Research article - Peer-reviewed, 2021
Social Acceptance of Forest-Based Bioeconomy-Swedish Consumers' Perspectives on a Low Carbon Transition
Nagy, Emil; Rustas, Carolina Berg; Mark-Herbert, CeciliaAbstract
The concept of the bioeconomy is associated with sustainable development changes and involves transitions in both production and consumption within systems. Many of these transitions relate to using renewable resources, like forest biomass, to meet basic needs, such as food, energy and housing. However, consumers must become aware of the forest-based bioeconomy so that they can contribute to the transition. This study aims to contribute to an understanding of this matter that may lead to social acceptance of the forest-based bioeconomy and, in particular, to Swedish consumer awareness of the concept and of a particular product (wooden multi-story buildings) representing the forest-based bioeconomy. The results show consumer awareness of forest sequestration capacity but less awareness of the connection to the forest-based bioeconomy and the role of wooden multi-story buildings. The results indicate a slow transition that is hindered by path dependence and limited comprehension among consumers of the effects of their choices for a forest-based bioeconomy. This study provides valuable insights for future studies of how consumer awareness and social acceptance of the forest-based bioeconomy are interconnected.Keywords
consumers; citizens; forest-based bioeconomy; low carbon transition; perceptions; wooden multi-story buildingsPublished in
Sustainability2021, volume: 13, number: 14, article number: 7628
Publisher: MDPI
Authors' information
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Forest Economics
Berg Rustas, Carolina
No organisation
Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Department of Forest Economics
Sustainable Development Goals
SDG7 Affordable and clean energy
SDG11 Sustainable cities and communities
SDG12 Responsible consumption and production
UKÄ Subject classification
Economics
Publication Identifiers
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/su13147628
URI (permanent link to this page)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/113240