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Trends in sustainability claims and labels for newly introduced food products across selected European countries

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  • Kjersti Nes
  • Federico Antonioli
  • Pavel Ciaian

Abstract

The European Union (EU) farm‐to‐fork strategy aims to empower consumers to make sustainable food choices, among others, through harmonizing voluntary green claims and labels and potentially introducing a common sustainable claims and labels framework for food products. The literature on the current use of sustainability claims and labels (SCLs) in the EU market is scarce. This paper analyzes the trend developments of SCLs in product launches by food companies across different product groups and countries. The analyses are based on Mintel Global New Product Database on newly introduced products with SCLs, covering 24 food product categories and 19 European countries over the 2005–2021 period. The results show that, on aggregate, across all covered countries and products, the share of product launches with SCLs increased by 2.83% annually from 2005 to 2021. This trend varies greatly among countries, product categories and SCL types. Further, the results show that products covering environmental only SCLs make the highest contribution to the overall sustainability trend (68.2%), followed by products with a combination of both environmental and social SCLs (27.5%), whereas only social SCLs have a minor representation (4.2%). [EconLit Citations: Q18, Q01].

Suggested Citation

  • Kjersti Nes & Federico Antonioli & Pavel Ciaian, 2024. "Trends in sustainability claims and labels for newly introduced food products across selected European countries," Agribusiness, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 40(2), pages 371-390, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:agribz:v:40:y:2024:i:2:p:371-390
    DOI: 10.1002/agr.21894
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kjersti Nes & Pavel Ciaian, 2022. "EU marketing standards and sustainability," Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 44(4), pages 1844-1863, December.
    2. Olivier Bonroy & Christos Constantatos, 2015. "On the Economics of Labels: How Their Introduction Affects the Functioning of Markets and the Welfare of All Participants," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 97(1), pages 239-259.
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    4. Céline Bonnet & Zohra Bouamra-Mechemache, 2016. "Organic Label, Bargaining Power, and Profit-sharing in the French Fluid Milk Market," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 98(1), pages 113-133.
    5. Daniele Asioli & Jessica Aschemann-Witzel & Rodolfo M. Nayga, 2020. "Sustainability-Related Food Labels," Annual Review of Resource Economics, Annual Reviews, vol. 12(1), pages 171-185, October.
    6. Grunert, Klaus G. & Hieke, Sophie & Wills, Josephine, 2014. "Sustainability labels on food products: Consumer motivation, understanding and use," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 177-189.
    7. Astrid Jonas & Jutta Roosen, 2008. "Demand for milk labels in Germany: organic milk, conventional brands, and retail labels," Agribusiness, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 24(2), pages 192-206.
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    1. Nes, Kjersti & Antonioli, Federico & Di Marcantonio, Federica & Ciaian, Pavel, 2024. "The impact of pre-empting dual food quality regulation on product reformulation and packaging," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 128(C).

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