Sustainability Labels in the Shadow of the Law

This book describes and examines three EU legal frameworks (EU competition law, EU consumer law, and EU fundamental rights law) that may affect the extent to which consumers purchase more sustainably. In doing so, this book goes beyond a rationalist understanding of the interpretation and application of EU law. Rational approaches have severely impacted the interpretation and application of EU law. Practice shows, however, that the implications of using a noncritical application of rationalist approaches in the interpretation and application of EU competition law, EU consumer law, and EU fundamental rights law to sustainability labels may have an inhibiting effect on sustainable consumption. The book offers remedies to overcome this inhibitive effect by critically applying insights from cognitive science and behavioral economics in the legal interpretation and application of EU law.

Eva van der Zee is a Junior Professor (Tenure Track) at the Institute of Law and Economics, Hamburg University. Her main research area is in international and EU law with a focus on behavioral law and economics. Before being appointed at Hamburg University, Eva van der Zee was a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Strategic Communication Group at Wageningen University and a PhD Researcher at the Law and Governance Group and the Marketing and Consumer Behavioral Group at Wageningen University. She has been a visiting researcher at New York University and the European University Institute.