indicates that being curious may not imply the modification of actual behaviour (traditional meat substitution). Response variables seemed not to be interchangeable. Females showed higher willingness to substitute CM to conventional meat if informed with claims related to human safety. Youngsters (under ’30 years old), who are plausibly the real future target, showed higher favour towards CM if provided with information related to animal welfare and human safety. Production companies should carefully choose what additional information to provide, depending on the consumer target.

Cakes in plastic: A study of implicit associations of compostable bio-based versus plastic food packaging

This paper explores the disjuncture between consumers’ expressed preferences for ecologically benign packaging and their subsequent purchase decisions. We investigate consumers’ attitudes towards compostable bio-based food packaging, in contrast to fossil-based plastic packaging, framing our study within analysis of implicit attitudes. We address a gap in knowledge about the moderating effects of consumers’ reported health consciousness on the relationship between implicit health associations with compostable packaging and subsequent purchase intentions. Specifically, across four studies employing Implicit Associations Tests (IATs), we analyse the relationship between implicit and explicit attitudes, relating packaging associations with consumers’ behavioural intentions. Our findings confirm positive implicit (and explicit) perceptions of compostable bio-based packaging (vs. fossil-based plastic) regardless of the healthiness of the food contained. This is reflected in consumers’ purchase intentions. We build on this to incorporate the effects of consumers’ self-reported health consciousness. We find that low health-conscious consumers are more likely to be guided in their compostable packaging decisions by their unconscious and automatic health-packaging associations, than consumers with high health consciousness. We contribute to policy discussion about effective ways of reducing fossil-based plastic packaging use and note that environmental claims for non-plastic alternatives aimed at consumers with low-health consciousness should make appeals based on health benefits, tapping into implicit attitudes to evoke automatic responses.