A systematic review on how environmental sustainability and social responsibility food labels influence consumers' food choices and purchasing decisions.

Abstract

In a world under a triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, this study aimed to evaluate the types, features and impacts of environmental sustainability and social responsibility food labels on consumers' choices and purchasing decisions. A systematic review encompassing three electronic databases was conducted. The initial search was conducted in May 2022 and updated in July 2025, identifying 364 studies. After screening, forty-one studies were included. Data were extracted using a standardised form and analysed by topic. Studies included were conducted in various consumer and market settings, primarily focusing on packaged food products. The studies represented a range of consumers across demographic and geographic contexts, but mostly focused on Western Europe, the US and other high-income countries. Most studies were experimental ('choice experiments') and evaluated purchasing intentions. Environmental sustainability labels generally elicit positive consumer responses, with high preferences for organic and animal welfare claims. Consumers often desire additional information to better understand label meanings. While some evidence supports the influence of environmental sustainability labels on consumer choices, their impact on actual purchasing behaviour remains mixed. Research on social responsibility labels is notably limited. There is insufficient evidence to determine the real-world impacts of environmental sustainability and social responsibility labels on food choices. Future studies could focus on purchasing behaviours in real-life consumer interactions with labels, the impacts of the exposure to varying levels of information and a potential integration of domains. Given pressing social and environmental challenges, integrative strategies are required to develop labels that effectively guide consumers toward healthier, sustainable, and socially responsible food options.