Title: Eco-labelling and consumers: towards a re-focus and integrated approaches

Authors: Frieder Rubik, Paolo Frankl, Lucia Pietroni, Dirk Scheer

Addresses: Institute for Ecological Economy Research (IOW), Department Ecological Product Policy, Bergstrasse 7, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany. ' The Research Institute, Ambiente Italia, Rome; International Energy Agency, 9 rue de la Federation, 75739 Paris Cedex, France. ' Faculty of Architecture, Department ProCAm, University of Camerino, Viale delle Rimembranza, I-63100 Ascoli Piceno, Italy. ' Institute for Ecological Economy Research (IOW), Department Ecological Product Policy, Bergstrasse 7, D-69120 Heidelberg, Germany

Abstract: The paper deals with voluntary environmental product information schemes, especially with eco-labels (ISO-type I labels). It distingushes direct (i.e., effects attained through the application of eco-labelling on products and services) and indirect (i.e., effects induced by eco-labelling schemes on surrounding policy, businesses and society without their visible application) effects of eco-labels. It presents an overview on the state on assessment and evaluation studies. Based on this broad picture a set of key influencing factors are introduced, two of them are general; the others are dependent on the product group. It is argued that if all factors are positive, this very likely determines the success of an eco-label Finally an integrated approach is introduced which is needed to develop effective schemes.

Keywords: eco-labels; environmental product information; integrated product policy, IPP; sustainable consumption; sustainable development; sustainability; voluntary schemes; environmental labelling; evaluation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJISD.2007.016932

International Journal of Innovation and Sustainable Development, 2007 Vol.2 No.2, pp.175 - 191

Published online: 30 Jan 2008 *

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