Barriers to downward carbon emission: Exploring sustainable consumption in the face of the glass floor

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Author(s)
Cherrier, Helene
Szuba, Mathilde
ÿzçaĿlar-Toulouse, Nil
Griffith University Author(s)
Year published
2012
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
The present study explores the constraining forces to reducing greenhouse-gas emissions (GHG) via alternative and/or reduced consumption. The analysis of introspection, netnography, ethnographic work, and 18 interviews demonstrates that needs are not innate human requirements and that consumers are not free and autonomous agents able to incorporate reduce or alternative consumption within their lifestyles. Specifically, our analysis shows the existence of barriers to downward carbon emission. These barriers, which we combined under the concept of the glass floor, represent sociocultural standards preventing our informants ...
View more >The present study explores the constraining forces to reducing greenhouse-gas emissions (GHG) via alternative and/or reduced consumption. The analysis of introspection, netnography, ethnographic work, and 18 interviews demonstrates that needs are not innate human requirements and that consumers are not free and autonomous agents able to incorporate reduce or alternative consumption within their lifestyles. Specifically, our analysis shows the existence of barriers to downward carbon emission. These barriers, which we combined under the concept of the glass floor, represent sociocultural standards preventing our informants from achieving their goal of reducing their carbon footprint. Our findings are presented around two main themes: the social construction of needs and the social imaginary.
View less >
View more >The present study explores the constraining forces to reducing greenhouse-gas emissions (GHG) via alternative and/or reduced consumption. The analysis of introspection, netnography, ethnographic work, and 18 interviews demonstrates that needs are not innate human requirements and that consumers are not free and autonomous agents able to incorporate reduce or alternative consumption within their lifestyles. Specifically, our analysis shows the existence of barriers to downward carbon emission. These barriers, which we combined under the concept of the glass floor, represent sociocultural standards preventing our informants from achieving their goal of reducing their carbon footprint. Our findings are presented around two main themes: the social construction of needs and the social imaginary.
View less >
Journal Title
Journal of Marketing Management
Volume
28
Issue
3/4
Copyright Statement
© 2012 Westburn Publishers. Published by Taylor & Francis. This is an electronic version of an article published in the Journal of Marketing Management, Vol. 28(3/4), 2012, pp. 397-419. The Journal of Marketing Management is available online at: http://www.tandfonline.com with the open URL of your article.
Subject
Marketing Theory
Group Theory and Generalisations
Business and Management
Commercial Services
Marketing