@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{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} } @article{FuchsDiGiulioGlaabetal.2016, author = {Fuchs, Doris and Di Giulio, Antonietta and Glaab, Katharina and Lorek, Sylvia and Maniates, Michael and Princen, Thomas and Ropke, Inge}, title = {Power: the missing element in sustainable consumption and absolute reductions research and action}, series = {Journal of Cleaner Production}, volume = {132}, journal = {Journal of Cleaner Production}, doi = {10.1016/j.jclepro.2015.02.006}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:836-opus-106438}, pages = {298 -- 307}, year = {2016}, abstract = {In this essay, we aim to demonstrate the value of a power lens on consumption and absolute reductions. Specifically, we illuminate what we perceive to be a troublesome pattern of neglect of questions of power in research and action on sustainable consumption and absolute reductions. In pursuit of our objectives, we delineate how many of the informal and implicit "theories of social change" of scholars and activists in sustainable consumption and sustainable development fail to address power in a sufficiently explicit, comprehensive and differentiated manner and how that failure translates into insufficient understandings of the drivers of consumption and the potential for and barriers to absolute reductions. Second, we develop the contours of a power lens on sustainable consumption. Third, we illustrate the value of such a power lens, with a particular focus on the case of meat consumption.}, language = {en} } @article{SahakianFuchsLoreketal.2021, author = {Sahakian, Marlyne and Fuchs, Doris and Lorek, Sylvia and DiGiulio, Antonietta}, title = {Advancing the concept of consumption corridors and exploring its implications}, series = {Sustainability: Science, Practice and Policy}, journal = {Sustainability: Science, Practice and Policy}, doi = {10.25974/fhms-16064}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:hbz:836-opus-160646}, year = {2021}, abstract = {As a salutogenic concept, "consumption corridors" aims to support what is necessary for sustainable wellbeing to be achieved in relation to the Earth system, with a deep consideration for justice and equity. Living in consumption corridors is a representation of everyday life whereby people live within limits, so that all people - now and in the future - can access what is needed to live a good life. In this special issue, a series of scholars and practitioners have come together to further develop the concept, engage with its ethodological implications, and relate it to consumption domains and policy implications. We begin by introducing how the concept emerged, in relation to the complexity of grappling with the societal transformations required for achieving more sustainable forms of consumption. We then present the different contributions, which demonstrate the importance of considering both maximum and minimum consumption standards, the relevance of human-need theories, as well as the difference between achieving wellbeing and the means necessary for doing so. We conclude by opening up to areas that merit further deliberation: how to relate consumption corridors to everyday-life dynamics, but also to the critical question of power relations at play in implementing consumption corridors.}, language = {en} }