Leonie Dendler | Manchester Business shool (original) (raw)

Papers by Leonie Dendler

To facilitate more sustainable consumption different actors have introduced various labelling sch... more To facilitate more sustainable consumption different actors have introduced various labelling schemes providing information about a product's environmental, social or other attributes. Based on case studies of existing labelling schemes this paper analyses how sustainability related product labels try to shape the production and consumption system by enabling political consumerism and facilitating a more sustainable modification of the supply chain. Labelling schemes are thereby understood as representing a new form of governance, which to be effective, needs the legitimisation from all actors that are essential for these processes. On the one hand this offers opportunities from empowering non-governmental actors and being dissolved from national boundaries; on the other hand it sets clear limitations for the instrument.

To facilitate more sustainable consumption and production, multiple product labelling schemes hav... more To facilitate more sustainable consumption and production, multiple product labelling schemes have been implemented in the People’s Republic of China. The effectiveness of these schemes has been limited however, not only in their acceptance by Western markets but also in meeting their aim to target a rising Chinese consumer class. Previous studies in Western contexts suggest that the institutionalisation of product labelling schemes is driven by a dynamic construction of legitimacy between various actors from across the consumption and production system (Dendler, 2013a; Dendler, 2013b). Yet there is a dearth of in-depth studies of the causalities behind the institutionalisation of Chinese product labelling schemes, especially those that shed light on causalities across different institutional contexts. This paper seeks to address these gaps through an in-depth study of the legitimacy construction and institutionalisation of the Chinese organic labelling scheme in two contrasting con...

With it’s fundamental transformation over the last decades, the dairy industry is a prime example... more With it’s fundamental transformation over the last decades, the dairy industry is a prime example of China’s rapidly changing consumption and production systems. Following the 2008 melanin scandal, there have been particular efforts to achieve greater consolidation and concentration in the historically fragmented Chinese dairy production and distribution chain in order to improve the ‘safety’ of Chinese dairy products. This has given rise to highly integrated national dairy processors with an increasing influence across the Chinese dairy consumption and production system. Drawing upon new institutional theories (e.g. Greenwood et al., 2002; Battilana et al., 2009), notions of legitimacy (e.g. Suchman, 1995) and of the role of ‘focal’ organisations to stimulate (more sustainable) change (Huber, 2008), this paper explores the emergence of the national dairy processors as institutional entrepreneurs and discusses their mobilisation of allies and resources in order to create new legitim...

Environmental Science & Policy, 2015

Theory suggests that the influence of science on policy will be increased when scientific discour... more Theory suggests that the influence of science on policy will be increased when scientific discourse is aligned with the language and substance of wider social concerns. Seeking to assess this proposition in an environmental policy arena, we examine the language and content of public-facing, UK scientific research grant abstracts on biofuels for the period 2007-11, comparing this to stakeholder position statements and newspaper articles of the same period. We find that UK scientists have indeed broadly reflected societal concerns about biofuels during this period. However we also find that both science and society have paid less attention to procedural issues. We comment on the implications of these findings for the role of science in environmental and other policy change.

Journal of Cleaner Production, 2015

Energy Policy, 2011

Biofuel policy has become highly contentious in Europe. In this paper we discuss the governance a... more Biofuel policy has become highly contentious in Europe. In this paper we discuss the governance and legitimacy aspects of the carbon and sustainability system of the UK Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO), both before and after implementation of the Renewable Energy Directive. RTFO certification is of a meta-type, being built upon existing certification and labelling schemes, each of which are more or less contested by NGOs. Despite the RTFO being based on these non-state initiatives, so far the concerns of environment and development NGOs and others have not been given serious expression in regulatory terms. Indeed, biofuel policy development in the UK has arguably been unduly non-responsive to critical opinion, given the limited scientific base on biofuel impacts and the reliance of RTFO sustainability certification on non-state actors and schemes. Drawing on documentary evidence, interviews and three sets of literatures -co-production of regulation; post-normal science; and legitimacy of non-state certification and labelling processes -we suggest that until concerned voices are given a stronger expression in UK and EC biofuel policy development, the policy cannot yet be said to have achieved a wide social mandate.

