Locked in unsustainability : Understanding lock-ins and their interactions using the case of food packaging
(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.
(Less)
- author
- Simoens, Machteld Catharina LU ; Leipold, Sina and Fuenfschilling, Lea LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2022-12-01
- 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}}, }