Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Villányi Str. 29-43, Budapest, 1118, Hungary.
Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA.
Sci Rep. 2024 Aug 16;14(1):18993. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-69962-8.
Plastic, integral to food packaging since the 1950s, has become a global environmental concern due to its contribution to microplastic pollution. Microplastics harm ecosystems, impacting wildlife and human health. Amid increasing focus on sustainability, global initiatives target sustainable production and consumption, but consumers struggle to verify product claims, leading to potential greenwashing, particularly in the food industry. We conducted an experiment focusing on pasta products with varied packaging and labeling attributes. Findings suggest that consumers are willing to pay more for products with both biodegradable packaging and Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) labels, indicating heightened trust and perceived sustainability. Information about microplastics' adverse environmental effects influenced consumer valuation, particularly among females, higher-income individuals, and those with stronger environmental concerns.
自 20 世纪 50 年代以来，塑料已成为食品包装的重要组成部分，但由于其对微塑料污染的贡献，已成为全球关注的环境问题。微塑料危害生态系统，影响野生动物和人类健康。在人们越来越关注可持续性的背景下，全球各项倡议的目标是实现可持续生产和消费，但消费者难以核实产品声明，这可能导致绿色清洗行为，尤其是在食品行业。我们进行了一项专注于不同包装和标签属性的面食产品的实验。研究结果表明，消费者愿意为具有生物降解包装和产品环境足迹 (PEF) 标签的产品支付更高的价格，这表明消费者的信任度和可持续性感知有所提高。有关微塑料对环境的不利影响的信息影响了消费者的评估，尤其是在女性、高收入人群和环保意识较强的人群中。
