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Digitalization: A Potential Tool for Sustainable Consumption?

Lehner, Matthias LU orcid ; Richter, Jessika Luth LU and Mont, Oksana LU (2023) p.189-204
Abstract
Given the outsized impact that digitalization has had on consumption over the last two decades, the lack of academic interest in sustainable consumption is noteworthy. In this book chapter, we set the scene for the fundamentally important discussion about how digitalization affects consumption. We ask whether digitalization is a positive or a negative force for shaping consumption levels and patterns in a sustainable direction. We organize our discussion around three waves of digitalization that impact consumption and we discuss the implications of these for sustainability. During the first wave, e-commerce became mainstream and led to a dramatic reduction in transaction costs. The second wave led to consumers becoming more empowered,... (More)
Given the outsized impact that digitalization has had on consumption over the last two decades, the lack of academic interest in sustainable consumption is noteworthy. In this book chapter, we set the scene for the fundamentally important discussion about how digitalization affects consumption. We ask whether digitalization is a positive or a negative force for shaping consumption levels and patterns in a sustainable direction. We organize our discussion around three waves of digitalization that impact consumption and we discuss the implications of these for sustainability. During the first wave, e-commerce became mainstream and led to a dramatic reduction in transaction costs. The second wave led to consumers becoming more empowered, enabling users to connect and actively create content, and to repair, make, or share goods and services. During the most recent wave, giant Internet companies are increasingly providing, and controlling digital consumption experiences rather than selling physical goods, potentially leading to a significantly lower environmental impact per dollar spent. We conclude that digitalization has many inherent traits that make it a strong tool for sustainable consumption, but also that—being devoid of policy guidance—it can equally act as an accelerator of consumption. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
host publication
The Future of Consumption : How Technology, Sustainability and Wellbeing will Transform Retail and Customer Experience - How Technology, Sustainability and Wellbeing will Transform Retail and Customer Experience
editor
Bäckström, Kristina ; Egan-Wyer, Carys and Samsioe, Emma
edition
1
pages
15 pages
publisher
Palgrave Macmillan
ISBN
978-3-031-33245-6
978-3-031-33248-7
978-3-031-33246-3
DOI
10.1007/978-3-031-33246-3_12
project
MISTRA Sustainable Consumption - from niche to mainstream (Phase II)
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
2dbe7daa-1eb5-4bce-b517-dddb7b59d458
date added to LUP
2023-10-09 13:10:50
date last changed
2024-02-29 03:15:18
@inbook{2dbe7daa-1eb5-4bce-b517-dddb7b59d458,
  abstract     = {{Given the outsized impact that digitalization has had on consumption over the last two decades, the lack of academic interest in sustainable consumption is noteworthy. In this book chapter, we set the scene for the fundamentally important discussion about how digitalization affects consumption. We ask whether digitalization is a positive or a negative force for shaping consumption levels and patterns in a sustainable direction. We organize our discussion around three waves of digitalization that impact consumption and we discuss the implications of these for sustainability. During the first wave, e-commerce became mainstream and led to a dramatic reduction in transaction costs. The second wave led to consumers becoming more empowered, enabling users to connect and actively create content, and to repair, make, or share goods and services. During the most recent wave, giant Internet companies are increasingly providing, and controlling digital consumption experiences rather than selling physical goods, potentially leading to a significantly lower environmental impact per dollar spent. We conclude that digitalization has many inherent traits that make it a strong tool for sustainable consumption, but also that—being devoid of policy guidance—it can equally act as an accelerator of consumption.}},
  author       = {{Lehner, Matthias and Richter, Jessika Luth and Mont, Oksana}},
  booktitle    = {{The Future of Consumption : How Technology, Sustainability and Wellbeing will Transform Retail and Customer Experience}},
  editor       = {{Bäckström, Kristina and Egan-Wyer, Carys and Samsioe, Emma}},
  isbn         = {{978-3-031-33245-6}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{10}},
  pages        = {{189--204}},
  publisher    = {{Palgrave Macmillan}},
  title        = {{Digitalization: A Potential Tool for Sustainable Consumption?}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-33246-3_12}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/978-3-031-33246-3_12}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}