Call for Participation [Special Session] :

Sustainability Labeling: What do we know about labels' availability, reliability, and effectiveness for sustainable behavioral change?

 

We are looking for participants for a session that we are organizing as part of the conference "Transforming consumption-production systems towards just and sustainable futures" hosted by the Sustainable Consumption Research and Action Initiative (SCORAI), the European Roundtable on Sustainable Consumption and Production (ERSCP) and Wageningen University & Research (WUR), July 5-8, 2023 in Wageningen, The Netherlands.

 

Session title -> Sustainability Labeling: What do we know about labels' availability, reliability, and effectiveness for sustainable behavioral change?

 

• Session: Academic session of 90 minutes
• Chairs: Maike Gossen (TU Berlin) and Dr. Johann Majer (Universität Hildesheim)
• Session Type: Paper Presentations

 

Abstract

A recent meta-study on the effects of sustainability labels on consumer perception and behavior identified a number of important moderating variables that can be categorized as individual factors of the consumers, as context factors in the purchase situation, and as factors inherent in the label
itself (Majer et al., 2022). For example, a better understanding of sustainability labels can result in higher inferred use of sustainability labels. But with the growing number and heterogeneity of sustainability labels, the understanding of the labeling scheme, the underlying criteria, and its sustainability benefits is endangered. Furthermore, research has proven the reliability and credibility of labels as important influencing factors for consumer choices. Some studies found that consumers perceive private labels as less credible than labels that are endorsed by a third-party (Gorton et al., 2021), however, in online retail credible third-party verified sustainability labels are only used for a low degree (Gossen et al., 2021). This low percentage makes it challenging for consumers to comprehend to what degree a product is sustainable. Label heterogeneity can add to the confusion and uncertainty among consumers. To tackle the challenge of label heterogeneity and its impact on consumers, previous research recommended the use of meta-labels (e.g., Torma and Thøgersen, 2021).

This session on Sustainability Labeling invites submissions of original empirical works as well as conceptual and theoretical reflections on topics such as, but not limited to:

• Potential of sustainability labeling to support sustainable consumption
• Availability and reliability of sustainability labels
• Limits, challenges, and further avenues for sustainability labeling
• Digitalisation as an opportunity or a barrier for sustainability labelling

 

Please send an abstract of 300-500 words to Maike Gossen (maike.gossen@tu-berlin.de) and Johann Maher (majer@uni-hildesheim.de) by January 10, and hand in your abstract of 300-500 words via the online submission portal by January 15. Abstracts should follow the conference guidelines as outlined on the conference website.

 

References

Gorton, M., Tocco, B., Yeh, C., and Hartmann, M. (2021). What determines consumers' use of eco-labels? Taking a close look at label trust. Ecol. Econ. 189, 107173. doi: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2021.107173

Gossen, M., Jäger, S., Hofmann, M. L. et al. (2022). Nudging Sustainable Consumption: A Large-Scale Data Analysis of Sustainability Labels for Fashion in German Online Retail. Frontiers in Sustainability.

Majer, J. M., Henscher, H. A., Reuber, P., Fischer-Kreer, D., Fischer, D. (2022). „The Effects of Visual Sustainability Labels on Consumer Perception and Behavior: A Systematic Review of the Empirical Literature“. Sustainable Production and Consumption 33 (September): 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2022.06.012.

Torma, G., and Thøgersen, J. (2021). A systematic literature review on meta sustainability labeling – what do we (not) know? J. Clean. Prod. 293, 126194. doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.126194