Conference Agenda

Labels that inform consumers about the environmental impact of food products are a promising policy tool to encourage dietary changes. However, existing evidence suggests that the behavioral effects of ecolabels remain modest, raising questions about the mechanisms underlying their limited effectiveness. This paper investigates the influence of a point-of-purchase environmental label on food choices. We test for impacts on knowledge and awareness of the environmental impacts of food consumption, and whether these translate into stated intentions and actual shifts toward more sustainable diets. We analyze data from a pre-registered field experiment in French workplace canteens, combining survey data and revealed-preference purchase data. The study follows a three-step design: (i) a pre-intervention survey measuring baseline environmental knowledge on food items and willingness to reduce red meat consumption; (ii) a two-month experimental introduction of the ecolabel in three of six canteens, covering more than 10,000 treated individuals; and (iii) a post-intervention survey assessing changes in knowledge and willingness among initial respondents. By linking stated measures to observed food choices, this study aims to shed light on the channels through which ecolabels influence dietary behavior and inform the design of more effective food labeling policies. Preliminary results indicate precise null effects on both knowledge and choices. Our survey design allows us to assess heterogeneous impacts across individuals.