Barkemeyer, R, Young, CW orcid.org/0000-0003-2586-9450, Chintakayala, PK et al. (1 more author) (2023) Eco-labels, conspicuous conservation and moral licensing: An indirect behavioural rebound effect. Ecological Economics, 204 (Part A). 107649. p. 107649. ISSN 0921-8009
Abstract
Sustainable consumption is a growing niche with an increasing number of initiatives aimed at lowering domestic environmental consumption footprints. Third-party assured product eco-labelling has emerged as a key governance mechanism to promote sustainable consumption. However, does the purchasing of eco-labelled products really support a transition towards more sustainable consumption? In this paper, we explore eco-labelling through the lens of the rebound literature. While theorizing of the rebound effect originated in energy economics and has long been centred on eco-efficiency, we extend its rationale to products that are associated with a price premium in return for added environmental quality attributes. Reporting on two inter-related studies into the link between purchasing of environmentally friendly products and different types of environmental resource consumption, we find that eco-labelled products flourish in more affluent economies that are characterized by higher levels of overall resource consumption; and that willingness to consume environmentally friendly products is positively related to higher individual carbon, water and material footprints. Hence, we argue that eco-labelling in its current form is inextricably linked to higher – rather than lower – levels of resource consumption. Consequently, the governance mechanism that underpins eco-labelling is associated with an indirect behavioural consumer rebound effect.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. This is an author produced version of an article, published in Ecological Economics. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Keywords: | Conspicuous consumption; Eco-labels; Moral licensing; Rebound effect; Sustainable consumption |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > School of Earth and Environment (Leeds) > Sustainability Research Institute (SRI) (Leeds) |
Funding Information: | Funder Grant number ESRC (Economic and Social Research Council) ES/L011891/1 ESRC (Economic and Social Research Council) ES/S007164/1 ESRC (Economic and Social Research Council) ES/L011891/1 |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 03 Nov 2022 14:11 |
Last Modified: | 28 Oct 2023 00:13 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Elsevier |
Identification Number: | 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2022.107649 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:192787 |
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