Andressa Pedroso Carlotto de Souza, Fernanda Leal Leães, Gabriele Danieli, Eduarda Letícia Ruaro, Eléia Righi, Rafael Narciso Meirelles and Voltaire Sant’Anna
The objective of this study was to evaluate Brazilian consumers’ perceptions of stingless bee honey and the drivers involved in this product choice.
Abstract
Purpose
The objective of this study was to evaluate Brazilian consumers’ perceptions of stingless bee honey and the drivers involved in this product choice.
Design/methodology/approach
Three projective techniques were applied to 480 consumers who answered a rating task about liking, health, sustainability, quality taste, and utilization as ingredients, fulfilled completion sentences, and performed a hard laddering task.
Findings
The results showed a significant increase in the expected liking and flavor, and consumers perceived stingless bee honey as more sustainable, of higher quality, and more beneficial to health. Health, sustainability, and taste are the main drivers of purchasing this type of honey, and consumers are aware that it costs a premium price. In the value chain involved in choosing stingless bee honey, the appreciation of native bees, flavor, nutritional value, medicinal properties, producer appreciation, and curiosity were strong aspects for choosing the product. These aspects lead consumers to feel good, have peace of mind, feel like protecting nature and planets, and longevity.
Originality/value
Honey is popular worldwide, but stingless bee honey has little information on how consumers perceive it and on the purchasing decision chain. The results of the present study provide important information to enhance the consumption of this product with social and environmental importance and the growing demand for natural products that replace refined sugars.
Details
Keywords
Ines Österle, Paulus T. Aditjandra, Carlo Vaghi, Gabriele Grea and Thomas H. Zunder
The purpose of this paper is to describe and analyse a case of local freight stakeholder involvement to plan and design eco-efficient city logistics innovations in Como, a small…
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to describe and analyse a case of local freight stakeholder involvement to plan and design eco-efficient city logistics innovations in Como, a small city in Italy. While the importance of a well-functioning urban goods distribution system is widely acknowledged, city authorities have become increasingly aware of the need to minimise the negative impacts associated to the system. There are now countless examples of attempts to increase the eco-efficiency of urban freight deliveries; however, very few have made a notable impact. The success of such schemes often depends upon the response of a range of private sector freight stakeholders and their involvement during the planning process of these solutions is crucial.
Design/methodology/approach
To engage local freight stakeholders within the planning process of a city logistics project, the logical framework approach, in the form of the design and monitoring framework (DMF) developed by the Asian Development Bank, has been applied.
Findings
The structured consultation process implied within the DMF approach allowed urban freight stakeholders to share their aspirations from the beginning of the city freight planning process, despite their differences in priorities in adopting eco-efficient logistics innovations. The process ensured that city stakeholders accepted and committed to the city logistics strategies formulated during the consultation process, namely: changes to the Limited Traffic Zone regulation, the use of an urban consolidation centre and hybrid electric truck adoption.
Research limitations/implications
The evaluation of the DMF application will be definitive after the demonstration/implementation stage of the city logistics project. It will then become clear if freight stakeholders have committed to the project and if it is effective in delivering the expected outputs and outcomes.
Practical implications
Local city authorities may find this method useful in situations where a structured consultation process is needed for addressing urban freight issues. This is especially the case in the context of introducing innovative, eco-efficiency solutions.
Originality/value
The application of DMF in the developed environment can be considered novel; this paper extends this with an application to the promotion of sustainable urban freight.