How environmental sustainability labels affect food choices: Assessing consumer preferences in southern Italy

2021 ◽  
pp. 130046
Author(s):  
Maria Carmela Aprile ◽  
Gennaro Punzo
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Southern Italy ◽  
Consumer Preferences ◽  
Food Choices

scholarly journals Consumer Readiness to Reduce Meat Consumption for the Purpose of Environmental Sustainability: Insights from Norway

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 3058 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marthe Austgulen ◽  
Silje Skuland ◽  
Alexander Schjøll ◽  
Frode Alfnes
Keyword(s):  
Greenhouse Gas Emissions ◽  
Greenhouse Gas ◽  
Environmental Impacts ◽  
Food Consumption ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Food Choices ◽  
Gas Emissions ◽  
Environmentally Sustainable ◽  
Consumption Practices ◽  
Group Interviews

Food production is associated with various environmental impacts and the production of meat is highlighted as a significant source of greenhouse gas emissions. A transition toward plant-based and low-meat diets has thus been emphasised as an important contribution to reducing climate change. By combining results from a consumer survey, focus group interviews and an in-store field experiment, this article investigates whether Norwegian consumers are ready to make food choices based on what is environmentally sustainable. We ask how consumers perceive the environmental impacts of food consumption, whether they are willing and able to change their food consumption in a more climate-friendly direction, and what influences their perceptions and positions. The results show that there is uncertainty among consumers regarding what constitutes climate- or environmentally friendly food choices and that few consumers are motivated to change their food consumption patterns for climate- or environmental reasons. Consumers’ support to initiatives, such as eating less meat and increasing the prices of meat, are partly determined by the consumers’ existing value orientation and their existing consumption practices. Finally, we find that although providing information about the climate benefits of eating less meat has an effect on vegetable purchases, this does not seem to mobilise consumer action any more than the provision of information about the health benefits of eating less meat does. The article concludes that environmental policies aiming to transfer part of the responsibility for reducing greenhouse gas emissions to food consumers is being challenged by the fact that most consumers are still not ready to make food choices based on what is best for the climate or environment.

Mindful Eating (Not the Kind You Think) and an Interview With Dr Kevin Walker

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (7) ◽  
pp. 984-990 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul E. Terry
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Food Industry ◽  
Mindfulness Meditation ◽  
Health And Safety ◽  
Food Choices ◽  
State Agencies ◽  
Mindful Eating ◽  
Self Help ◽  
Deep Appreciation ◽  
Mother Earth

Could it be that self-help concepts like mindfulness meditation have a short shelf life because they’re just that, too much about the self and not enough about something far more important? This editorial describes Kevin Walker’s research and his new book, “ The Grand Food Bargain and the Mindless Drive for More.” Walker’s book shows why the dozens of federal and state agencies with a slice of accountability for food health and safety are predictably and routinely outgunned by the food industry with respect to influencing the public’s health. Describing the dozens of interagency agreements relating to agriculture policies, Walker writes that “food safety in America is held together using the policy equivalent of baling wire and duct tape.” Most health promotion professionals who consider the term mindful eating likely first think about principles that relate to being present and techniques that put you in closer touch with the flavors, colors, or textures of your food. In addition to focusing on how creamy a texture feels on our tongues, might advocacy for “mindful eating” have a more abiding impact if it brought with it a deep appreciation for how our food choices affect the health and sustainability of our communities and our Mother Earth? Changing food from an afterthought to a daily reminder about environmental sustainability is a multidimensional challenge that will require multisectoral partnerships and solutions.

Aflatoxins and Health Considerations in Consumer Food Choices in Ghana

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Agyekum ◽  
Curtis M. Jolly ◽  
Henry Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Consumer Preferences ◽  
Policy Issue ◽  
Good Health ◽  
Food Choices ◽  
Food Contaminants ◽  
Policy Makers ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Contingent Valuation Survey ◽  
Survey Results

