Sustainability certifications and product preference

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (7) ◽  
pp. 893-906
Author(s):  
Maximilian Prell ◽  
Marco Tulio Zanini ◽  
Fabio Caldieraro ◽  
Carmen Migueles
Keyword(s):  
Consumer Preferences ◽  
Consumer Preference ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Product Certification ◽  
Organic Certification ◽  
Food Market ◽  
The One ◽  
Targeting Strategy ◽  
Small Advantage

PurposeThe aim of this study is to investigate the influence of sustainability certifications on consumer preferences. The study investigates whether product certifications have a significant influence on consumer preferences and examines which certificate groups work best from a marketer's perspective for matching the different consumer preferences.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses a quantitative survey approach, based on a conjoint analysis carried out in the Brazilian juice market.FindingsThe results of 210 respondents indicate that the certifications chosen generally increase the evaluation of products. The effects, however, differ significantly between the three segments identified, especially between the two most important ones that have a combined market share of almost 90%. Our results show that demographic differences between the clusters are only marginal, as are the specific certification preferences, with a small advantage for organic certification.Research limitations/implicationsThe certificates chosen serve as an example that represents the various categories. The utility of similar certificates of the same category might be different. The scope of the research is also limited to the market for ready-to-drink juice.Practical implicationsUsing a dual targeting strategy, this study makes relevant recommendations for managing product certification. On the one hand, managers should consider a highly priced, certified product and, on the other, a low priced, uncertified product for satisfying identified demands. Decisions with regard to certification differentiation should mostly rely on the specific costs of the process because of limited consumer differentiation.Originality/valueThis study contributes to the literature on the influence that product certification has on consumer preferences by adding to the matter of certificate choice, especially from a marketer's perspective. Resolving this issue is important for facilitating the choice of those certificates that contribute most toward increasing consumer preference. Little research has been conducted into different certification groups and categories or the joint appearance of their different labels. Most of the research being carried out is aimed at the food market in developed countries, particularly in North America and Europe. Research in an emerging economy, therefore, introduces new scientific insights.

Consumer preference for wine from hand-harvested grapes

2019 ◽  
Vol 122 (8) ◽  
pp. 2551-2567 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Dominici ◽  
Fabio Boncinelli ◽  
Francesca Gerini ◽  
Enrico Marone
Keyword(s):  
Latent Class ◽  
Consumer Preferences ◽  
Latent Class Model ◽  
Interactive Effect ◽  
Consumer Preference ◽  
Random Parameter ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Organic Certification ◽  
Taste Heterogeneity ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate preferences for wine made from hand-harvested grapes, and the interactive effect between this attribute and organic certification. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected via an online choice experiment involving a sample of 408 Italian wine consumers. A random parameter logit was performed to estimate consumer preferences for wine attributes: harvest type, organic and the interaction between these. The experiment also includes geographical indications and price. Furthermore, a latent class model (LCM) is performed to investigate taste heterogeneity for the included wine attributes. Findings On average, consumers prefer the wine produced with hand-harvested grapes. The hypothesis of an interaction between organic and hand-harvested attributes is rejected. Using the LCM, the authors identify three segments with significant taste heterogeneity in terms of the magnitude and the sign of the parameters. Moreover, consumer attitudes towards food naturalness differ according to their belonging to the segments. Originality/value The novelty of this article is twofold. First, this study investigates, for the first time, the impact of the hand-harvested method on consumer wine preferences. Second, hand-harvesting and organic have independent values.