What is the disparity between the climate and resource challenges we face and the measures in pla... more What is the disparity between the climate and resource challenges we face and the measures in place to meet them? This special issue addresses that question by outlining various aspects of current problems, more sustainable alternatives and elements of transition pathways to achieve a more sustainable future. The papers in this special issue each proceed from identifying unsustainable development on a specific level, space, region and/or amongst specific actors, to then highlighting facets of a potential alternative future state, either in the form of resolving that particular problem or as a vision of an overarching sustainable future. With regard to transitions, each article refers to shifts in governance approaches needed to achieve these alternative futures. This can be a transition specific to a certain level, space, region or actor or a transition across these multiple dimensions. A core theme cutting across most of the articles is the need for greater participation as well as the necessity to find solutions to the challenges such participation poses. Rather than attempting to paint a complete or definitive picture of a sustainable future, this special issue aims to shed light on the varied pathways towards different parts of such futures, to stimulate debate on the interface of science and policy and to inspire others who are on the same track.

Energy Policy, 2011

Biofuel policy has become highly contentious in Europe. In this paper we discuss the governance a... more Biofuel policy has become highly contentious in Europe. In this paper we discuss the governance and legitimacy aspects of the carbon and sustainability system of the UK Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO), both before and after implementation of the Renewable Energy Directive. RTFO certification is of a meta-type, being built upon existing certification and labelling schemes, each of which are more or less contested by NGOs. Despite the RTFO being based on these non-state initiatives, so far the concerns of environment and development NGOs and others have not been given serious expression in regulatory terms. Indeed, biofuel policy development in the UK has arguably been unduly non-responsive to critical opinion, given the limited scientific base on biofuel impacts and the reliance of RTFO sustainability certification on non-state actors and schemes. Drawing on documentary evidence, interviews and three sets of literatures -co-production of regulation; post-normal science; and legitimacy of non-state certification and labelling processes -we suggest that until concerned voices are given a stronger expression in UK and EC biofuel policy development, the policy cannot yet be said to have achieved a wide social mandate.

Low-Carbon Energy Controversies, Feb 11, 2013

The prospect of a large-scale, international biofuel and bioenergy trade has raised a wide variet... more The prospect of a large-scale, international biofuel and bioenergy trade has raised a wide variety of concerns and issues, including: the use of arable land for food, eg Searchinger et al.(2008), Ariza-Montobbio and Lele (2010) and Ariza-Montobbio et al.(2010); control of access to resources (including land, water and genomes); loss of biodiversity, eg Wakker (2004); net GHG emissions from direct and indirect land-use change, eg Upham et al.(2009), Ravindranath et al.(2010) and Lapola et al.(2010); and the likelihood of inadequate ...

Biofuel policy has become highly contentious in Europe, originally driven by the Biofuels Directi... more Biofuel policy has become highly contentious in Europe, originally driven by the Biofuels Directive (2003/30/EC), which requires that “biofuels or other renewable fuels” constitute 5.75% of the energy content of petrol and diesel sold for transport in member states by 2010, and now superseded by the Renewable Energy Directive. Here we discuss governance aspects of the environmental and social sustainability components of the expression of these directives in UK law via the 2008 UK Renewable Transport Fuel ...

Journal of Cleaner Production, 2011

Public perceptions of a UK carbon labelling trial were assessed via three focus groups. The publi... more Public perceptions of a UK carbon labelling trial were assessed via three focus groups. The public found it very difficult to make sense of labelled emissions values without additional information. There was also little evidence of a willingness to use labels for product selection. There is a strong case for using carbon reduction labels to indicate a programme of on-going emissions reductions, rather than expecting consumers to incentivise emissions reductions by actively choosing the lower carbon variant of two or more products. The ...

Journal of Cleaner Production, 2011

Public perceptions of a UK carbon labelling trial were assessed via three focus groups. The publi... more Public perceptions of a UK carbon labelling trial were assessed via three focus groups. The public found it very difficult to make sense of labelled emissions values without additional information. There was also little evidence of a willingness to use labels for product selection. There is a strong case for using carbon reduction labels to indicate a programme of on-going emissions reductions, rather than expecting consumers to incentivise emissions reductions by actively choosing the lower carbon variant of two or more products. The ...

Journal of Cleaner Production, 2011

Public perceptions of a UK carbon labelling trial were assessed via three focus groups. The publi... more Public perceptions of a UK carbon labelling trial were assessed via three focus groups. The public found it very difficult to make sense of labelled emissions values without additional information. There was also little evidence of a willingness to use labels for product selection. There is a strong case for using carbon reduction labels to indicate a programme of on-going emissions reductions, rather than expecting consumers to incentivise emissions reductions by actively choosing the lower carbon variant of two or more products. The ...

