The article discussed consumer participation in the assessment and development of sustainable innovations, i.e. new technologies and services that have the potential to radically reduce natural resource use. Needs and contexts for consumer involvement were identified, and three case studies that each adopted a different approach to consumer participation were presented. The discussion included lessons learned from these case studies, and it identified priorities for future research and development.

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This paper investigates the distribution chain of foodstuffs from the factory or port to the customer, from the point of view of the different energy inputs needed. Connections between the changes in the structure of the distribution system and changes in energy consumption are looked for. A model is developed for an energy audit of a distribution system. It is used to calculate the energy requirements of the Finnish food distribution system in the recent past, at present, and for a partial rearrangement of the system, i.e., with home deliveries replacing shopping trips by car. All parts of the distribution system have become more energy intensive as the structure of the distribution system has changed over time. The items related to households stand out as the largest energy consumers. The home delivery example shows an energy conservation potential worth pursuing further.