Macroeconomic conditions are only an illusion, not the solution, to firm sustainability: unveiling the new dimension of stakeholder well-being

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zahid Irshad Younas ◽  
Mahvesh Khan ◽  
Mamdouh Abdulaziz Saleh Al-Faryan
Keyword(s):  
Well Being ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Macroeconomic Performance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Macroeconomic Conditions ◽  
Us Economy ◽  
The Us ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Negative Impacts ◽  
The One

Purpose The purpose of the study is to explore the misconception that in developed countries, macroeconomic performance lead to sustainable firms or improves stakeholder well-being. The results may be the opposite or even worse. Design/methodology/approach This study examined this misconception using balanced panel data from 1,122 firms from different sectors of the US economy and data on macroeconomic performance from the World Bank. Findings The results of the one-step generalised method of moments indicate that most macroeconomic performance indicators had significant and negative impacts on firm sustainability and stakeholder well-being. Practical implications From a societal perspective, the results illustrate that the fruits of macroeconomic performance of the US economy do not reach stakeholders through firms’ sustainability. Thus, linking the economy’s macroeconomic performance with firm sustainability is vital for sustainably uplifting society and for stakeholder well-being. Originality/value From a policy perspective, this study reveals that the greater focus on macroeconomic performance in the USA over the past decades has resulted in lower firm sustainability because of the malfunctioning of social, economic, environmental and governance factors. This has negatively influenced stakeholder well-being in the country.

scholarly journals Evaluating the individual- and country-level variations in tax morale

2017 ◽  
Vol 44 (5) ◽  
pp. 816-832 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colin C. Williams ◽  
Besnik Krasniqi
Keyword(s):  
Tax Compliance ◽  
State Intervention ◽  
Developed Countries ◽  
Social Actor ◽  
Actor Model ◽  
Tax Morale ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Country Level ◽  
The One ◽  
The Individual

Purpose Recently, a small but burgeoning literature has argued that tax non-compliance cannot be fully explained using the conventional rational economic actor approach which views non-compliance as occurring when the pay-off is greater than the expected cost of being caught and punished. Instead, a social actor approach has emerged which views tax non-compliance as higher when “tax morale”, defined as the intrinsic motivation to pay taxes, is low. To advance this social actor model, the purpose of this paper is to evaluate the individual and national heterogeneity in tax morale, which is crucial if tax compliance is to be improved. Design/methodology/approach To do this, the authors report data from the 2010 Life in Transition Survey on tax morale in 35 Eurasian countries. Findings Logit econometric analysis reveals, on the one hand, that there is higher tax morale among middle-aged, married, homeowners with children, with a university degree and employed, and on the other hand, that there is higher tax morale in more developed countries with stronger legal systems and less corruption, and higher levels of state intervention in the form of both taxation and expenditure. Research limitations/implications Rather than continue with the rational actor approach, this paper reveals that how an emergent social actor approach can help to more fully explain tax non-compliance and results in a different policy approach focused upon changing country-level economic and social conditions associated with low tax morale and thus non-compliance. Practical implications These results display the specific populations with low tax morale which need targeting when seeking to tackle tax non-compliance. Originality/value This paper provides a new way of explaining and tackling tax non-compliance in Eurasian countries.

Product order affects consumer preferences for variety bundles

2017 ◽  
Vol 51 (5/6) ◽  
pp. 869-884 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mauricio Mittelman ◽  
Eduardo B. Andrade
Keyword(s):  
Consumer Preferences ◽  
Order Effect ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Product Categories ◽  
Visual Aesthetics ◽  
Product Attitudes ◽  
The One ◽  
Display Order ◽  
Product Order

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to examine the effect of a variety bundle's product display order on consumer preferences. When forming a variety bundle, manufacturers, retailers and advertisers need to decide on the order in which their products are displayed. The authors provide empirical evidence that this apparently trivial display decision can systematically affect consumer preferences. Design/methodology/approach Four experiments were performed with over a total of 1,000 participants. Logistic regressions were conducted on the collected data sets to provide support for the hypothesis and its underlying psychological mechanism. Findings Results showed that product attitudes systematically affect choices among variety bundles that differ only in the order in which their products are displayed. When choosing among flat and horizontal variety bundles, Western consumers preferred the one that had the product they like the most to the left. This phenomenon was observed in different product categories, among left-to-right readers from different Western countries and languages, and with both hypothetical and consequential decisions. The incremental weight given to the first piece of information (i.e. “first” product in the bundle) explains this product order effect. Originality/value Although a significant amount of research has been conducted to understand the factors that affect consumer preferences for product bundles, little attention has been devoted to the role of visual aesthetics. The research addresses this gap, and in so doing contributes both to the marketing and to the visual aesthetics literature. One simple yet key implication of the product order effect documented here is that the value consumers assign to a variety bundle depends on the order in which its products are displayed.

