Pro-environmental behavior in Costa Rica: A case study on price premiums for coffee certification

This study examines the willingness to pay (WTP) of Costa Rican consumers for certified coffee. Two marketed coffee ecolabels (Fairtrade and Carbon Neutral) are considered, as well as non-marketed environmental certification (ISO 14001) to allow for comparison. A discrete choice experiment reveals that consumers are willing to pay a significant price premium for any of these three certifications. In a context where ensure equitable and sustainable conditions in the production of agricultural goods and taking action to combat climate change by reducing greenhouse gases is imperative, our results show that certified coffee, particularly fair trade and carbon neutral coffee, receive price premiums from Costa Rican consumers. Thus, eco-labels can serve as a means of promoting more sustainable practices within the coffee value chain.