Abstract Food safety enjoys sustained attention among the scientific community, policymakers, and the general public due to health impacts. However, pursuing appropriate regulations for pervasive food contaminants is a challenging policy issue, particularly for naturally-occurring food toxins such as aflatoxins and other mycotoxins. This paper explores consumer preferences for quality aflatoxin-free peanuts, and how food safety concerns may impact willingness to pay more for safer foods. Incorporating ‘risky’ foods into random utility-maximization framework, we analyze contingent valuation survey data on Ghana. Model and survey results show consumers in Ghana approve of food aflatoxin regulations, and are prepared to pay price premiums as incentives to ensure supply of quality peanuts. Findings reveal that consumers prioritize food safety above prices in market decisions. People prefer introduction of aflatoxin regulations that would guarantee good health; useful information for policy makers in Ghana, Africa, and rest of the developing world.

scholarly journals Consumer preferences for front-of-pack calories labelling

2008 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 203-213 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellen van Kleef ◽  
Hans van Trijp ◽  
Frederic Paeps ◽  
Laura Fernández-Celemín
Keyword(s):  
Consumer Preferences ◽  
Daily Intake ◽  
Food Choices ◽  
Information Value ◽  
Calorie Intake ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Caloric Content ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Managerial Implications ◽  
The Uk

AbstractObjectiveIn light of the emerging obesity pandemic, front-of-pack calories labels may be an important tool to assist consumers in making informed healthier food choices. However, there is little prior research to guide key decisions on whether caloric content should be expressed in absolute terms or relative to recommended daily intake, whether it should be expressed in per serving or per 100 g and whether the information should be further brought alive for consumers in terms of what the extra calorie intake implies in relation to activity levels. The present study aimed at providing more insight into consumers’ appreciation of front-of-pack labelling of caloric content of food products and their specific preferences for alternative execution formats for such information in Europe.DesignFor this purpose, eight executions of front-of-pack calorie flags were designed and their appeal and information value were extensively discussed with consumers through qualitative research in four different countries (Germany, The Netherlands, France and the UK).ResultsThe results show that calories are well-understood and that participants were generally positive about front-of-pack flags, particularly when flags are uniform across products. The most liked flags are the simpler flags depicting only the number of calories per serving or per 100 g, while more complex flags including references to daily needs or exercise and the flag including a phrase referring to balanced lifestyle were least preferred. Some relevant differences between countries were observed. Although participants seem to be familiar with the notion of calories, they do not seem to fully understand how to apply them.ConclusionFrom the results, managerial implications for the design and implementation of front-of-pack calorie labelling as well as important directions for future research are discussed.

Edible insect marketing in Western countries: wisely weighing the foodstuff, the foodie, and the foodscape

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. 341-354 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Marquis ◽  
L. Hénault-Ethier ◽  
J. LeBel
Keyword(s):  
Consumer Preferences ◽  
Food Choices ◽  
Consumer Acceptance ◽  
Food Culture ◽  
Eating Behaviours ◽  
Western Countries ◽  
Security Issues ◽  
Regular Consumption ◽  
Trial Basis ◽  
Ingestive Behaviour

Despite secular consumption of insects in many regions of the world, this practice remains marginal in Western countries. Although entomophagy is slowly gaining mainstream visibility, it often triggers consumer acceptance only on a trial basis driven in part by adventurousness, environmental concerns, health benefits, food security issues, or a combination thereof. This paper draws from the consumer and ingestive behaviour literatures and from the growing entomophagy sphere of knowledge in order to surface possible tactics that could overcome consumer-level barriers and thus accelerate the adoption (and not only trial) of insects and promote its sustained consumption. We propose that more effective promotion of entomophagy may be achieved through acknowledgement and a deeper understanding of three separate, but mutually-influencing, families of factors that affect food choices and eating behaviours: (1) the foodstuff proper or a food’s attributes that satisfy established and evolving consumer preferences; (2) the foodie or a consumer’s characteristics including the degree of adventurousness and the relative importance given to various attributes and benefits of a product; and (3) the foodscape or characteristics of the food culture and environment including distribution and merchandising decisions that shape consumers food choices. Together, the assessment of these three factors allow for the better identification of promising strategies to reach a larger group of potential consumers and to promote the regular consumption of insects.

