It's all about size, colour, shape, clarity, cut, certification and price.
The study showed that the smallholder groups (more than 90% of the respondents) were keen to participate in the certification scheme if there is a premium pricing for oil palm yield and the certification cost is affordable.
Conversations continue on how sustainable design and construction in the West can serve those of least means, as an overall reliance on high-end materials and costly green-building certifications frequently price out would-be homeowners with more limited incomes.
– Given the competitive nature of the certification business, prices may vary by country and certification body.
But thrift alone does not seem to be enough to explain what is now a medium-term trend, since Fairtrade, another ethical certification with a price premium, has not suffered the same reverse, with sales rising by an estimated 12% last year.
The main difference between the Co50 and X, besides Co50's certification, is the price.
The results show that participation in the MILC program is positively correlated with farmers' educational attainment, organic certification subsidy, milk price, off-farm work by spouses, and financial record keeping.
Or should companies, and wineries more specifically, selectively market eco-certification based on price point?
Securing Fairtrade certification guarantees a fair price – 95% of the London Bullion Market Association price – for mining groups' gold, and a premium of $2,000 (£1,300) per kilogram.
Fairtrade is one solution, said Villela, as the certification provides a minimum price which buffers some of the effects of price volatility caused by the impact of weather on crop supply.
