Beyond Greenwash

Explaining Credibility in Transnational Eco-Labeling

Hamish van der Ven

Develops a new and contentious theory of credibility in eco-labeling
Provides compelling original cross-sectoral data
Uses an innovative mixed-method research design
Offers a unique and replicable measure of credibility in transnational governance

Beyond Greenwash

Explaining Credibility in Transnational Eco-Labeling

Hamish van der Ven

Description

From green frogs and blue angels to white bunnies, modern consumers are confronted by a growing array of colorful eco-labels on everything from coffee to computers. When eco-labels are credible, they can lead to dramatic change in environmental practices broadly and quickly by leveraging the purchasing power of corporate clients (e.g., Walmart and McDonalds) to influence global supply chains. But the credibility of such labels is highly variable; and despite the existence of established practices for eco-labeling, many labels remain little more than superficial exercises in "greenwash." How can consumers separate greenwash from genuine attempts to address environmental challenges?

Beyond Greenwash addresses this question by systematically investigating the credibility of transnational eco-labeling organizations across countries and commercial sectors. Using an innovative proxy measure for credibility that examines adherence to established best practices, Hamish van der Ven proposes a novel theory of rigor and credibility in transnational eco-labeling that upends conventional wisdom. He argues that the credibility of an eco-label does not depend on who creates or manages it-whether a government, industry association, professional standard setter, or environmental NGO. Rather, it depends on which types of businesses use the label. More specifically, eco-labeling organizations that target bigger, consumer-facing retailers tend to create credible eco-labels out of a desire to insulate their clients from critical scrutiny and gain acceptance in new markets. This theory challenges the conventional wisdom that only governments or environmental NGOs can create meaningful environmental governance and suggests that who is being governed matters as much, if not more, than who is doing the governing.

Beyond Greenwash

Explaining Credibility in Transnational Eco-Labeling

Hamish van der Ven

Tables
Figures
Acknowledgements
Abbreviations
Chapter 1: Eco-Labels and the Credibility Puzzle in Transnational Governance
Chapter 2: The Correlates of Procedural Credibility in Transnational Eco-Labeling
Chapter 3: A Targets of Governance Approach to Explaining Procedural Credibility
Chapter 4: Credibility in Sustainable Aquaculture Eco-Labeling
Chapter 5: Credibility in Carbon Neutral Eco-Labeling
Chapter 6: Drawing Big Lessons from Small Labels
Appendix A: Organizations in the Transnational Eco-Labeling Organization Dataset
Appendix B: The Index of Best Practice in Eco-Labeling (IBP)
Notes
References
Index

Beyond Greenwash

Explaining Credibility in Transnational Eco-Labeling

Hamish van der Ven

Author Information

Hamish van der Ven is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science and School of Environment at McGill University. He teaches and pursues research on the growing role of businesses and civil society groups in global environmental governance. His work has been published in Global Environmental Politics, Review of International Studies, Regulation & Governance, Review of International Political Economy, Global Environmental Change, and several other peer-reviewed journals.

Beyond Greenwash

Explaining Credibility in Transnational Eco-Labeling

Hamish van der Ven

Reviews and Awards

"This book is a great read for anyone interested in ecolabelling as a form of global environmental governance. It speaks to practitioners and scientists alike, whether coming from a political, business, corporate social responsibility (CSR), or sustainable consumption background." -- F. C. Doebbe, Stockholm School of Economics, Journal of Consumer Policy

"Beyond Greenwash is an insightful analysis of transnational ecolabels that documents how ecolabels with global ambitions-termed aiming big-face social and organizational processes that push them to become more procedurally credible for transnational audiences. Conventional thinking might predict the opposite, but van der Ven shows that aiming big brings critical scrutiny, demands for stakeholder democracy, and organizational capacity all of which help ecolabels to adopt emerging procedural norms about what it means to be a credible ecolabel. This book is essential reading for those interested in transnational governance, how it works, and how it can be improved." --Graeme Auld, Director and Associate Professor, Carleton University

"His finding that those that 'aim big' don't just apply to his subjects, but also to his own scholarly effort: an extraordinary feat that promises to shake up not only the research on private governance, but also for generating insights about when, and how, government and non-state actors might draw on, or eschew, the power of the market to address particular problems. The results are theoretically, conceptually, and empirically ground breaking." --Benjamin Cashore, Professor of Environmental Governance and Political Science, Yale University

"In a world rife with fake news, it might be tempting to dismiss eco-labels as little more than a marketing tool for big business. Yet, as Hamish van der Ven's trailblazing analysis reveals, even as sham-labeling proliferates, a surprising number of eco-labels are credible and valuable. Why? Read this inspiring book to find out and gain a deep understanding of the cutting-edge trends in transnational environmental governance." --Peter Dauvergne, Professor of International Relations, University of British Columbia

"Great book with both theoretical and practical importance regarding the changing nature of global governance. The author explores this through the lens of eco-labeling, arguing persuasively that larger programs targeting a broader audience are more credible than smaller boutique ones. He uses an innovative measure of best practices in eco-labeling to make his case. I plan to assign this book in class to introduce students to these issues." --Virginia Haufler, Associate Professor of Government and Politics, University of Maryland

"Engaging, scholarly, positive and critical. This is a great contribution to a sometimes puzzling, but important, subject." --Jeremy Moon, VELUX Chair of Corporate Sustainability, Copenhagen Business School

"If you have ever stared at an eco-label on a product and wondered where it came from, what it means, and whether you should believe that it denotes anything meaningful, this pathbreaking book is for you. van der Ven explains why some of the now ubiquitous eco-labels deploy best practices, when many others do not. He finds that the labeling organizations who 'aim big'-pursuing transnational credibility, recognition and sustainability standards across multiple markets-are more likely to influence global value chains and establish more inclusive governance. This research draws 'big lessons from small labels' for global environmental governance of all kinds." --Stacy D. VanDeveer, Professor of Global Governance and Human Security, University of Massachusetts Boston