Proposal for a Transatlantic Platform for Consumer Concerns and International Trade

Consumer concerns pop up. They are relatedto the safety of agrifood products for people, foranimals, and for the environment as well as the socialand ethical implications of certain agrifoodproduction methods. At first sight, the WTO agreementand the SPS and TBT agreements appear to offersufficient legal scope to deal with these concerns andresolve trade conflicts. The events of recent years,however, have shown the limitations of theseagreements in dealing with cultural differencesbetween nations and in dealing with the social andpolitical pressure on national governments to lay downrestrictive, trade distorting measures. It is vitalthat we consider the dynamic relationship betweennational governments, civil society, and the market.In the United States, Canada, and Europe, thisrealization is growing. We propose that these issuesshould be studied by experts in several disciplines:technical experts, hygiene experts and veterinarians,public administration experts, lawyers, philosophers,ethicists, sociologists, and, of course, economists.To unite these disciplines and provide a platform fordiscussion in the light of international tradeliberalisation, the cultural identity of distinctcommunities, and the functioning of the democraticnation state an international network is needed. Wetherefore propose establishing a network to explorethe issues and dynamics described above. The networkshould be international and interdisciplinary withparticipants, initially, from science and government.The purpose of the network would be to present newperspectives to the negotiating parties in the nextWTO round. The first steps to development of thisnetwork have since been taken and an initial group hasbeen established.     

日本促进可持续消费经验的启示

日本相对丰富的促进可持续消费经验对我国正在大力推动绿色生活方式的形成有较好的参考价值。本文介绍了日本循环社会法律框架下循环再生利用法和绿色采购促进法对促进可持续消费的作用,以及可持续消费的最新实践活动,并从循环再生利用法律法规建立、深化公共绿色采购评估、发布面向普通消费者产品清单、建立消费者发声通道、提升消费者意识、促进消费者导向管理等方面提出对我国推动绿色消费的启示。     

US vehicle fuel-efficiency choices: demographic,behavioral, and cultural factors

In the United States, a large proportion of greenhouse gas emissions are from personal vehicle use, and there are large differences in emissions between the most and least efficient vehicles. We use data from 2009 US National Household Travel Survey to characterize consumers who drive the most and least efficient vehicles. We calculate personal fleet efficiency based on all vehicles owned, reflecting the behavioral aspect of vehicle-use choices by owners. Though higher incomes provide the means to purchase more efficient vehicles, we find those with higher incomes more likely to drive low-efficiency vehicles. Higher education levels correlate with greater vehicle efficiency. While some efficiency differences are based on consumer characteristics such as family size, we find large differences that we attribute mostly to cultural preferences as observed by race, region, etc. From a policy perspective, these differences are of particular interest since they may be amenable to change.     

Responding to crises and disasters: the role of risk attitudes and risk perceptions

Discussions are taking place both in the United States and in Europe about how governments should respond to both disasters and crises, and how citizens' non-desirable behaviour might be managed with respect to such disasters. Here we examine the role that risk attitudes and risk perceptions play in decision making behaviour of individuals in times of crises and disasters and how knowledge about individual behaviour and its drivers may be helpful when developing policy. The proposed framework complements the existing literature, thereby further enriching the knowledge of crises and disaster management.     

Is local produce more expensive? Challenging perceptions of price in local food systems

This research examines price in local food systems to identify whether the perception that local is more expensive is justified. This study seeks to contribute to the field by addressing the dearth of quantitative price and availability research and building upon existing empirical research by considering a broader range of distribution channels and organic produce. Without a stronger understanding of pricing structures and distribution models, local food initiatives are based on assumptions rather than evidence. Using a case-study approach of the Region of Waterloo (Ontario, Canada), price and product data were collected at 11 outlets over a 6-month period. The study involved regression analysis of six locally produced fruits and vegetables based on local, Ontario, and organic attributes associated with the products and comparison with consumer willingness-to-pay research. Results show that local produce in the case study is not consistently more expensive than the non-local option. Both price discounts and premiums are found, depending on the product. These findings challenge the “local is more expensive” assumption and support suggestions that local food systems can be spaces for social inclusion. The organic attribute is associated with a price premium in all cases and may create confusion among consumers given frequent overlap between the local and organic attributes. Proponents of local food can use the results of this study to inform programme and policy development. Most notably, the study suggests that education around the distinction between local and organic as well as challenges to the price perception could be of benefit.     