The Impact of Circular Economy on the Fashion Industry

2020 ◽  
pp. 142-160
Author(s):  
Tugce Aslan ◽  
Adem Akbiyik
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Consumer Preferences ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Sharing Economy ◽  
Fashion Industry ◽  
Commercial Markets ◽  
New Business ◽  
Consumer Perspective

The fundamental changes in technology and globalization have changed consumer preferences along with the way people buy and consume. This change has profoundly affected new business models and consumption systems in all commercial markets, including the fashion industry in particular. Moreover, fashion businesses have begun to shift from traditional proprietary access business models to the sharing economy. The effect of the sharing economy or circular economy on the fashion industry is increasing day by day. Clothing sharing services, recycling, and re-use of used garments contribute to environmental sustainability and contribute to economic and social sustainability through sales revenue and employment. However, there is limited academic research on clothing sharing models. This research focuses on Dolap application, a clothing sharing service. It examines the role of trust in clothing sharing services from a consumer perspective. As a result of the analysis, it was found that trust in the platform positively and significantly affected the trust given to the service provider.

scholarly journals The Effects of Environmental Sustainability Labels on Selection, Purchase, and Consumption of Food and Drink Products: A Systematic Review

2021 ◽  
pp. 001391652199547
Author(s):  
Christina Potter ◽  
Anastasios Bastounis ◽  
Jamie Hartmann-Boyce ◽  
Cristina Stewart ◽  
Kerstin Frie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
Food Products ◽  
Food Choices ◽  
Organic N ◽  
Sustainable Food ◽  
Environmentally Sustainable ◽  
Food And Drink ◽  
Environmental Labels

This review assessed the effects of environmental labels on consumers’ demand for more sustainable food products. Six electronic databases were searched for experimental studies of ecolabels and food choices. We followed standard Cochrane methods and results were synthesized using vote counting. Fifty-six studies ( N = 42,768 participants, 76 interventions) were included. Outcomes comprised selection ( n = 14), purchase ( n = 40) and consumption ( n = 2). The ecolabel was presented as text ( n = 36), logo ( n = 13) or combination ( n = 27). Message types included: organic ( n = 25), environmentally sustainable ( n = 27), greenhouse gas emissions ( n = 17), and assorted “other” message types ( n = 7). Ecolabels were tested in actual ( n = 15) and hypothetical ( n = 41) environments. Thirty-nine studies received an unclear or high RoB rating. Sixty comparisons favored the intervention and 16 favored control. Ecolabeling with a variety of messages and formats was associated with the selection and purchase of more sustainable food products.

scholarly journals Vintage Urban Planning in Italy: Land Management with the Tools of the Mid-Twentieth Century

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 4125 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernardino Romano ◽  
Francesco Zullo ◽  
Alessandro Marucci ◽  
Lorena Fiorini
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Southern Italy ◽  
Town Planning ◽  
Security Requirements ◽  
The Past ◽  
Territorial Planning ◽  
Management Procedures ◽  
Effective Decision ◽  
Effective Decision Making ◽  
Settlement Growth

This paper describes a critical situation for Italy, which is one of the causes of the overall disorganization of settlement growth in the past decades. Using the data extracted from some institutional databases, we show that a large part of the national territory is managed with highly effective decision-making tools (such as municipal town planning schemes in Italy), which are, however, lagging behind in their conception and fulfilment of scientific, cultural, and political requirements deemed essential today for effective and sustainable land transformation. Municipalities with plans dating back to a quarter of a century ago, or without any plans, are 1445 in number (17% of the total) and involve 6,200,000 ha of territory (1/5 of Italy) with almost 10 million residents. The territorial changes in these geographical areas, mainly concentrated in the south, are managed with tools based on mid-20th century concepts and techniques, although a large proportion of these territories are demographically active and transform substantial portions of land. Thus, for at least 15–20 years, these territories underwent transformations disconnected from town plans and driven essentially by one-off measures or managed through numerous exceptional and negotiated procedures provided for by national legislation. Today, it seems necessary for southern Italy to overcome its extensive delay in territorial planning, and the drive can only come from national government. This would help it finally respond to current environmental sustainability, risk resilience, and territorial security requirements, through appropriate and technically advanced management procedures not envisaged in previous planning procedures.