Energy Policy, 2011

Biofuel policy has become highly contentious in Europe. In this paper we discuss the governance a... more Biofuel policy has become highly contentious in Europe. In this paper we discuss the governance and legitimacy aspects of the carbon and sustainability system of the UK Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO), both before and after implementation of the Renewable Energy Directive. RTFO certification is of a meta-type, being built upon existing certification and labelling schemes, each of which are more or less contested by NGOs. Despite the RTFO being based on these non-state initiatives, so far the concerns of environment and development NGOs and others have not been given serious expression in regulatory terms. Indeed, biofuel policy development in the UK has arguably been unduly non-responsive to critical opinion, given the limited scientific base on biofuel impacts and the reliance of RTFO sustainability certification on non-state actors and schemes. Drawing on documentary evidence, interviews and three sets of literatures -co-production of regulation; post-normal science; and legitimacy of non-state certification and labelling processes -we suggest that until concerned voices are given a stronger expression in UK and EC biofuel policy development, the policy cannot yet be said to have achieved a wide social mandate.

One of the most prominent measures to facilitate more sustainable production and consumption has ... more One of the most prominent measures to facilitate more sustainable production and consumption has been the instrument of product labelling. But with a plethora of labelling schemes having been implemented over the last decade many now accuse them of being confusing rather than facilitating. As a result, governments in France, UK and Germany, as well as businesses such as Walmart and non-governmental organisations like WWF have begun to consider seriously the implementation of some form of 'meta' scheme that condenses existing product labels and other communication measures. Using a novel theoretically integrative framework to analyse the current labelling arena, this paper investigates different implementation options for such an overarching scheme and discusses what their prospects are for effectively guiding behavioural changes across the production and consumption system. The findings suggests multiple potential hurdles for the effective institutionalisation of a sustainability meta labelling scheme, the most problematic of which is probably finding agreements on focus and trade off decisions in a way that ensures a balance between understandability, procedural and consequential legitimacy aspects.

To facilitate more sustainable consumption different actors have introduced various labelling sch... more To facilitate more sustainable consumption different actors have introduced various labelling schemes providing information about a product's environmental, social or other attributes. Based on case studies of existing labelling schemes this paper analyses how sustainability related product labels try to shape the production and consumption system by enabling political consumerism and facilitating a more sustainable modification of the supply chain. Labelling schemes are thereby understood as representing a new form of governance, which to be effective, needs the legitimisation from all actors that are essential for these processes. On the one hand this offers opportunities from empowering non-governmental actors and being dissolved from national boundaries; on the other hand it sets clear limitations for the instrument.

To facilitate more sustainable consumption and production, multiple product labelling schemes hav... more To facilitate more sustainable consumption and production, multiple product labelling schemes have been implemented in the People’s Republic of China. The effectiveness of these schemes has been limited however, not only in their acceptance by Western markets but also in meeting their aim to target a rising Chinese consumer class. Previous studies in Western contexts suggest that the institutionalisation of product labelling schemes is driven by a dynamic construction of legitimacy between various actors from across the consumption and production system (Dendler, 2013a; Dendler, 2013b). Yet there is a dearth of in-depth studies of the causalities behind the institutionalisation of Chinese product labelling schemes, especially those that shed light on causalities across different institutional contexts. This paper seeks to address these gaps through an in-depth study of the legitimacy construction and institutionalisation of the Chinese organic labelling scheme in two contrasting con...

With it’s fundamental transformation over the last decades, the dairy industry is a prime example... more With it’s fundamental transformation over the last decades, the dairy industry is a prime example of China’s rapidly changing consumption and production systems. Following the 2008 melanin scandal, there have been particular efforts to achieve greater consolidation and concentration in the historically fragmented Chinese dairy production and distribution chain in order to improve the ‘safety’ of Chinese dairy products. This has given rise to highly integrated national dairy processors with an increasing influence across the Chinese dairy consumption and production system. Drawing upon new institutional theories (e.g. Greenwood et al., 2002; Battilana et al., 2009), notions of legitimacy (e.g. Suchman, 1995) and of the role of ‘focal’ organisations to stimulate (more sustainable) change (Huber, 2008), this paper explores the emergence of the national dairy processors as institutional entrepreneurs and discusses their mobilisation of allies and resources in order to create new legitim...