Consumer preference and demand for traceable food attributes

2016 ◽  
Vol 118 (9) ◽  
pp. 2140-2156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiao Lu ◽  
Linhai Wu ◽  
Shuxian Wang ◽  
Lingling Xu
Keyword(s):  
Consumer Preferences ◽  
Consumer Preference ◽  
Multinomial Logit Model ◽  
Chinese Government ◽  
Significant Heterogeneity ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Food Traceability ◽  
Traceability System ◽  
Chinese Consumer ◽  
The Government

Purpose The purpose of this paper with pork as a case is to analyze Chinese consumer preference and demand for traceable food attributes, in order to provide a useful reference for Chinese Government in developing the safe food market and preventing food safety risks. Design/methodology/approach This research surveyed 1,380 consumers in seven pilot cities that designated by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce for the construction of a meat and vegetable circulation traceability system. A choice-based conjoint analysis and multinomial logit model were used to study consumer preferences and demand for traceable pork attributes. Findings The results demonstrated that certification of traceable information was the most important characteristic, followed by appearance and traceable information. Significant heterogeneity was obtained in consumer preferences for the attributes of traceable pork. Also, consumers’ preferences for traceable attributes were memorably influenced by age, education level, and income level. Social implications Based on these results, the government should encourage and support the production of traceable food with different certification types and different traceability levels. Meanwhile, the development of food traceability systems should be combined with a quality certification labeling system. Originality/value This study extends the applicability of the setting of traceable food attributes and levels in China, and it will improve Chinese food traceability systems through multilateral cooperation.

Consumer preferences versus commercial differentiation: a Spanish case study

2012 ◽  
Vol 114 (11) ◽  
pp. 1626-1639 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodolfo Bernabéu ◽  
Antonio Tendero ◽  
Miguel Olmeda
Keyword(s):  
Consumer Preferences ◽  
Organic Production ◽  
Multivariate Techniques ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Analysis Techniques ◽  
Organic Certification ◽  
Differentiation Strategy ◽  
Lamb Meat ◽  
La Mancha

PurposeThis study measures the degree of influence that attributes such as price, organic production, origin and commercial type have on Spanish consumers when purchasing lamb meat, while also analysing various lamb meat differentiation strategies.Design/methodology/approachThe methodology consisted of a survey of 421 Castilla‐La Mancha (Spain) lamb meat consumers during the month of January 2009. The preferences of these consumers were determined through several multivariate techniques.FindingsThe results obtained by means of conjoint analysis techniques show that an additional potential differentiation strategy is to offer the market conventionally produced suckling lamb and organic “ternasco” lamb. Thus, potential commercial cannibalism would be simultaneously prevented between two types of meat belonging to one and the same PGI Manchego Lamb.Originality/valueThe excessive commercial differentiation that can arise in food for basic consumption in general and particularly within the Manchego Lamb PGI. Whether it be from the inclusion of another commercial type (suckling lamb meat) together with the traditional type (“ternasco” lamb meat) and the additional possibility of the organic certification, it can make way for a certain commercial “cannibalism” among PGI lamb meats.

