The role of consumers in transitions towards sustainable food consumption. The case of organic food in Norway

Vittersø, Gunnar; Tangeland, Torvald

doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2014.12.055

Cited by 146 publications

(105 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…The study found that consumers believe that regionally-produced foods have the potential to reduce environmental impacts and strengthen local economies and are even of higher quality and taste compared to imported varieties [8,10,15,18]. Despite this substantial increase in the last few years, organic foods and regional (or seasonal) foods remain a niche market in today's supermarkets [11].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The emergence (or re-emergence) of organic food and a larger selection of local foods has begun to play an important role in offering alternatives to conventionally-produced foods and setting the agenda for sustainable food production and consumption [11,12]. In Sweden, consumers have increased their purchases of organic foods in the last few decades.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Often, emphasis is placed on the impacts associated with European food consumption and the potential climate impacts related to meat consumption, as this has been shown to be a large source of emissions from food consumption [3,[19][20][21]. Recently, a number of studies have focused on the role of dietary choices, the role of farming practices and seasonal availability for reducing environmental impacts [11,15,[22][23][24][25][26]. Portraying a larger selection of environmental impact categories is important to allow for more understanding and a comparison of the environmental implications of changes and transitions in the consumption patterns.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evaluating the Environmental Consequences of Swedish Food Consumption and Dietary Choices

Martin

Brandão

2017

Sustainability

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Abstract:In recent years, a growing interest from consumers to know the origins and contents of foods has put alternative choices, such as organic foods and dietary changes, on the agenda. Dietary choices are important to address, as many studies find that activities related to food production account for nearly 20-30% of anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Nonetheless, while GHG emissions are important, often other environmental impact categories are not considered in the assessment of the sustainability of different foods, diets and choices. This study aims to quantify the implications of dietary choices for Swedish food consumption on a broad range of environmental impact categories using life cycle assessment to provide insight into the impacts, and potential tradeoffs, associated with certain food products and dietary choices. Scenarios are used to assess the implications of diets with reduced meat, increased Swedish food consumption, increased organic foods, vegan and semi-vegetarian diets. The results indicate that tradeoffs could be possible with certain dietary choices. Increasing Swedish food production and consumption may lead to lower impacts for all impact categories by reducing imports, although limitations in growing season and availability of foods in Sweden allows only for minor increases. The results also indicate that large reductions of greenhouse gas emissions are possible by reducing meat consumption, i.e., by halving meat consumption and through vegan and vegetarian diets. Nonetheless, an increase in vegetable, legume and fruit products may lead to a potential increase in human and ecosystem toxicity. Diets based on nutritional guidelines, show reductions in all impact categories, as these guidelines call for an increase in vegetables and fruits and a reduction in meat consumption. An increase in organic foods showed no significant change in climate impact, although toxicity potential was reduced significantly. Increasing consumption of organic foods may also lead to a reduction in biodiversity damage potential, and if all food is produced organically, it risks increasing eutrophication and land use.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Evaluating the Environmental Consequences of Swedish Food Consumption and Dietary Choices

Martin

Brandão

2017

Sustainability

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“…Rather, access should be explained within the context of people's "lived experiences" [7]. Such an approach warrants a qualitative study from a consumers' perspective, to complement the existing primarily quantitative research focussed on consumer values and attitudes (see e.g., [2,9,10]). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In order to conduct such a study, the body of practice theories offers insightful theoretical and analytical tools (see [8][9][10][11]). With their focus on social practice as the basic unit of analysis instead of overstating either individual actors or social structures, practice theories start from daily routines food consumption is particularly well served by these notions, as a large share of consumption takes place on an non-deliberate level; "we consume in a state of distraction" (after [20]).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Making Sense of Sustainability: A Practice Theories Approach to Buying Food

Brons

Oosterveer

2017

Sustainability

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Abstract:In light of global climate change the relevance of sustainable food consumption is growing, yet access to it has not correspondingly developed. This paper addresses the issue of accessing sustainable food from a practice theories perspective. The case of students in Paris is examined by means of interviews and participant observation. Four indicators serve to structure the results, i.e., mode of recruitment, mode of engagement, degree of commitment, and bundles of practices. Based on this analysis, three types are constructed, each with distinct access issues. We conclude that access to sustainable food is not necessarily determined by financial means only, nor by individual attitudes, but should be analysed as embedded in the complex dynamics of multiple social practices. Building on these insights means that more attention for the actual practice of accessing sustainable food, the different elements, and bundles involved is needed when looking for ways to increase access to sustainable food.

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Managing entrepreneurial and corporate contributions to sustainability transitions

2022

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To achieve an economy within ecological boundaries that meets the needs of all requires societal transitions (i.e. systemic changes of collective cultures, structures and practices). Such a societal and economic transition requires corporate and entrepreneurial organisations to transform their businesses, business models and societal roles. While the importance of companies for sustainable development has been acknowledged in the existing literature the link between transformations at the organizational level and sustainability transitions beyond organizational boundaries needs further investigation. This contribution therefore unpacks the duality of companies in sustainability transitions: they are subject to the transformative changes in the economy and society, and they can be leaders of sustainability transitions of the economy and society. Companies are challenged to proactively manage a simultaneous build‐up of sustainable and phase‐out of unsustainable products, services and practices. Key approaches for sustainability transformation management are discussed and conclusions for research and practice deducted.

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The role of consumers in transitions towards sustainable food consumption. The case of organic food in Norway

Cited by 146 publications

References 19 publications

Evaluating the Environmental Consequences of Swedish Food Consumption and Dietary Choices

Evaluating the Environmental Consequences of Swedish Food Consumption and Dietary Choices

Making Sense of Sustainability: A Practice Theories Approach to Buying Food

Managing entrepreneurial and corporate contributions to sustainability transitions

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