Consumer preferences regarding food quality labels: the case of Czechia

2019 ◽  
Vol 121 (10) ◽  
pp. 2508-2523 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomáš Sadílek
Keyword(s):  
Food Quality ◽  
Consumer Preferences ◽  
Food Choices ◽  
University Education ◽  
Grocery Stores ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Positive Attitudes ◽  
Perception Of Quality ◽  
Positive Experiences ◽  
Better Than

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to identify consumer segments based on preferences for food quality labels in Czechia. The goal of the research is to identify the attitudes of Czech consumers towards foods bearing quality labels and to create a consumer typology based on attitudes towards food quality labels. Design/methodology/approach The survey was conducted among 444 respondents of Czechia over 18 years of age, addressed in front of grocery stores. Using cluster analysis, the segmentation of Czech consumers based on their attitudes to food quality labels was investigated. Consumer segments were profiled using individual consumer characteristics (knowledge of quality labels, perception of quality labels, willingness to pay more for food quality labels and socio-demographics characteristics). Findings The three most important factors for Czech consumer when buying food are price, origin and appearance. There are three segments of Czech consumers: quality seekers, unconscious shoppers and impulsive shoppers. Consumers from these segments have different attitudes and perceptions regarding food quality labels. The largest segment is unconscious shoppers (almost 50 per cent of respondents, lower values for their attitudes towards quality labels as well as their knowledge, primarily women living in single households or in three- to four-person households), followed by quality seekers and impulsive shoppers. Quality seekers (24 per cent of all respondents) have positive attitudes towards food quality labels and have had previous positive experiences with quality labels and the composition and origin of the foods. These respondents exhibited the highest spontaneous knowledge of food quality labels on the Czech market. They are primarily men with a university education, living in two- to five-person households, and with above-average earnings. Impulsive shoppers (26 per cent of all respondents) consider the price and composition of the product to be the most important criterion. Current taste or preference is an important purchase criterion, and they are focused on BIO and Ceský výrobek labels. They are typically educated women, living in up to four-person households, and with average earnings. Research limitations/implications The study demonstrates that consumers are driven by different factors when buying food. The research sample does not fully correspond with the proportion of males and females in the Czech population. Food quality labels are a favourably perceived decision-making factor. The study is focused on food quality labels on the Czech market, where knowledge of EU quality schemes is lower compared to other EU countries such as France, Italy and Spain. Practical implications Food quality labels bring benefits to consumers as well as producers, because consumers are buying a product with specific value-adding qualities and producers can better promote food products with unique quality. Furthermore, the study confirms a need to extend and intensify promotional and communication activities to increase consumer preferences for food quality labels. Originality/value The study presents some important differences between the developed segments and highlights the importance of various factors in making food choices. Another finding is that the segmentation of Czech consumers based on their perception of food quality labels is better than one based on socio-demographic characteristics.

scholarly journals The History of Pastoral Activities in S Italy Inferred from Palynology: A Long-Term Perspective to Support Biodiversity Awareness

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 404 ◽  
Author(s):  
Assunta Florenzano
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Southern Italy ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Coprophilous Fungi ◽  
Human Environment ◽  
The Holocene ◽  
Mediterranean Habitats ◽  
15Th Century ◽  
The Impact

The present-day Mediterranean landscape is a result of the long-term human–environment–climate interactions that have driven the ecological dynamics throughout the Holocene. Pastoralism had (and still has) an important role in shaping this landscape, and contributes to maintaining the mosaic patterns of the Mediterranean habitats. Palaeoecological records provide significant multi-proxy data on environmental changes during the Holocene that are linked to human activities. In such research, the palynological approach is especially useful for detailing the complexity of anthropogenically-driven landscape transformations by discriminating past land uses and pastoral/breeding activities. This paper focuses on the palynological evidence for the impact of centuries of grazing on the vegetation of Basilicata, a region of southern Italy where animal breeding and pastoralism have a long tradition. A set of 121 pollen samples from eight archaeological sites (dated from the 6th century BC to the 15th century AD) and five modern surface soil samples were analyzed. The joint record of pollen pasture indicators and spores of coprophilous fungi suggests that continuous and intense pastoral activities have been practiced in the territory and have highly influenced its landscape. The palaeoecological results of this study provide us with better knowledge of the diachronical transformations of the habitats that were exposed to continuous grazing, with a shift toward more open vegetation and increase of sclerophyllous shrubs. The palynological approach gives insights into the vocation and environmental sustainability of this southern Italy region on a long-term basis.

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