生活生产类产品VOCs含量限值法规与标准研究

本文对国内生活生产类产品VOCs含量限值的国家标准、地方标准、行业标准以及中国香港、欧美等发达地区精细化的生活生产类产品VOCs含量限值法规和标准做了比较全面的综述,并从产品限值种类以及限值要求两个方面进行了对比研究和分析,提出了我国生产生活类产品VOCs 含量限值法规标准制定建议。笔者认为,应借鉴发达国家成功的生活生产类产品VOCs含量限值法规及标准制定经验,从做好标准和产品技术要求衔接、建立区域协同制定标准模式、结合经济因素或环境空气质量,分步推进相关标准制定和发布等方面入手,建立符合实际国情的产品种类较为全面、标准要求较高的生产生活类产品VOCs含量限值法规与标准体系,尤其是生活消费品方面,减少直接与人体接触的生活消费品VOCs排放。     

Factors affecting energy saving behaviour: a prospective research

The purpose of this study is to outline the theme of saving energy resources and its relationship with the preservation of the environment, as well as the importance of green marketing in achieving sustainability. The model of data collection was a survey conducted by self-administered questionnaire. After collection, the data were statistically analysed and interpreted. Most individuals claim to be concerned about environmental problems, with 68% of these belonging to the ‘Savers’ group. However, even though they may be concerned with environmental problems, the vast majority of individuals do not have any system of renewable energy in their homes, despite claiming that renewable energies are a viable option for protecting the environment. Women display behaviour that is more favourable to the saving of energy resources than do men. Educational levels are not significant for distinguishing the more pro-environmental individuals from the others.     

The Role of Organizational Perception,Perceived Consumer Effectiveness and Self-efficacy in Recycling Advocacy Advertising Effectiveness

Previous academic research into how consumers evaluate advocacy advertising identified many possible paths involving potentially reflexive effects on how people perceive an advocacy advertising sponsor, the advocated issue and themselves. This paper has examined one possible scenario within this complicated phenomenon: that of advertising advocating a specific environmental consumer action, recycling. In the specific context of this study, structural equation modelling demonstrated clear causal relationships among consumer perceptions of the recycling advertisements’ sponsoring organization, consumer self-efficacy and perceived consumer effectiveness of complying with the advocated issue (recycling behaviour). These factors were shown to impact specific advocacy advertising goals (termed message effectiveness in this study) such as behavioural intention toward the advocated recycling issue and perceived changes in how consumers evaluate the sponsoring organization.     

Evaluating Consumer Understanding of the Swedish Meat Guide—A Multi-layered Environmental Information Tool Communicating Trade-offs When Choosing Food

To facilitate the choice of more sustainable animal-based products in the diet, a Swedish meat guide providing complex, multi-layered environmental information to non-experts has been developed. This study evaluated reception of this guide by consumers. In five focus groups, participants (“interested consumers”) carried out a joint environmental and animal welfare ranking assignment to test understanding and use of the guide. The type and detail of indicators (e.g. carbon footprint) in the meat guide suited the audience. The guide stimulated discussion on ethical issues and quality aspects of meat, revealed perceived obstacles to reducing meat consumption and provided an understanding that any food product chosen comes with trade-offs.     

ASsessment Of Alcohol Ethoxylate Surfactants And Fatty Alcohols Mixtures In River Sediments And Prospective Risk Assessment

A feasible and relatively readily available analytical method was adapted for the assessment of alcohol ethoxylates (AE) and fatty alcohols (FA) in sediments. This study illustrates the simultaneous measurement of 38 of 114 possible alcohol ethoxylate ethoxymers (AE) and fatty alcohols (FA) found in commercially important AE products. We predicted toxicity for all identified fractions, as well as the total mixture toxicity, relative to three exposure scenarios via sewage treatment plants (STP) for these widely used chemicals in consumer products and hence generate a preliminary environmental risk screening for AE and FA in sediments. The method is based on derivatization of solvent or solid-phase extracts with 2-fluoro-N-methylpyridinium p-toluenesulfonate (Pyr+). The derivatized extracts were analyzed with liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) operating in the positive ion electrospray mode. The extraction efficiency of AE and FA in three different sediments of varying composition was evaluated with spike-recovery studies, ranging from 64% to 80%. The detection limits for individual ethoxymers typically ranged from 1 to 5ngg⁻¹on a dry weight basis. The mean limit of detection (LOD) was 6ngg⁻¹and the median LOD was 3ngg⁻¹. AE and FA in sediments were found to be stable for two weeks if preserved with 3% (v/v) formalin and stored at 4–6^∘C. Based on equilibrium partitioning, background concentrations of AE and FA were predicted to be below concentrations known to elicit chronically toxic effects. Total worst case mixture toxicities for all AE ethoxymers combined with FA were predicted to result in a risk quotient less than 0.6. Activated sludge treatment (STP) significantly reduced the release of total AE and FA by four-fold, suggesting that the total mixture risk quotient would be < 0.15 for sediment dependent organisms.