@article{LorekSpangenberg2014, author = {Lorek, Sylvia and Spangenberg, Joachim}, title = {Sustainable Consumption within a sustainable economy - beyond green growth and green economies}, series = {Journal of Cleaner Production}, volume = {63}, journal = {Journal of Cleaner Production}, doi = {10.25974/fhms-6154}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:836-opus-61544}, pages = {33 -- 44}, year = {2014}, language = {en} } @article{LorekFuchs2013, author = {Lorek, Sylvia and Fuchs, Doris}, title = {Strong Sustainable Consumption Governance - Precondition For A Degrowth Path?}, series = {Journal of Cleaner Production}, volume = {38}, journal = {Journal of Cleaner Production}, doi = {10.25974/fhms-6155}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:836-opus-61558}, pages = {36 -- 43}, year = {2013}, language = {en} } @article{TrottaSpangenbergLorek2018, author = {Trotta, Gianluca and Spangenberg, Joachim and Lorek, Sylvia}, title = {Energy efficiency in the residential sector: identification of promising policy instruments and private initiatives among selected European countries}, series = {Energy Efficiency}, volume = {December 2018, vol. 11}, journal = {Energy Efficiency}, number = {8}, doi = {10.1007/s12053-018-9739-0}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:836-opus-104617}, pages = {2111 -- 2135}, year = {2018}, abstract = {Improving residential energy efficiency is widely recognized as one of the best strategies for reducing energy demand, combating climate change and increasing security of energy supply. However, progress has been slow to date due to a number of market and behavioural barriers that have not been adequately addressed by energy efficiency policies and programmes. This study is based on updated findings of the European Futures for Energy Efficiency Project that responds to the EU Horizon 2020 Work Programme 2014-15 theme 'Secure, clean and efficient energy'. This article draws on five case studies from selected European countries - Finland, Italy, Hungary, Spain, and the UK - and evaluates recent energy efficiency developments in terms of indicators, private initiatives, and policy measures in the residential sector. Our analysis shows that the UK government has implemented a better range of policies, coupled with initiatives from the private sector, aimed at improving energy efficiency. However, its existing conditions appear to be more problematic than the other countries. On the other hand, the lack of effective and targeted policies in Finland resulted in increased energy consumption, while in Hungary, Spain and Italy some interesting initiatives, especially in terms of financial and fiscal incentives, have been found.}, language = {en} } @article{LorekSpangenberg2019, author = {Lorek, Sylvia and Spangenberg, Joachim}, title = {Energy sufficiency through social innovation in housing}, series = {Energy Policy}, volume = {126, March 2019}, journal = {Energy Policy}, doi = {10.1016/j.enpol.2018.11.026}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:836-opus-104638}, pages = {287 -- 294}, year = {2019}, abstract = {Experience shows that energy savings through energy efficiency measures are partly compensated by income growth, and partly by rebound effects. Therefore to be effective, efficiency measures have to be embedded in a concept of sufficiency which strives for limits and absolute reduction of energy consumption. While the sufficiency concept is not new, it only recently gained attention in the field of housing. This paper provides a basis for broader and more informed debates in policy and research on the potential of sufficiency considerations to contribute to the overall reduction of energy consumption in the residential sector. It recommends shifting the attention from energy consumption of buildings towards a concept of sustainable homes in which e.g. the size of the living area plays a crucial role. A further important aspect is the possibility to fulfil other basic needs like the provision with food, recreation and social contacts in the nearby environment. The paper describes first examples of housing projects guided by sufficiency criteria, depicts the potential roles of different actor groups and points towards some general policy recommendations.}, language = {en} } @article{SpangenbergLorek2019, author = {Spangenberg, Joachim and Lorek, Sylvia}, title = {Sufficiency and consumer behaviour: from theory to policy}, series = {Energy Policy}, volume = {129, June 2019}, journal = {Energy Policy}, doi = {10.1016/j.enpol.2019.03.013}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:836-opus-104648}, pages = {1070 -- 1079}, year = {2019}, abstract = {It is increasingly obvious that for safeguarding environmental sustainability, eco-efficiency measures will need to be complemented by sufficiency, in particular by strong sustainable consumption. The Theory of Planned Behaviour TPB and Social Practice Theory SPT offer different views on consumer behaviour, and on ways to change it. This paper briefly describes the challenges, discusses the applicability of both theories and their meaningfulness for policy recommendations. We suggest an approach combining results of both bodies of theory, complemented by ideas from political economy, to substantiate the Prism of Sustainable Consumption we introduce as a heuristic sufficiency policy tool. It is useful to identify affordability criteria for change in each dimension, as the basis for deriving suggestions for effective policy interventions. We conclude that (i) effective interventions are possible, (ii) they have to address several dimensions of affordability simultaneously, and (iii) the sufficiency policy space prism can be a useful tool in structuring planned interventions.