Myths about Sustainable Consumption: Dispelled

Why, despite decades of warnings and solutions, does unsustainable consumption still persist? What keeps societies locked into business as usual even when the consequences are clear? This book contends that part of the answer lies in the myths we adhere to – powerful narratives that normalise the st...

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Publicado: Taylor & Francis 2026
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description Why, despite decades of warnings and solutions, does unsustainable consumption still persist? What keeps societies locked into business as usual even when the consequences are clear? This book contends that part of the answer lies in the myths we adhere to – powerful narratives that normalise the status quo, limit imagination and delay the transition to sustainability. Gathering leading scholars from various disciplines, this book examines 12 of the most widespread myths about sustainable consumption – from the belief that information provision, small individual actions or technological fixes will deliver sustainability to the faith in economic growth as the goal of societal development and the idea that consumer demand drives sustainability. Each chapter explores the origin of a specific myth, details its environmental and social impacts and presents evidence-based counterarguments. Chapters also move beyond critique by offering practical strategies, policy and business implications and inspiring real-world examples, illustrating how alternative pathways can be implemented in practice. Collectively, the chapters reveal how myths endure through cultural resonance, institutional embedding, daily practices and political interests, while also providing a clear and applicable framework for diagnosing myths, debating them and designing alternatives. The book underscores recurring barriers to change but highlights leverage points and opportunities for transformation. This volume will benefit researchers, students, policymakers, business leaders and engaged citizens seeking to understand why simplistic solutions fall short and how sufficiency, justice and systemic change can foster more sustainable ways of living within planetary boundaries. It ultimately empowers readers to rethink taken-for-granted assumptions and help accelerate sustainability transformations. The Open Access version of this book, available at http://www.taylorfrancis.com, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC BY-NC-ND) 4.0 license.
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spelling doab-20.500.12854ir-1739192026-03-19T14:26:49Z Myths about Sustainable Consumption: Dispelled Mont, Oksana Sustainable consumption Ethical consumption Green consumption Green consumers Consumer behaviour Consumer behavior Environmental policy Sustainability Systemic sustainability Overconsumption Anti-consumption Consumption patterns Behavioural change Green products thema EDItEUR::K Economics, Finance, Business and Management::KJ Business and Management::KJS Sales and marketing thema EDItEUR::J Society and Social Sciences::JH Sociology and anthropology::JHB Sociology thema EDItEUR::G Reference, Information and Interdisciplinary subjects::GT Interdisciplinary studies::GTP Development studies thema EDItEUR::R Earth Sciences, Geography, Environment, Planning::RN The environment thema EDItEUR::K Economics, Finance, Business and Management::KC Economics::KCK Behavioural economics thema EDItEUR::K Economics, Finance, Business and Management::KC Economics::KCM Development economics and emerging economies thema EDItEUR::K Economics, Finance, Business and Management::KJ Business and Management::KJJ Business and the environment; ‘green’ approaches to business thema EDItEUR::R Earth Sciences, Geography, Environment, Planning::RN The environment::RND Environmental policy and protocols thema EDItEUR::K Economics, Finance, Business and Management::KJ Business and Management Why, despite decades of warnings and solutions, does unsustainable consumption still persist? What keeps societies locked into business as usual even when the consequences are clear? This book contends that part of the answer lies in the myths we adhere to – powerful narratives that normalise the status quo, limit imagination and delay the transition to sustainability. Gathering leading scholars from various disciplines, this book examines 12 of the most widespread myths about sustainable consumption – from the belief that information provision, small individual actions or technological fixes will deliver sustainability to the faith in economic growth as the goal of societal development and the idea that consumer demand drives sustainability. Each chapter explores the origin of a specific myth, details its environmental and social impacts and presents evidence-based counterarguments. Chapters also move beyond critique by offering practical strategies, policy and business implications and inspiring real-world examples, illustrating how alternative pathways can be implemented in practice. Collectively, the chapters reveal how myths endure through cultural resonance, institutional embedding, daily practices and political interests, while also providing a clear and applicable framework for diagnosing myths, debating them and designing alternatives. The book underscores recurring barriers to change but highlights leverage points and opportunities for transformation. This volume will benefit researchers, students, policymakers, business leaders and engaged citizens seeking to understand why simplistic solutions fall short and how sufficiency, justice and systemic change can foster more sustainable ways of living within planetary boundaries. It ultimately empowers readers to rethink taken-for-granted assumptions and help accelerate sustainability transformations. The Open Access version of this book, available at http://www.taylorfrancis.com, has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC BY-NC-ND) 4.0 license. 