Driving forces affecting the adoption of certifications in the forest-based industry: a systematic literature review

Abstract

Several forest certification schemes have become increasingly popular over the last few decades as voluntary mechanisms to tack sustainability in the forest-based industry to an environmental, social, and economic paradigm. This study aims to systematically review the economic literature on the main motivational factors affecting the adoption of Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC) certifications in order to perform a broadly theoretical assessment of this research field and identify the most relevant driving forces affecting the adoption of third-party certification in the forest-based industry. Results reveal that the most relevant mechanisms are linked to both market pressure and the opportunity to communicate social and environmental commitment. Other driving forces, such as moral and legal ones, have been little explored, although they play a key role in the entrepreneurs' choices, emphasising the need to explore more deeply the behavioural intention of forest owners and managers, adopting different theoretical lenses or developing new conceptual frameworks.