Environmental Science & Policy, 2015

Theory suggests that the influence of science on policy will be increased when scientific discour... more Theory suggests that the influence of science on policy will be increased when scientific discourse is aligned with the language and substance of wider social concerns. Seeking to assess this proposition in an environmental policy arena, we examine the language and content of public-facing, UK scientific research grant abstracts on biofuels for the period 2007-11, comparing this to stakeholder position statements and newspaper articles of the same period. We find that UK scientists have indeed broadly reflected societal concerns about biofuels during this period. However we also find that both science and society have paid less attention to procedural issues. We comment on the implications of these findings for the role of science in environmental and other policy change.

Journal of Cleaner Production, 2015

Energy Policy, 2011

Biofuel policy has become highly contentious in Europe. In this paper we discuss the governance a... more Biofuel policy has become highly contentious in Europe. In this paper we discuss the governance and legitimacy aspects of the carbon and sustainability system of the UK Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO), both before and after implementation of the Renewable Energy Directive. RTFO certification is of a meta-type, being built upon existing certification and labelling schemes, each of which are more or less contested by NGOs. Despite the RTFO being based on these non-state initiatives, so far the concerns of environment and development NGOs and others have not been given serious expression in regulatory terms. Indeed, biofuel policy development in the UK has arguably been unduly non-responsive to critical opinion, given the limited scientific base on biofuel impacts and the reliance of RTFO sustainability certification on non-state actors and schemes. Drawing on documentary evidence, interviews and three sets of literatures -co-production of regulation; post-normal science; and legitimacy of non-state certification and labelling processes -we suggest that until concerned voices are given a stronger expression in UK and EC biofuel policy development, the policy cannot yet be said to have achieved a wide social mandate.

What is the disparity between the climate and resource challenges we face and the measures in pla... more What is the disparity between the climate and resource challenges we face and the measures in place to meet them? This special issue addresses that question by outlining various aspects of current problems, more sustainable alternatives and elements of transition pathways to achieve a more sustainable future. The papers in this special issue each proceed from identifying unsustainable development on a specific level, space, region and/or amongst specific actors, to then highlighting facets of a potential alternative future state, either in the form of resolving that particular problem or as a vision of an overarching sustainable future. With regard to transitions, each article refers to shifts in governance approaches needed to achieve these alternative futures. This can be a transition specific to a certain level, space, region or actor or a transition across these multiple dimensions. A core theme cutting across most of the articles is the need for greater participation as well as the necessity to find solutions to the challenges such participation poses. Rather than attempting to paint a complete or definitive picture of a sustainable future, this special issue aims to shed light on the varied pathways towards different parts of such futures, to stimulate debate on the interface of science and policy and to inspire others who are on the same track.

Energy Policy, 2011

Biofuel policy has become highly contentious in Europe. In this paper we discuss the governance a... more Biofuel policy has become highly contentious in Europe. In this paper we discuss the governance and legitimacy aspects of the carbon and sustainability system of the UK Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO), both before and after implementation of the Renewable Energy Directive. RTFO certification is of a meta-type, being built upon existing certification and labelling schemes, each of which are more or less contested by NGOs. Despite the RTFO being based on these non-state initiatives, so far the concerns of environment and development NGOs and others have not been given serious expression in regulatory terms. Indeed, biofuel policy development in the UK has arguably been unduly non-responsive to critical opinion, given the limited scientific base on biofuel impacts and the reliance of RTFO sustainability certification on non-state actors and schemes. Drawing on documentary evidence, interviews and three sets of literatures -co-production of regulation; post-normal science; and legitimacy of non-state certification and labelling processes -we suggest that until concerned voices are given a stronger expression in UK and EC biofuel policy development, the policy cannot yet be said to have achieved a wide social mandate.

Low-Carbon Energy Controversies, Feb 11, 2013

The prospect of a large-scale, international biofuel and bioenergy trade has raised a wide variet... more The prospect of a large-scale, international biofuel and bioenergy trade has raised a wide variety of concerns and issues, including: the use of arable land for food, eg Searchinger et al.(2008), Ariza-Montobbio and Lele (2010) and Ariza-Montobbio et al.(2010); control of access to resources (including land, water and genomes); loss of biodiversity, eg Wakker (2004); net GHG emissions from direct and indirect land-use change, eg Upham et al.(2009), Ravindranath et al.(2010) and Lapola et al.(2010); and the likelihood of inadequate ...

