ABSTRACT
Studying sustainable consumption brings together a wide range of social science disciplines to look at possible solutions to environmental and social problems. This introduction discusses the key concepts of this book. It first outlines the advantages and disadvantages of the term "sustainable consumption." The introduction outlines some of the key ideas that have influenced thinking in this field since its inception. The mainstream framing of the problem of sustainable consumption is more likely to refer to market and technology failure, and the resulting need for economic and technical solutions. Alongside mainstream ideas about sustainable consumption, there is a history of more radical concern with environment and with sustainable consumption issues. Much radical attention is paid to degrowth research, which contests the idea that economic growth is of value to humanity. The introduction also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of the book.
