title: Toward a sustainability label for food products: an analysis of experts' and consumers' acceptance.
abstract: The recent proliferation of standards and labels for organic, fair-trade, locally produced, and healthy food products risks creating confusion among consumers. This study presents a standardized approach to developing a comprehensive sustainability label that incorporates ecological, economic, and social values. The methodology is based on an extension of modular life-cycle assessment to non-environmental sustainability criteria. Interviews with a wide range of experts (n=65) and a consumer survey (n=233) were conducted to analyze the feasibility and potential effectiveness of the approach. Responses indicated that a comprehensive sustainability label could considerably influence consumption patterns and facilitate cross-product comparisons.
authors: Department of Environmental Sciences, Natural and Social Science Interface (NSSI), Zürich, Switzerland.
authors: Stéphanie V
authors: SV
authors: Engels
authors: Ralf
authors: R
authors: Hansmann
authors: Roland W
authors: RW
authors: Scholz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000383:Agriculture / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics; D003246:Conservation of Energy Resources / Q000191:economics; D003258:Consumer Behavior; D004463:Ecology / Q000191:economics / Q000193:education / Q000941:ethics; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005502:Food / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000145:classification* / Q000191:economics; D019649:Food Industry / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics; D005515:Food Labeling / Q000191:economics / Q000639:trends; D018857:Food Packaging / Q000191:economics / Q000941:ethics; D058870:Food, Organic / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000145:classification / Q000191:economics; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D012945:Social Values; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013557:Switzerland; D055815:Young Adult