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

Anke Brons and Peter Oosterveer
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Anke Brons: Environmental Policy Group, Wageningen University, 6706 KN Wageningen, The Netherlands
Peter Oosterveer: Environmental Policy Group, Wageningen University, 6706 KN Wageningen, The Netherlands

Sustainability, 2017, vol. 9, issue 3, 1-15

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.

Keywords: sustainable consumption; food access; practice theories (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:9:y:2017:i:3:p:467-:d:93648

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