Consumer preferences towards animal-friendly fashion products: an application to the Italian market

2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 661-673 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Akli Achabou ◽  
Sihem Dekhili ◽  
Anna Paola Codini
Keyword(s):  
Animal Welfare ◽  
Consumer Preferences ◽  
Consumer Preference ◽  
Value Orientation ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Social Value ◽  
Social Value Orientation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Fashion Products ◽  
Attitude Behavior

Purpose This paper aims to examine consumer preference for ethical fashion products by focusing on the importance of animal welfare attribute. To explain the attitude-behavior gap, this research proposes to explore the costs and sacrifices associated with the adoption of responsible behaviors. Design/methodology/approach To analyze in which manner the animal welfare attribute impacts the consumer preference, the authors carried two quantitative studies in the Italy context. The first one (n = 224) proposes to measure the importance of this attribute in the case of luxury vs accessible fashion. The second study (n = 101) examines how the attention given to animal welfare information could vary between prosocials and proselfs. Conjoint analyses that consider “proportion of real fur”; “information about animal treatment” and “price” attributes have been realized. To take into account the individuals characteristics, cluster analysis helped to identify different profiles of consumers. Findings The results reveal that even if consumers continue to prefer products made entirely from animal fur, they are sensitive to the information on the animal treatment conditions. Also, the animal welfare is not the most important criterion in explaining preference for a fashion product. This result varies, however, regarding the consumers’ social value orientation. Individuals with a high level of prosocial values give more importance to the animal welfare attribute and are less reluctant to the reduction of the proportion of real fur in the clothes. Proself consumers associate a higher sacrifice with the consumption of animal-friendly fashion products. Research limitations/implications This research enriches the limited literature on the consumers’ response to animal-friendly products. By considering the consumers’ social value orientation, it provides a better understanding of the attitude-behavior gap in animal-friendly fashion consumption. However, further studies should focus on the way of adapting communication on eco-products to the consumer profile. Moreover, it seems interesting to explore how the integration of innovative environmentally friendly materials can be accepted by the target. Replicating this research with representative consumer samples from different countries is also necessary. Practical implications From a practical point of view, this research offers implications for managers operating in fashion apparel industry by giving insights on the consumers’ preference for animal friendly fashion. Social implications This study gives recommendations to help convincing consumers about the importance of animal welfare attribute and to increase their preference for animal-friendly fashion products. Originality/value Despite the extensive use of animal fibers, fur and skins in the production of textiles, the few researchers who have shed the light on the consumers’ response to animal-friendly products have considered mainly the case of food. Also, the marketing literature gives little explanation of the attitude-behavior gap in ethical fashion consumption. By examining the consumers’ social value orientation, this study provides a better understanding of this gap.

Forestry insurance preference among tree growers in the Ashanti Region of Ghana: a tobit and multi-nomial regression approach

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Oppong Mensah ◽  
Jacqueline Joyce Twintoh ◽  
Ernest Christlieb Amrago ◽  
Anthony Donkor ◽  
Samuel Afotey Anang
Keyword(s):  
Developed Countries ◽  
Tobit Model ◽  
Forest Plantation ◽  
Agricultural Insurance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Ashanti Region ◽  
The Developed Countries ◽  
The One ◽  
Previous Occurrence

PurposeThe study analyses the preference for forestry insurance amongst tree growers in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. Specifically, the authors examine the factors influencing the amount of forestry insurance and the choice for forestry insurance types.Design/methodology/approachA total of one hundred and seventy (170) tree growers were sampled for the study. The tobit model, multi-nomial regression and Kendall's tau were employed to analyse the factors affecting the amount for forestry insurance, the choice for forestry insurance types and the perils to forest quality, respectively.FindingsThe results of the study indicate that the incidence of bush fire and theft were the key perils that affect forest quality. In total, 52.94% of respondents preferred forest plantation fire insurance as named-peril insurance whereas 70.59% preferred a combination of forest plantation fire, windstorm and consequential loss insurance as multi-peril insurance. The majority (89.4%) of the respondents were willing to pay an amount between Ghc 10.00–49.00 (US$ 2–8) per stand. On the one hand, results of the tobit model reveal age, income, experience in forest management, land ownership and the previous occurrence of fire as the factors affecting the amount for forestry insurance. On the other hand, the multi-nomial results indicate the previous occurrence of fire, gender, forest size, income and risk aversion significantly influenced the choice for forestry insurance types, namely named peril and multi-peril.Originality/valueSeveral studies exist for forestry insurance in the developed countries. However, in West Africa specifically, Ghana, studies on forestry insurance appear to be non-existent. Above and beyond, this study, therefore, adds to the paucity of research on forestry insurance in Ghana and serves as a framework for agricultural insurance institutions such as the Ghana Agricultural Insurance Pool (GAIP) and World cover and other agricultural insurance institutions globally.

