Get 20M+ Full-Text Papers For Less Than $1.50/day. Start a 14-Day Trial for You or Your Team.

Learn More →

Sustainable consumption and growth: Examining complementary perspectives

Sustainable consumption and growth: Examining complementary perspectives By drawing attention to the finite rather than unlimited nature of physical resources, the purpose of this paper is to: examine the implications of the (near absolute) emphasis placed on firm growth on sustainable consumption; and discuss complementary perspectives spanning individual, firm and societal levels that allow for both firm growth and sustainable consumption.Design/methodology/approachThe authors integrate multidisciplinary insights from marketing, sociology, environmental sciences, management and economics, to understand the inherent tensions between unchecked firm growth, consumption and sustainability. Five propositions link production, consumption and marketing from a resource standpoint.FindingsA ceaseless economic growth paradigm and overconsumption causes an unwarranted depletion of resources and is at odds with sustainability. Firms can play an important role by guiding future marketing and production toward sustainable ends. Several alternate perspectives support the case that growth may coexist and align with sustainable consumption. Consequently the authors consolidate and reflect on seven approaches (voluntary simplicity, humane consumption, CSR 2.0, social marketing, marketing 3.0, anti-positional economy and degrowth) that hold promise for achieving sustainability via responsible growth and consumption.Originality/valueThe authors consider the complex triad of growth, consumption and sustainability that spans multiple levels. A focus on the pattern and nature of growth and consumption helps to identify its effects on sustainability. Specifically, two value chain activities – production and marketing may be leveraged as firm level initiatives to achieve sustainable goals. In addition, the authors present seven heterogeneous perspectives that complement firm attempts to achieve growth with sustainable consumption. Implications for theory and practice are discussed. http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Management Decision Emerald Publishing

Sustainable consumption and growth: Examining complementary perspectives

Salimath, Manjula S.; Chandna, Vallari
Management Decision , Volume 59 (6): 21 – Jul 2, 2021
Download PDF
21 pages

Loading next page...
 
/lp/emerald-publishing/sustainable-consumption-and-growth-examining-complementary-ckmqwuqMlQ
Publisher
Emerald Publishing
Copyright
© Emerald Publishing Limited
ISSN
0025-1747
DOI
10.1108/md-12-2016-0934
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

By drawing attention to the finite rather than unlimited nature of physical resources, the purpose of this paper is to: examine the implications of the (near absolute) emphasis placed on firm growth on sustainable consumption; and discuss complementary perspectives spanning individual, firm and societal levels that allow for both firm growth and sustainable consumption.Design/methodology/approachThe authors integrate multidisciplinary insights from marketing, sociology, environmental sciences, management and economics, to understand the inherent tensions between unchecked firm growth, consumption and sustainability. Five propositions link production, consumption and marketing from a resource standpoint.FindingsA ceaseless economic growth paradigm and overconsumption causes an unwarranted depletion of resources and is at odds with sustainability. Firms can play an important role by guiding future marketing and production toward sustainable ends. Several alternate perspectives support the case that growth may coexist and align with sustainable consumption. Consequently the authors consolidate and reflect on seven approaches (voluntary simplicity, humane consumption, CSR 2.0, social marketing, marketing 3.0, anti-positional economy and degrowth) that hold promise for achieving sustainability via responsible growth and consumption.Originality/valueThe authors consider the complex triad of growth, consumption and sustainability that spans multiple levels. A focus on the pattern and nature of growth and consumption helps to identify its effects on sustainability. Specifically, two value chain activities – production and marketing may be leveraged as firm level initiatives to achieve sustainable goals. In addition, the authors present seven heterogeneous perspectives that complement firm attempts to achieve growth with sustainable consumption. Implications for theory and practice are discussed.

