Title: Driving forces affecting the adoption of certifications in the forest-based industry: a systematic literature review

Authors: Emanuela Lombardo; Maria Crescimanno; Demetris Vrontis; Antonino Galati

Addresses: Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Building 4, 90128 Palermo, Italy ' Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Building 4, 90128 Palermo, Italy ' School of Business, Department of Marketing, University of Nicosia, 46 Makedonitissas Avenue, CY-2417, P.O. Box 24005, CY-1700, Nicosia, Cyprus ' Department of Agricultural, Food and Forest Sciences, University of Palermo, Viale delle Scienze, Building 4, 90128 Palermo, Italy

Abstract: Several forest certification schemes have become increasingly popular over the last few decades as voluntary mechanisms to tack sustainability in the forest-based industry to an environmental, social, and economic paradigm. This study aims to systematically review the economic literature on the main motivational factors affecting the adoption of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) certifications in order to perform a broadly theoretical assessment of this research field and identify the most relevant driving forces affecting the adoption of third-party certification in the forest-based industry. Results reveal that the most relevant mechanisms are linked to both market pressure and the opportunity to communicate social and environmental commitment. Other driving forces, such as moral and legal ones, have been little explored, although they play a key role in the entrepreneurs' choices, emphasising the need to explore more deeply the behavioural intention of forest owners and managers, adopting different theoretical lenses or developing new conceptual frameworks.

Keywords: drivers; motivations; FSC; Forest Stewardship Council; PEFC; Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification; forest landowners; forest industries.

DOI: 10.1504/JGBA.2021.118747

Journal for Global Business Advancement, 2021 Vol.14 No.4, pp.453 - 478

Received: 21 Apr 2021
Accepted: 21 Apr 2021
Published online: 04 Nov 2021 *

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