Traceability system for capturing, processing and providing consumer-relevant information about wood products: System solution and its economic feasibility

Appelhanz, Shanna; Osburg, Victoria Sophie; Toporowski, Waldemar; Schumann, Matthias

Abstract

Current research and practice reports indicate the existence of purchase barriers concerning eco-friendly products, e.g. wood products. These can be ascribed to consumers' mistrust regarding the non-observable environmental impact of wood products. To counter the mistrust, wood products are commonly endowed with eco-labels, which may be perceived mostly as a marketing tool, therefore not fulfilling their intended purpose. Current studies have shown that providing consumers with wood product information based on traceability systems increases product trust and purchase intentions, with those information items most valued by consumers being identified as well. Based on this, the paper proposes a traceability information system for the capturing, processing, and provision of product information using examples of wood furniture. Furthermore, a cost-benefit model for the proposed solution is developed. The calculations indicate the possibility of implementing traceability at the item level based on a four-layer system architecture enabling the capture and delivery of all information valued by consumers at acceptable costs. The proposed system helps to overcome purchase barriers of eco-friendly products, increasing consumers' product trust and purchase intentions.

Citation

Appelhanz, S., Osburg, V. S., Toporowski, W., & Schumann, M. (2016). Traceability system for capturing, processing and providing consumer-relevant information about wood products: System solution and its economic feasibility. Journal of cleaner production, 110(January), 132-148. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.02.034

• Acceptance Date: Feb 13, 2015
• Online Publication Date: Feb 24, 2015
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2016
• Deposit Date: Jan 22, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 23, 2017
• Journal: Journal of cleaner production
• Print ISSN: 0959-6526
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 110
• Issue: January
• Pages: 132-148
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.02.034
• Keywords: Traceability system, Wood furniture supply chain, RFID, Ink-printing, Economic feasibility
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/384506
• Publisher URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S095965261500147X
• Additional Information: Author's accepted manuscript of an article published in Journal of cleaner production, 2015, v.110.
• Contract Date: Nov 23, 2017