}, language = {en} } @article{ReischEberleLorek2013, author = {Reisch, Lucia and Eberle, Ulrike and Lorek, Sylvia}, title = {Sustainable food consumption: an overview of contemporary issues and policies}, series = {Sustainability: Science, Practice \& Policy}, journal = {Sustainability: Science, Practice \& Policy}, doi = {10.1080/15487733.2013.11908111}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:836-opus-106335}, pages = {7 -- 25}, year = {2013}, abstract = {Contemporary food production and consumption cannot be regarded as sustainable and raises problems with its wide scope involving diverse actors. Moreover, in the face of demographic change and a growing global population, sus-tainability problems arising from food systems will likely become more serious in the future. For example, agricultural production must deal with the impacts of climate change, increasingly challenging land-use conflicts, and rising health and social costs on both individual and societal levels. The unsustainability of current arrangements arises from the industrialization and globalization of agriculture and food processing, the shift of consumption patterns toward more dietary animal protein, the emergence of modern food styles that entail heavily processed products, the growing gap on a global scale between rich and poor, and the paradoxical lack of food security amid an abundance of food. These factors are attributable to national and international policies and regulations, as well as to prevalent business prac-tices and, in particular, consumers' values and habits. The most effective ways for affluent societies to reduce the environmental impact of their diets are to reduce consumption of meat and dairy products (especially beef), to favor organic fruits and vegetables, and to avoid goods that have been transported by air on both individual and institu-tional levels (e.g., public procurement, public catering). In examining the unsustainability of the current food system this article reviews the pertinent literature to derive a working definition of sustainable food consumption, outlines the major issues and impacts of current food-consumption practices, and discusses various policy interventions, including information-based instruments, market-based initiatives, direct regulations, and "nudges." It concludes with a call for integrative, cross-sectoral, and population-wide policies that address the full range of drivers of unsustainable food production and consumption.}, language = {en} } @article{FuchsLorek2005, author = {Fuchs, Doris and Lorek, Sylvia}, title = {Sustainable Consumption Governance - A History of Promises and Failures}, series = {Journal of Consumer Policy}, journal = {Journal of Consumer Policy}, doi = {10.1007/s10603-005-8490-z}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:836-opus-106377}, pages = {261 -- 288}, year = {2005}, abstract = {What are the implications of the current international political, and economic settings for consumer policy, and, in particular, those regarding sustainable consumption? In terms of improvements in the efficiency of consumption, the settings have induced efforts to this effect and show potential for further progress. In terms of necessary changes in consumption levels and patterns, however, little progress has been made since the Rio Summit nor is there likely to be any in the near future. These two dimensions of sustainable consumption need to be differentiated, as there is a substantial amount of controversy regarding our ability to achieve sustainable consumption on the basis of improvements in efficiency alone. The paper traces these differences with respect to the work of the major international governmental organizations (IGOs) engaged in developing sustainable consumption governance. It argues that the lack of commitment to strong sustainable consumption among IGOs can be explained by their ''weakness'' as actors in global governance and the existence of strong opposing interests among consumers and business actors.}, language = {en} } @article{TukkerCohendeZoysaetal.2008, author = {Tukker, Arnold and Cohen, Maurie and de Zoysa, Uchita and Hertwich, Edgar and Hofstetter, Patrick and Inaba, Atsushi and Lorek, Sylvia and Sto, Eivind}, title = {The Oslo Declaration on Sustainable Consumption}, series = {Journal of Industrial Policy}, volume = {10}, journal = {Journal of Industrial Policy}, number = {1-2}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:836-opus-106389}, pages = {9 -- 14}, year = {2008}, abstract = {Actual initiatives to cultivate more sustainable modes of consumption have not materialized and there are indications that an implementation gap is becoming manifest. Research must begin to systemically integrate initiatives to promote improvements in quality of life, to distinguish long-term structural consumption trends, and to identify the social mechanisms and cultural aspects of consumer behavior and household decision making.}, language = {en} } @article{ChurchLorek2007, author = {Church, Chris and Lorek, Sylvia}, title = {Linking policy and practice in sustainable production and consumption: an assessment of the role of NGOs}, series = {Int. J. Innovation and Sustainable Development}, volume = {2}, journal = {Int. J. Innovation and Sustainable Development}, number = {2}, issn = {240}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:836-opus-106402}, pages = {230 -- 240}, year = {2007}, abstract = {The paper looks at NGOs activities in Sustainable Production and Consumption and obstacles being faced. It identifies lessons for policymakers seeking to engage civil society and makes recommendations on how academics can co-operate more effectively with civil society. Insights are drawn from recent studies on stakeholder involvement in the international political process and a series of surveys and semi-structured interviews. The authors identify four challenges. Effort should (1) be planned more strategically, (2) link sustainable consumption to current priorities, (3) ensure better links between global and local and (4) NGOs have to better link to other interest groups.}, language = {en} } @article{Lorek2014, author = {Lorek, Sylvia}, title = {Veblen's contribution to the analysis of (un-) sustainable consumption - Overvalued and underestimated}, series = {European Journal of Economic and Social Systems}, volume = {26}, journal = {European Journal of Economic and Social Systems}, number = {1-2}, doi = {10.3166/EJESS.26.149-172}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:836-opus-106424}, pages = {149 -- 172}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Veblen's concept of conspicuous consumption is often cited to explain why consumption habits in our consumer societies tend to be unsustainable and ever increasing. However, much more than blaming individual consumption habits Veblen sharply analyzed quite some of the societal and economic forces which drive the framework conditions for un-sustainable consumption: the vested interests and the absentee ownership. The paper follows the path Veblen's thoughts have taken trough economic and social literature over the last centuryand highlights how the actual sustainable consumption debate could make better use of Veblen's insights e.g. in requesting the constitutive institutions for property. Opportunities for Strong Sustainable Consumption obviously presuppose radical changes, social innovations and thinking out of the box.}, language = {en} }