Eco-Standards, Product Labelling and Green Consumerism [Hardcover]

As conscientious consumers, we become overwhelmed with alarms about food contamination, climate change, chemical pollution and other environmental and health-related risks. This book explores green and politically engaged consumersim, asking the question: does green labelling offer ways toward a greener and more democratic society?Introduction: Green Consumerism, Green Labelling? The Historical Context  Key Trends Green Labels and other Eco-Standards: A Definition The Consumers' Role: Trusting, Reflecting or Influencing? Our Cases Sceptical and Encouraging Arguments Policy Contexts and Labelling Three Framing Strategies: From a Complex Reality to a Categorical Label Organizing the Labelling Dealing with Mutual Mistrust Green Labelling and Green Consumerism: Challenges and Horizons

'...a significant contribution that will be useful for all social scientists interested in environmental issues as well as in political consumerism. Not least, it will be of great interest to those interested in environmental governance and the role of businesses, voluntary instruments and consumers in making society more sustainable' - Acta Sociologica

'...the rich empirical base and its many references make this a book worth buying and reading.' - Mats Bladh, International Journal of Consumer Studies

'thoughtful and ambitious...a convincing analysis of labelling as a site of political negotiation and contention, supported by well-researched case studies, which will be of interest to a broad range of social scientists, and to policymakers, marketers and civil society organizations' - Environmental Politics

'In connecting production and producers with consumption and consumers, green labels are an emerging phenomenon on today's global agenda for sustainability governance. Using a variety of theoretical perspectives and a rich empirical base, this excellent volume provides a balanced and in-depth analysis of the potentials, condlÓ<