Sustainable consumption and third-party certification labels: Consumers' perceptions and reactions. Issue 2 (April 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brach, Simon; Walsh, Gianfranco; Shaw, Deirdre
• Is Part Of: European management journal. Volume 36:Issue 2(2018:Apr.)
• Page Start: 254
• Page End: 265
• Publication Date: 2018-04
• Subjects: Information economics -- Mediation -- Moderation -- Perceived risk -- Sustainable products -- Third-party certification labels; Management -- Periodicals; Management -- Europe -- Periodicals; Gestion -- Périodiques; Gestion -- Europe -- Périodiques; Management; Europe; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 658.0094
• DOI: 10.1016/j.emj.2017.03.005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0263-2373

Abstract

Abstract: Compared with conventional products, sustainable products continue to attract relatively lower market shares. To increase customer acceptance, many sustainable products feature third-party certification labels (TPCL), yet it is unclear whether TPCL are effective and what processes and boundary conditions define their role in consumer decision making. Across three experimental studies, this research determines that sustainable products are characterized by credence qualities, associated with increased perceptions of risk, which negatively influence consumers' purchase intentions. Drawing on signaling theory, this study also shows that TPCL on sustainable products provide brand-like information cues that reduce the perceived risk of sustainable products. Finally, a third experimental study demonstrates that consumers must perceive TPCL as credible for them to reduce consumers' risk perceptions.