Biofuel policy has become highly contentious in Europe, originally driven by the Biofuels Directi... more Biofuel policy has become highly contentious in Europe, originally driven by the Biofuels Directive (2003/30/EC), which requires that “biofuels or other renewable fuels” constitute 5.75% of the energy content of petrol and diesel sold for transport in member states by 2010, and now superseded by the Renewable Energy Directive. Here we discuss governance aspects of the environmental and social sustainability components of the expression of these directives in UK law via the 2008 UK Renewable Transport Fuel ...

Journal of Cleaner Production, 2011

Public perceptions of a UK carbon labelling trial were assessed via three focus groups. The publi... more Public perceptions of a UK carbon labelling trial were assessed via three focus groups. The public found it very difficult to make sense of labelled emissions values without additional information. There was also little evidence of a willingness to use labels for product selection. There is a strong case for using carbon reduction labels to indicate a programme of on-going emissions reductions, rather than expecting consumers to incentivise emissions reductions by actively choosing the lower carbon variant of two or more products. The ...

Journal of Cleaner Production, 2011

Public perceptions of a UK carbon labelling trial were assessed via three focus groups. The publi... more Public perceptions of a UK carbon labelling trial were assessed via three focus groups. The public found it very difficult to make sense of labelled emissions values without additional information. There was also little evidence of a willingness to use labels for product selection. There is a strong case for using carbon reduction labels to indicate a programme of on-going emissions reductions, rather than expecting consumers to incentivise emissions reductions by actively choosing the lower carbon variant of two or more products. The ...

Journal of Cleaner Production, 2011

Public perceptions of a UK carbon labelling trial were assessed via three focus groups. The publi... more Public perceptions of a UK carbon labelling trial were assessed via three focus groups. The public found it very difficult to make sense of labelled emissions values without additional information. There was also little evidence of a willingness to use labels for product selection. There is a strong case for using carbon reduction labels to indicate a programme of on-going emissions reductions, rather than expecting consumers to incentivise emissions reductions by actively choosing the lower carbon variant of two or more products. The ...

Energy Policy, 2011

Biofuel policy has become highly contentious in Europe. In this paper we discuss the governance a... more Biofuel policy has become highly contentious in Europe. In this paper we discuss the governance and legitimacy aspects of the carbon and sustainability system of the UK Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO), both before and after implementation of the Renewable Energy Directive. RTFO certification is of a meta-type, being built upon existing certification and labelling schemes, each of which are more or less contested by NGOs. Despite the RTFO being based on these non-state initiatives, so far the concerns of environment and development NGOs and others have not been given serious expression in regulatory terms. Indeed, biofuel policy development in the UK has arguably been unduly non-responsive to critical opinion, given the limited scientific base on biofuel impacts and the reliance of RTFO sustainability certification on non-state actors and schemes. Drawing on documentary evidence, interviews and three sets of literatures -co-production of regulation; post-normal science; and legitimacy of non-state certification and labelling processes -we suggest that until concerned voices are given a stronger expression in UK and EC biofuel policy development, the policy cannot yet be said to have achieved a wide social mandate.

One of the most prominent measures to facilitate more sustainable production and consumption has ... more One of the most prominent measures to facilitate more sustainable production and consumption has been the instrument of product labelling. But with a plethora of labelling schemes having been implemented over the last decade many now accuse them of being confusing rather than facilitating. As a result, governments in France, UK and Germany, as well as businesses such as Walmart and non-governmental organisations like WWF have begun to consider seriously the implementation of some form of 'meta' scheme that condenses existing product labels and other communication measures. Using a novel theoretically integrative framework to analyse the current labelling arena, this paper investigates different implementation options for such an overarching scheme and discusses what their prospects are for effectively guiding behavioural changes across the production and consumption system. The findings suggests multiple potential hurdles for the effective institutionalisation of a sustainability meta labelling scheme, the most problematic of which is probably finding agreements on focus and trade off decisions in a way that ensures a balance between understandability, procedural and consequential legitimacy aspects.