Quality preferences and pricing of fresh-cut salads in Italy: new evidence from market data

2017 ◽  
Vol 119 (7) ◽  
pp. 1473-1486 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vittoria Pilone ◽  
Antonio Stasi ◽  
Antonio Baselice
Keyword(s):  
Consumer Preferences ◽  
Hedonic Price ◽  
Product Price ◽  
Market Data ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Organic Certification ◽  
Fresh Cut ◽  
Real Market ◽  
Set Up ◽  
The Impact

Purpose In Europe fresh-cut fruit and vegetables, is one of the major growing segments in agro-food sector. Current literature reports a limited number of studies about consumers’ preferences towards these products. In particular, it lacks of studies focussed on fresh-cut salads and based on market data. In this paper, a study on consumer preferences towards the main attributes of Italian fresh-cut salads is proposed. More specifically the investigation is focussed on attributes assessable by consumers before purchase such as assortment, tenderness, product preparation and vegetable variety together with brand, size and type of packaging, presence of organic certification, promotion and product price. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate how much Italian consumers pay for those attributes with the aim to understand how much profitable could be different strategies in the sector. Design/methodology/approach The analysis is based on IRI-Infoscan scanner data, consisting of 881 fresh-cut products. The impact of each attributes on pricing is measured by means of a hedonic price model. Findings Main results show that, in Italy, fresh-cut salad price is greatly affected by tenderness, product preparation, assortment, brand, presence of organic certification, packaging attributes and vegetable variety. Practical implications Findings offer to producers the possibility to set up products by composing the mix of attributes that gives back the highest price. In addition, they provide some insights to define manufacturer’s strategies. Originality/value This paper represents a novelty in economic literature because it can be considered an example of consumer preferences analysis towards the different attributes of fresh-cut vegetables based on real market data.

Attributes determining consumer preference for organic rice in Bangkok, Thailand

2018 ◽  
Vol 120 (9) ◽  
pp. 2017-2032 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hatairat Sakolwitayanon ◽  
Peeyush Soni ◽  
Jourdain Damien
Keyword(s):  
Cluster Analysis ◽  
Latent Class ◽  
Consumer Preference ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Clustering Techniques ◽  
Rice Market ◽  
Organic Certification ◽  
Organic Rice ◽  
Best Worst Scaling

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore key attributes of organic rice that consumers use in the process of choosing organic rice, and to segment organic rice market in Bangkok. Moreover, the study tends to identify the best clustering techniques, between latent class cluster analysis (LCCA) and traditional cluster analysis (CA), for precise segmentation. Design/methodology/approach Best–worst scaling (BWS) method was applied to measure the level of relative importance of organic rice attributes. Then, LCCA and CA techniques were applied to recognize market segmentation. Finally, homogeneity and heterogeneity of the resulting clusters were determined to compare performance of the two clustering techniques. Findings The LCCA technique was identified better than the CA in classification of consumers. According to LCCA solution, the organic rice market in Bangkok (Thailand) consisted of six distinct clusters, which can be grouped into three categories based on consumers’ profile. Organic rice consumer categories were identified as “Art of eating” and “Superior quality seeker” clusters focusing on special features and quality of the organic rice; consumer category “Basic concern” cluster heavily relied on organic certification logo and manufacturing information; and other consumer categories were “Price driven,” “Eyes on price” and “Thorough explorer” clusters. Originality/value This study first applies BWS score to examine consumers’ preference for organic rice attributes and segments market, providing results for practical use for retailers, producers and marketers.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document