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Locked in unsustainability : Understanding lock-ins and their interactions using the case of food packaging

Simoens, Machteld Catharina LU ; Leipold, Sina and Fuenfschilling, Lea LU (2022) In Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions 45. p.14-29
Abstract

Lock-in mechanisms are major hurdles to sustainability transitions. Scholars identified various types of lock-ins; however, their dynamics and interactions remain underexplored. Using the case of food packaging, this study enhances the conceptual understanding and empirical analysis of lock-ins and their interactions from a socio-technical perspective. We analyze the material, institutional, behavioral, and discursive configuration and the shallow and deep lock-ins reinforcing the persistent dominance of single-use over reusable food packaging in Germany. Additionally, we explore the lock-in interactions both within and between the socio-technical elements. Hence, we introduce archetypical interlock-ins and lock-in clusters pointing to... (More)

Lock-in mechanisms are major hurdles to sustainability transitions. Scholars identified various types of lock-ins; however, their dynamics and interactions remain underexplored. Using the case of food packaging, this study enhances the conceptual understanding and empirical analysis of lock-ins and their interactions from a socio-technical perspective. We analyze the material, institutional, behavioral, and discursive configuration and the shallow and deep lock-ins reinforcing the persistent dominance of single-use over reusable food packaging in Germany. Additionally, we explore the lock-in interactions both within and between the socio-technical elements. Hence, we introduce archetypical interlock-ins and lock-in clusters pointing to core trends of resistance towards reusable packaging alternatives. This study advances the lock-in concept for future socio-technical analyses while guiding the illumination of the complex dynamics of stability, the assessment of current sustainability transition interventions, and the search for potential unlocking strategies to enable change.

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author
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Circular economy, Path-dependency, Resistance, Reuse, Socio-technical change, Transition
in
Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions
volume
45
pages
16 pages
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:85137300612
ISSN
2210-4224
DOI
10.1016/j.eist.2022.08.005
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
c5a973a6-b460-4eb4-9dfc-71dff3c77519
date added to LUP
2022-10-14 11:34:45
date last changed
2024-01-18 15:13:01
@article{c5a973a6-b460-4eb4-9dfc-71dff3c77519,
  abstract     = {{<p>Lock-in mechanisms are major hurdles to sustainability transitions. Scholars identified various types of lock-ins; however, their dynamics and interactions remain underexplored. Using the case of food packaging, this study enhances the conceptual understanding and empirical analysis of lock-ins and their interactions from a socio-technical perspective. We analyze the material, institutional, behavioral, and discursive configuration and the shallow and deep lock-ins reinforcing the persistent dominance of single-use over reusable food packaging in Germany. Additionally, we explore the lock-in interactions both within and between the socio-technical elements. Hence, we introduce archetypical interlock-ins and lock-in clusters pointing to core trends of resistance towards reusable packaging alternatives. This study advances the lock-in concept for future socio-technical analyses while guiding the illumination of the complex dynamics of stability, the assessment of current sustainability transition interventions, and the search for potential unlocking strategies to enable change.</p>}},
  author       = {{Simoens, Machteld Catharina and Leipold, Sina and Fuenfschilling, Lea}},
  issn         = {{2210-4224}},
  keywords     = {{Circular economy; Path-dependency; Resistance; Reuse; Socio-technical change; Transition}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{12}},
  pages        = {{14--29}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions}},
  title        = {{Locked in unsustainability : Understanding lock-ins and their interactions using the case of food packaging}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.eist.2022.08.005}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.eist.2022.08.005}},
  volume       = {{45}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}