On the perils of environmentally friendly alternatives

Francisco Alpizar, Fredrik Carlsson and Gracia Lanza

Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, 2024, vol. 125, issue C

Abstract: Environmentally friendly alternatives (EFA) are touted as a key component of a transition towards lowering the impact of human activity on the environment. Still, the environmental costs of these technologies are seldom null; they are simply less environmentally damaging than existing options. In this paper, we investigate consumer behavior when an EFA is introduced. Using a carefully constructed field experimental design, we look at plastic bags vis-a-vis biodegradable (bio) bags, when the latter are offered for free versus at a price. Moreover, we explore offering costly biodegradable bags as part of the default choice. We find that giving away the bio bags for free results in a large behavioral rebound effect, resulting in a substantial increase in the total number of bags. Setting a small, rather symbolic price offsets this rebound effect completely. Interestingly, when the bio bag is offered as a default, the behavioral rebound remains. Our results lead us to conclude against providing these EFA for free and to caution against the use of subsidies to promote their uptake.

Keywords: Plastic pollution; Behavioral rebound effect; Field experiment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: C93 Q53 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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Working Paper: On the Perils of Environmentally Friendly Alternatives (2022)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:jeeman:v:125:y:2024:i:c:s009506962400041x

DOI: 10.1016/j.jeem.2024.102967

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