2026-03-19T14:26:47Z 2026-03-19T14:26:47Z 2026-03-02T18:19:45Z 2026 book https://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/111121 9781040869581 9781003613718 9781040869628 https://directory.doabooks.org/handle/20.500.12854/173919 eng open access image/jpeg n/a https://library.oapen.org/bitstream/20.500.12657/111121/1/9781040869581.pdf Taylor & Francis Routledge 10.4324/9781003613718 10.4324/9781003613718 fa69b019-f4ee-4979-8d42-c6b6c476b5f0 9781040869581 9781003613718 9781040869628 Routledge 272 Oxford open access
spellingShingle Sustainable consumption
Ethical consumption
Green consumption
Green consumers
Consumer behaviour
Consumer behavior
Environmental policy
Sustainability
Systemic sustainability
Overconsumption
Anti-consumption
Consumption patterns
Behavioural change
Green products
thema EDItEUR::K Economics, Finance, Business and Management::KJ Business and Management::KJS Sales and marketing
thema EDItEUR::J Society and Social Sciences::JH Sociology and anthropology::JHB Sociology
thema EDItEUR::G Reference, Information and Interdisciplinary subjects::GT Interdisciplinary studies::GTP Development studies
thema EDItEUR::R Earth Sciences, Geography, Environment, Planning::RN The environment
thema EDItEUR::K Economics, Finance, Business and Management::KC Economics::KCK Behavioural economics
thema EDItEUR::K Economics, Finance, Business and Management::KC Economics::KCM Development economics and emerging economies
thema EDItEUR::K Economics, Finance, Business and Management::KJ Business and Management::KJJ Business and the environment; ‘green’ approaches to business
thema EDItEUR::R Earth Sciences, Geography, Environment, Planning::RN The environment::RND Environmental policy and protocols
thema EDItEUR::K Economics, Finance, Business and Management::KJ Business and Management
Myths about Sustainable Consumption: Dispelled
title Myths about Sustainable Consumption: Dispelled
title_full Myths about Sustainable Consumption: Dispelled
title_fullStr Myths about Sustainable Consumption: Dispelled
title_full_unstemmed Myths about Sustainable Consumption: Dispelled
title_short Myths about Sustainable Consumption: Dispelled
title_sort myths about sustainable consumption dispelled
topic Sustainable consumption
Ethical consumption
Green consumption
Green consumers
Consumer behaviour
Consumer behavior
Environmental policy
Sustainability
Systemic sustainability
Overconsumption
Anti-consumption
Consumption patterns
Behavioural change
Green products
thema EDItEUR::K Economics, Finance, Business and Management::KJ Business and Management::KJS Sales and marketing
thema EDItEUR::J Society and Social Sciences::JH Sociology and anthropology::JHB Sociology
thema EDItEUR::G Reference, Information and Interdisciplinary subjects::GT Interdisciplinary studies::GTP Development studies
thema EDItEUR::R Earth Sciences, Geography, Environment, Planning::RN The environment
thema EDItEUR::K Economics, Finance, Business and Management::KC Economics::KCK Behavioural economics
thema EDItEUR::K Economics, Finance, Business and Management::KC Economics::KCM Development economics and emerging economies
thema EDItEUR::K Economics, Finance, Business and Management::KJ Business and Management::KJJ Business and the environment; ‘green’ approaches to business
thema EDItEUR::R Earth Sciences, Geography, Environment, Planning::RN The environment::RND Environmental policy and protocols
thema EDItEUR::K Economics, Finance, Business and Management::KJ Business and Management
topic_facet Sustainable consumption
Ethical consumption
Green consumption
Green consumers
Consumer behaviour
Consumer behavior
Environmental policy
Sustainability
Systemic sustainability
Overconsumption
Anti-consumption
Consumption patterns
Behavioural change
Green products
thema EDItEUR::K Economics, Finance, Business and Management::KJ Business and Management::KJS Sales and marketing
thema EDItEUR::J Society and Social Sciences::JH Sociology and anthropology::JHB Sociology
thema EDItEUR::G Reference, Information and Interdisciplinary subjects::GT Interdisciplinary studies::GTP Development studies
thema EDItEUR::R Earth Sciences, Geography, Environment, Planning::RN The environment
thema EDItEUR::K Economics, Finance, Business and Management::KC Economics::KCK Behavioural economics
thema EDItEUR::K Economics, Finance, Business and Management::KC Economics::KCM Development economics and emerging economies
thema EDItEUR::K Economics, Finance, Business and Management::KJ Business and Management::KJJ Business and the environment; ‘green’ approaches to business
thema EDItEUR::R Earth Sciences, Geography, Environment, Planning::RN The environment::RND Environmental policy and protocols
thema EDItEUR::K Economics, Finance, Business and Management::KJ Business and Management
url https://library.oapen.org/handle/20.500.12657/111121