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Governance of Eco-Labels: Expert Opinion and Media Coverage

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  • Pavel Castka

    (University of Canterbury)

  • Charles J. Corbett

    (UCLA Anderson School of Management)

Abstract

“Eco-labels” are an increasingly important form of private regulation for sustainability in areas such as carbon emissions, water consumption, ethical sourcing, or organic produce. The growing interest and popularity of eco-labels has also been coupled with growing concerns about their credibility, in part because the standard-setting and conformity assessment practices that eco-labels adopt exhibit striking differences. In this paper, we assess which assurance practices contribute to eco-labels being perceived as better governed, in the eyes of experts as well as the media. Unlike previous studies, which are mostly conceptual, qualitative, or focused on one or few eco-labels, we study a large set of eco-labels, combining data from three different sources. Our findings suggest that experts and media are primarily concerned about “re-assurance” practices, looking for one or preferably multiple layers of “re-assurance” that independent parties are overseeing the eco-label and the firms certified under it.

Suggested Citation

  • Pavel Castka & Charles J. Corbett, 2016. "Governance of Eco-Labels: Expert Opinion and Media Coverage," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 135(2), pages 309-326, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:135:y:2016:i:2:d:10.1007_s10551-014-2474-3
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-014-2474-3
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    2. Wong Ming Wong & Shian-Yang Tzeng, 2021. "Mediating Role of Organic Labeling Awareness and Food Safety Attitudes in the Correlation Between Green Product Awareness and Purchase Intentions," SAGE Open, , vol. 11(4), pages 21582440211, November.
    3. Yolandi Schoeman & Paul Oberholster & Vernon Somerset, 2021. "A Zero-Waste Multi-Criteria Decision-Support Model for the Iron and Steel Industry in Developing Countries: A Case Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-23, March.
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    5. Pavel Castka & Cory Searcy & Sönke Fischer, 2020. "Technology-enhanced Auditing in Voluntary Sustainability Standards: The Impact of COVID-19," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-24, June.
    6. Castka, Pavel, 2018. "Modelling firms’ interventions in ISO 9001 certification: A configurational approach," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 201(C), pages 163-172.
    7. Sofia Brito-Ramos & Maria Céu Cortez & Florinda Silva, 2022. "Do sustainability signals diverge? An analysis of labeling schemes for socially responsible investments ," Working Papers hal-04064367, HAL.
    8. Barkemeyer, Ralf & Young, C. William & Chintakayala, Phani Kumar & Owen, Anne, 2023. "Eco-labels, conspicuous conservation and moral licensing: An indirect behavioural rebound effect," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 204(PA).
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    10. Nagy-Kercsó Katalin, 2023. "Towards Sustainability on a Sea of Eco-Labels. Leading or Misleading?," Acta Universitatis Sapientiae, Economics and Business, Sciendo, vol. 11(1), pages 186-207, October.
    11. Delmas, Magali A. & Gergaud, Olivier, 2021. "Sustainable practices and product quality: Is there value in eco-label certification? The case of wine," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 183(C).
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