ABSTRACT
Mass consumption has significant environmental implications. Raw materials and energy are required to produce, transport, and sell consumer goods. Green consumption seeks to reduce environmental degradation by providing consumers with clear information about the impacts of their consumptive choices, for example through ‘eco’ labelling schemes. However, critics have challenged the idea of consumer power. They argue that green consumption’s effectiveness is limited by the scale and complexity of global commodity chains, which make informed consumptive choices difficult. They also argue that manufacturers and retailers undermine green consumption by promoting mass consumption and pressuring organisations to lower labelling standards.
