Eco-Label Visual Design and Sustainability

This book delves into the critical role of eco-labels as signals in a marketplace increasingly driven by consumer demand for sustainable products. It begins with an exploration of how eco-labels function within a tripartite system involving consumers, producers, and third-party certifiers, highlighting the challenges and opportunities in their creation, promotion, and validation. Building on this foundation, the book examines the influence of visual aesthetics on consumer perceptions, drawing from aesthetic psychology and marketing literature to explore how design elements—such as visual and conceptual complexity, color, and text—affect consumer attitudes and trust. The empirical core of the book evaluates real-world eco-labels, analyzing how their visual design impacts sustainability perceptions and label adoption. By synthesizing theoretical insights and empirical findings, the book offers practical recommendations for marketers, designers, and policymakers, aiming to improve eco-label effectiveness in fostering sustainable consumer behavior. Carmela (Carmen) Donato is an Associate Professor of Marketing at the Department of Economics at the University of Roma Tre (Italy). She holds a Ph.D. in Business Economics and Administration from the University of Calabria and a Research Master (M-Phil) in Business Administration (Marketing Profile) from the University of Groningen (NL), where she also served as a Lecturer. Additionally, she has previously been an Assistant Professor at the University G. D'Annunzio of Chieti Pescara (Italy) and a Lecturer at LUISS University (Italy). Her research focuses on consumer behavior, with particular emphasis on sustainable choices in both fashion and food, as well as the role of negative emotions in shaping consumer preferences. She has published extensively in leading international journals, including Psychology & Marketing, Journal of Business Research, Journal of Consumer Behaviour, Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Journal of Services Marketing, and Recycling Conservation & Resources.