Journal

Management Decision – Emerald Publishing

Published: Jul 2, 2021

Keywords: Growth; Sustainable consumption; Multidisciplinary

References

  • The world is one and all things are in it
    Agatiello, O.
  • Degrowth implies voluntary simplicity: overcoming barriers to sustainable consumption
    Alexander, S.
  • Planned economic contraction: the emerging case for degrowth
    Alexander, S.
  • Ted trainer and the simpler way
    Alexander, S.
  • The voluntary simplicity movement: a multi-national survey analysis in theoretical context
    Alexander, S.; Ussher, S.
  • Socially sustainable economic de-growth
    Alier, J.M.
  • The circular economy, design thinking and education for sustainability
    Andrews, D.
  • Demarketing manages visitor demand in the Blue Mountains National Park
    Armstrong, E.K.; Kern, C.L.
  • Consciousness for fair consumption: conceptualization, scale development and empirical validation
    Balderjahn, I.; Peyer, M.; Paulssen, M.
  • Gift giving as agapic love: an alternative to the exchange paradigm based on dating experiences
    Belk, R.W.; Coon, G.S.
  • Fostering responsible communities: a community social marketing approach to sustainable living
    Carrigan, M.; Moraes, C.; Leek, S.
  • Use of social networks as a CSR communication tool
    Cortado, F.; Chalmeta, R.
  • Assessing the degrowth discourse: a review and analysis of academic degrowth policy proposals
    Cosme, I.; Santos, R.; O’Neill, D.W.
  • Undertaking a literature review: a step-by-step approach
    Cronin, P.; Ryan, F.; Coughlan, M.
  • From eco-efficiency to eco-effectiveness? The policy-performance paradox
    Csutora, M.
  • Ecocentric management: an update
    Cunha, M.; Rego, A.; Cunha, J.V.
  • Social marketing’s mythunderstandings
    Donovan, R.
  • Escaping from the economy: the politics of degrowth
    Fournier, V.
  • Human development and humane consumption: well-being beyond the’ good life’
    Ger, G.
  • An institutional theory perspective on sustainable practices across the dairy supply chain
    Glover, J.L.; Champion, D.; Daniels, K.J.; Dainty, A.J.D.
  • A framework for sustainable marketing
    Gordon, R.; Carrigan, M.; Hastings, G.
  • Voluntary simplicity
    Gregg, R.
  • Demarketing, minorities, and national attachment
    Grinstein, A.; Nisan, U.
  • Consumerism, self-creation and prospects for a new ecological consciousness
    Hamilton, C.
  • Anti-corporate protest as consumer spectacle
    Higgins, M.; Tadajewski, M.
  • Disadvantaged consumers: an ethical approach to consumption by the poor
    Hill, R.
  • The face of the un-consumer: an empirical examination of the practice of voluntary simplicity in the United States
    Huneke, M.
  • In defence of degrowth
    Kallis, G.
  • Ecological economics, degrowth, and institutional change
    Klitgaard, K.; Krall, L.
  • Sustainable new product development –a market oriented view
    Kőszeghy, B.
  • Demarketing, yes, demarketing
    Kotler, P.; Levy, S.J.
  • Simple living and sustainable consumption
    Kronenberg, J.; Iida, N.
  • Minimizing alcohol harm: a systematic social marketing review (2000–2014)
    Kubacki, K.; Rundle-Thiele, S.; Pang, B.; Buyucek, N.
  • Degrowth
    Latouche, S.
  • CSR 2.0 as a new approach to corporate social responsibility
    Leoński, W.
  • Successful non-growing companies
    Liesen, A.; Dietsche, C.; Gebauer, J.
  • A world of abundance
    McDonough, W.; Braungart, M.
  • Towards environmentally sustainable human behaviour: targeting non-conscious and conscious processes for effective and acceptable policies
    Marteau, T.M.
  • Sustainable de-growth: mapping the context, criticisms and future prospects of an emergent paradigm
    Martínez-Alier, J.; Pascual, U.; Vivien, F.D.; Zaccai, E.
  • Conspicuous consumption and the positional economy: policy and prescription since 1970
    Mason, R.
  • Less is more: the influence of aspirations and priming on well-being
    Matthey, A.
  • W (h) ither ecology? The triple bottom line, the global reporting initiative, and corporate sustainability reporting
    Milne, M.J.; Gray, R.
  • Building and maintaining sustainable organizations
    Mirchandani, D.; Ikerd, J.
  • The coherence of inconsistencies: attitude–behaviour gaps and new consumption communities
    Moraes, C.; Carrigan, M.; Szmigin, I.
  • The circular economy: an interdisciplinary exploration of the concept and application in a global context
    Murray, A.; Skene, K.; Haynes, K.
  • When the last tree is cut down, the last fish eaten, and the last stream poisoned, you will realize that you cannot eat money
    Simpson, J.; Speake, J.
  • Earth’s natural wealth: an audit
  • Historical, practical, and theoretical perspectives on green management
    Pane Haden, S.; Oyler, J.; Humphreys, J.
  • Jevons’ paradox
    Polimeni, J.
  • A consumer values orientation for materialism and its measurement: scale development and validation
    Richins, M.; Dawson, S.
  • Empowerment, the cornerstone of quality: empowering management in innovative organizations in the 1990s
    Ripley, R.E.; Ripley, M.J.
  • Planetary boundaries: exploring the safe operating space for humanity
    Rockström, J.; Steffen, W.; Noone, K.; Persson, Å.; Chapin, F.S.; Lambin, E.; Lenton, T.M.; Scheffer, M.; Folke, C.; Schellnhuber, H.; Nykvist, B.; De Wit, C.A.; Hughes, T.; van der Leeuw, S.; Rodhe, H.; Sörlin, S.; Snyder, P.K.; Costanza, R.; Svedin, U.; Falkenmark, M.; Karlberg, L.; Corell, R.W.; Fabry, V.J.; Hansen, J.; Walker, B.; Liverman, D.; Richardson, K.; Crutzen, P.; Foley, J.
  • Crisis or opportunity? Economic degrowth for social equity and ecological sustainability. introduction to this special issue
    Schneider, F.; Kallis, G.; Martinez-Alier, J.
  • Voluntary simplicity and the ethics of consumption
    Shaw, D.; Newholm, T.
  • The energetic metabolism of societies and the degrowth paradigm: analyzing biophysical constraints and realities
    Sorman, A.; Giampietro, M.
  • The circular economy
    Stahel, W.R.
  • Purposeful sampling in qualitative research synthesis
    Suri, H.
  • Can renewables etc. solve the greenhouse problem? The negative case
    Trainer, T.
  • The internationalisation of social marketing research
    Truong, V.D.; Dang, N.V.; Hall, C.M.; Dong, X.D.
  • The age of responsibility: CSR 2.0 and the new DNA of business
    Visser, W.
  • Government demarketing: different approaches and mixed messages
    Wall, A.
  • Meta-synthesis method for qualitative research: a literature review
    Walsh, D.; Downe, S.
  • Sustainable consumption and behavior change
    Warde, A.
  • Analyzing the past to prepare for the future: writing a literature review
    Webster, J.; Watson, R.T.
  • Conspicuous consumption and satisfaction
    Winkelmann, R.
  • From the editor: advertising, materialism, and quality of life
    Zinkhan, G.M.