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This study focuses on the economic, market-related context of consumptionpatterns and incorporates the regulatory settings and values. The aim is tosystemise the influences on sustainable consumption patterns. Special attention isdrawn to the question how existing niche markets could be extended to massmarkets. This question is deepened by case studies on the green textile and thegreen power markets.The results emphasise the different key factors which influence the successfulpathways for an extended green market volume. Looking at the case of the greenpower market it can be seen how important it is to create an economic andinstitutional context for adoption. Looking at the case of green textiles theimportance of new lifestyles and cultural impacts are obvious.Looking at the interfaces between institutional settings, supply structure, societalvalues and consumers' decision-making, it can be seen that consumers' demandsare not only a product of individual needs. Therefore sustainable consumptionstrategies will have to face not only the change of needs, but also the change ofstructures which influence individual choices. ; Diese Studie konzentriert sich auf den ökonomischen, marktbezogenen Kontextnachhaltiger Konsummuster unter Berücksichtigung von staatlicher Regulierungund gesellschaftlichen Werten. Eine besondere Aufmerksamkeit wird der Fragegewidmet, wie bestehende Nischenmärkte erweitert werden können. Am Beispielder Märkte für umweltfreundliche Textilien und umweltfreundliche Energiewerden vertiefend die Erfolgsbedingungen für eine Markterweiterung untersucht.Als ein wichtiges Ergebnis kann festgehalten werden, dass unterschiedliche Einflussfaktoren für den Erfolg in den untersuchten Märkten verantwortlich sind.Das Wachstum der umweltfreundlichen Energiebereitstellung kann vor allem mitden veränderten Rahmenbedingungen erklärt werden, während das Marktsegment umweltfreundlicher Textilien vor allem durch Lebensstile und kulturelle Einflüssegeprägt wird.Betrachtet man die Schnittstellen zwischen institutionellem Rahmen, Angebotsstrukturen, gesellschaftlichem Wertewandel und den Entscheidungen der Konsumenten systematisch, so wird deutlich, dass Konsumentscheidungen nicht nur aufindividuellen Bedürfnissen beruhen. Von daher ist es für eine Strategie desnachhaltigen Konsums wichtig, nicht nur auf die Veränderung von Bedürfnissenzu zielen, sondern auch die Strukturen zu verändern, die individuelle Entscheidungen beeinflussen.

Our paper explores the implications of globalization for sustainable consumption governance. It draws its central findings from a structured inquiry into the implications of globalization for the sustainability of household consumption. Our focus is on industrialized countries & the two consumption clusters, food & mobility. We find that for both, globalization exerts a substantial influence on the sustainability of consumption through similar channels. Moreover, a significant part of this influence is exerted indirectly, ie, affects prior determinants of the sustainability of household consumption rather than household consumption choices themselves. We suggest guidelines for the development of governance strategies in pursuit of sustainable consumption. In terms of general guidelines, we highlight the need for multilateral if not global strategies, as well as a comprehensive targeting of direct & indirect influences of globalization. Further, we emphasize that governance strategies should attend to opportunities arising from the positive influences of globalization on the sustainability of consumption. In terms of specific guidelines, we argue that governance efforts should pay attention to agricultural production conditions as well as transport options, as those pivotal determinants of the sustainability of food & mobility consumption are influenced by almost all elements of globalization. Likewise, we suggest that governance strategies need to address capital concentration, in particular, since the latter can be shown to influence almost all of the determinants of the sustainability of consumption. 4 Figures, 102 References. Adapted from the source document.

This paper aims to determine whether and how globalization affects the sustainability of household consumption in industrialized countries. Our focus of inquiry arises from the existence of a tremendous gap between references to the influence of globalization on sustainable consumption in political and academic discussions on the one side and empirical evidence on the reality and strength of such an influence on the other. In order to prepare the ground for filling this gap, our paper inquires into the possibilities of a respective empirical study. Our specific focus of inquiry is on the three consumption clusters food, mobility, and energy.

The paper looks at NGOs activities in Sustainable Production and Consumption and obstacles being faced. It identifies lessons for policymakers seeking to engage civil society and makes recommendations on how academics can co-operate more effectively with civil society. Insights are drawn from recent studies on stakeholder involvement in the international political process and a series of surveys and semi-structured interviews. The authors identify four challenges. Effort should (1) be planned more strategically, (2) link sustainable consumption to current priorities, (3) ensure better links between global and local and (4) NGOs have to better link to other interest groups.

