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Consumer' sovereignty and policy issues in the development of product ecolabels

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  • Alain Nadaï

    (CIRED - centre international de recherche sur l'environnement et le développement - Cirad - Centre de Coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement - EHESS - École des hautes études en sciences sociales - AgroParisTech - ENPC - École des Ponts ParisTech - CNRS - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)

Abstract

Quality labels are not new, but the last decade saw labeling schemes to be increasingly targeted at expert qualities – i.e. qualities involving a high degree of scientific expertise in order to be assessed. The paper takes a close look at the regulatory and institutional framework underlying the development of one of these labels: the EU ecolabeling program (CEE, 1992). In order to better understand the conditions for the development of product ecolabels, we examine a success story, the case of the paints and varnishes European Ecolabel and contrast it the result with case of industrial opposition (detergent industry). The comparison pints at the importance of the negotiation phase in the development of product ecolabels. It also suggests that the degree of technological heterogeneity of the concerned industry - i.e. the extent to which the environmental performance of the products sold by the different firms are different - may be a variable determining the chances of success in the development of an ecolabel. The conclusion examines the lessons that can be drawn for the development of environmentally effective product ecolabels. It proposes tracks for further research on the subject.

Suggested Citation

  • Alain Nadaï, 2001. "Consumer' sovereignty and policy issues in the development of product ecolabels," Post-Print halshs-00159973, HAL.
    • Handle: RePEc:hal:journl:halshs-00159973
    Note: View the original document on HAL open archive server: https://shs.hal.science/halshs-00159973
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Julie A. Caswell & Eliza M. Mojduszka, 1996. "Using Informational Labeling to Influence the Market for Quality in Food Products," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association, vol. 78(5), pages 1248-1253.
    2. Aaditya Mattoo & Harsha V. Singh, 1994. "Eco‐Labelling: Policy Considerations," Kyklos, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 47(1), pages 53-65, February.
    3. Laurent Linnemer & Anne Perrot, 1997. "Une analyse économique des signes de qualité" : labels collectifs et certification des produits"," Working Papers 97-32, Center for Research in Economics and Statistics.
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    Keywords

    ecolabel; industry; competition; negotiation;
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