Marianne Doubell, Leo Long, Josua Louw
Abstract
Environmental challenges, including climate change and freshwater scarcity, are increasingly affecting life on earth. Limiting the environmental impact starts with sustainable production, which necessitates transitioning from a linear to a circular economy. Many environmental challenges however derive from unrestrained consumer demand. Retailers can thus contribute to reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities through encouraging green product purchasing.
The purpose of this study was to foster an understanding of the role of forest certification, eco-labelling, and green rewards programmes in support of the green economy. The primary objective was to identify trends and perceptions of South African timber growers and retailers regarding environmental issues to proffer recommendations for enhancing a green economy. Data was collected electronically via tailored, self-administered questionnaires from two groups, namely timber growers and Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) retailers in South Africa. Limitations of the study relate to data collection being limited to email only and participants of FMCG retailers constituting only six of the eight major FMCG retailers active in South Africa.
The findings indicate that forest certification yielded multiple benefits for growers, including improved market access, increased revenue, and positive environmental impacts. The majority of FMCG retailers indicated that they are concerned about the environment; publish an annual sustainability report; and actively support on-product ecolabels to advance sustainable consumption patterns. This study contributes to raising awareness around environmental challenges and provides potential solutions for transitioning to a green economy.