During the UNCED conference in Rio de Janeiro 1992 unsustainable consumption and production patterns were identified as one of the key driving forces behind theunsustainable development of the world (Agenda 21, chapter 4). These consumption and production patterns are based on the European model of industrialisation, spread around the globe in the age of colonisation and brought toextremes by the upper-class of industrialised societies, in particular in the United States, but also in a number of countries in the South. Therefore, all states of theworld share the task of developing sustainable consumption and productionpatterns, while particular responsibility rests with the industrialised nations of Europe, North America and Japan. They, and the thriving but small rich elite in the transition countries and in the South, form a global consumer society, with shared products, lifestyles and aspirations. As it is essential to support the transition towards sustainable development byproviding the proper information in an operational manner, the UNCED conference has called for the development of suitable means of information, and in particular for the development of sustainability indicators applicable throughout the world (Agenda 21, chapter 40). The UNDESA set of indicators for changingconsumption and production patterns offers helpful advice in this regard but stilllacks the theoretical underpinning needed to consistently complete it by definingthe few still missing indicators.This paper undertakes to suggest such a methodology based on the environmental space concept. It derives a set of science based indicators from this approachwhich are easily applicable in everyday life and analyses the environmentalrelevance of the consumption clusters chosen for analysis as well as the relevanceof the phenomena characterised by the indicators suggested. As households arejust one actor in the field of consumption, a qualitative assessment of influences isperformed and the result depicting the key actors for each environmentallyrelevant consumption cluster is presented as an actor matrix.

"Um die oft unterschätzte Rolle des Haushaltskonsums bei einer nachhaltigen Produktions- und Konsumweise bewerten zu können, ist eine neue Methodik jenseits der gängigen volks- oder hauswirtschaftlichen Ansätze notwendig. Auch im Rahmen integrierter Nachhaltigkeitsstrategien kommt, in Verbindung mit anderen zentralen Handlungsfeldern und ihren Instrumenten, dem Konsum ein hoher Stellenwert zu. Bei den derzeitigen Konsummustern erhöht Wohlstand die Umweltbelastung, aber ein an Prinzipien der Nachhaltigkeit orientierter Konsum kann auch zu Wohlfahrtsgewinnen führen." (Autorenreferat)

Sustainable Production Consumption Systems brings together a set of designed case studies intended to provide a more in-depth understanding of challenges and opportunities in bringing knowledge and actions closer together for the sustainable management of specific production and consumption systems. The case study approach enabled researchers to engage directly with some of the actors involved in the production, consumption or regulation of specific goods or services and other stakeholders affected by those processes. Such engagement was particularly worthwhile when it helped mobilize actors to pursue linking knowledge with action in ways that improve the prospects for sustainability.

It is increasingly obvious that for safeguarding environmental sustainability, eco‐efficiency measures will need to be complemented by sufficiency, in particular by strong sustainable consumption. The Theory of Planned Behaviour TPB and Social Practice Theory SPT offer different views on consumer behaviour, and on ways to change it. This paper briefly describes the challenges, discusses the applicability of both theories and their meaningfulness for policy recommendations. We suggest an approach combining results of both bodies of theory, complemented by ideas from political economy, to substantiate the Prism of Sustainable Consumption we introduce as a heuristic sufficiency policy tool. It is useful to identify affordability criteria for change in each dimension, as the basis for deriving suggestions for effective policy interventions. We conclude that (i) effective interventions are possible, (ii) they have to address several dimensions of affordability simultaneously, and (iii) the sufficiency policy space prism can be a useful tool in structuring planned interventions.

What are the implications of the current international political, and economic settings for consumer policy, and, in particular, those regarding sustainable consumption? In terms of improvements in the efficiency of consumption, the settings have induced efforts to this effect and show potential for further progress. In terms of necessary changes in consumption levels and patterns, however, little progress has been made since the Rio Summit nor is there likely to be any in the near future. These two dimensions of sustainable consumption need to be differentiated, as there is a substantial amount of controversy regarding our ability to achieve sustainable consumption on the basis of improvements in efficiency alone. The paper traces these differences with respect to the work of the major international governmental organizations (IGOs) engaged in developing sustainable consumption governance. It argues that the lack of commitment to strong sustainable consumption among IGOs can be explained by their ''weakness'' as actors in global governance and the existence of strong opposing interests among consumers and business actors.

Improving residential energy efficiency is widely recognized as one of the best strategies for reducing energy demand, combating climate change and increasing security of energy supply. However, progress has been slow to date due to a number of market and behavioural barriers that have not been adequately addressed by energy efficiency policies and programmes. This study is based on updated findings of the European Futures for Energy Efficiency Project that responds to the EU Horizon 2020 Work Programme 2014-15 theme 'Secure, clean and efficient energy'. This article draws on five case studies from selected European countries - Finland, Italy, Hungary, Spain, and the UK - and evaluates recent energy efficiency developments in terms of indicators, private initiatives, and policy measures in the residential sector. Our analysis shows that the UK government has implemented a better range of policies, coupled with initiatives from the private sector, aimed at improving energy efficiency. However, its existing conditions appear to be more problematic than the other countries. On the other hand, the lack of effective and targeted policies in Finland resulted in increased energy consumption, while in Hungary, Spain and Italy some interesting initiatives, especially in terms of financial and fiscal incentives, have been found.