tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63330658036633542972024-03-13T17:36:40.244+01:00Myths that thwart sustainabilityThe goal of this project is to dispel myths that thwart sustainability and thereby provide Nordic policy-makers with accessible knowledge on consumption and consumer behaviour that can be used in devising effective and efficient consumer policies.Project teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06167384210454336201noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333065803663354297.post-11854019420681198512013-09-23T14:54:00.002+02:002013-09-23T15:03:12.112+02:00Final report and policy brief are available<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFoz2IqpEQFKn_xqGD0D-r6GnDtArdZbQ2jymeUNAiF-Dsx4bSeueAyNAjOOE0ZSse3jXkwxrG2xmtoWZfS0qei6Umm5VJ_KJjy3y9GzHK1UWX_2agWX0jAjXcvsNsA6Ik-bEjbV56pY/s1600/NMR+report.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAFoz2IqpEQFKn_xqGD0D-r6GnDtArdZbQ2jymeUNAiF-Dsx4bSeueAyNAjOOE0ZSse3jXkwxrG2xmtoWZfS0qei6Umm5VJ_KJjy3y9GzHK1UWX_2agWX0jAjXcvsNsA6Ik-bEjbV56pY/s320/NMR+report.png" width="228" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are delighted to announce the publication of the final report for the project "<a href="http://www.norden.org/sv/nordiska-ministerraadet/ministerraad/nordiska-ministerraadet-foer-miljoe-mr-m/institutioner-samarbetsorgan-och-arbetsgrupper/arbetsgrupper/arbetsgruppen-foer-haallbar-konsumtion-och-produktion-hkp/publikationer-och-rapporter" target="_blank">Improving Nordic policymaking by dispelling myths on sustainable consumption</a>” in both English and Swedish. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />The <a href="http://www.norden.org/sv/publikationer/publikationer/2013-564" target="_blank">Policy Brief</a> is also available in English, Swedish, Icelandic and Danish, using the link above.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We hope you enjoy reading the reports and find them useful for your work.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We would like to thank all of you who have contributed to this project through participation in interviews, webinars, feedback at conferences etc. – your input has been invaluable. And of course thank you to the Nordic Council of Ministers for supporting and promoting this work.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Proejct team:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Oksana Mont, Eva Heiskanen and Kate Power</span>Project teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06167384210454336201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333065803663354297.post-75806849351144515312013-06-11T12:07:00.001+02:002013-06-11T12:07:43.216+02:00Key messages from the study are published!<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQSsqN3o13I250nMMLil0UWkiETf8NuvloP4G3pu_XXWetxhGdfxKLjeL34kL-utabu4r9qI94XvcXcflTuVUWReO91_ajfeTyY42mT-IIqHTZBDV5yieRCPJ_sGloapsPDxVi6i3AlhE/s1600/Globe+in+hands.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" cya="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQSsqN3o13I250nMMLil0UWkiETf8NuvloP4G3pu_XXWetxhGdfxKLjeL34kL-utabu4r9qI94XvcXcflTuVUWReO91_ajfeTyY42mT-IIqHTZBDV5yieRCPJ_sGloapsPDxVi6i3AlhE/s1600/Globe+in+hands.jpg" /></a><span class="hyphen">Lessons from Nordic Council of Ministers study “Improving Nordic policymaking by dispelling myths on sustainable consumption” are published as <a href="http://www.norden.org/en/publications/publikationer/2013-915/" target="_blank">Policy Brief</a> that summarises the key messages. </span></div>
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<span class="hyphen">Reports in English and Swedish are on there way. </span>Project teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06167384210454336201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333065803663354297.post-51452341665974396412013-02-27T15:00:00.000+01:002013-02-27T15:28:06.523+01:00Reflections on the webinars by the WorldWatch InstituteDear readers,<br />
Please have a look at an interesting reflection on our webinars about "Dispelling the myth on sustainable consumption" in the <a href="http://blogs.worldwatch.org/sustainabilitypossible/sustainable-consumption-myths/" target="_blank">blog of the WorldWatch Institute</a> written by Alison Singer. She raises the issue that the focus on sustainable consumption, while being neccesary, is still limited and needs to be complemented by the "deep-seated" behavioural shift towards downsizing and degrowth. <br />
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Although we absolutely agree with this suggestion, as researchers we feel that we still need to develop robust theories and models and test different macro-economic scenarios in order to provide policy and decision makers with evidence-based alternatives and solutions so that they could initiate the shift to the economy and society that is less dependent on unfettered economic growth. <br />
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You will find more fascinating ideas and on-going projects about alternative ways for societal development on the homepage of "<a href="http://www.degrowth.org/" target="_blank">Research & Degrowth</a>" - an academic association dedicated to research, training and awareness raising around degrowth.Project teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06167384210454336201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333065803663354297.post-59966258364818906362013-02-13T11:21:00.002+01:002013-02-13T11:25:37.508+01:00Webinars have taken place Jan 22 and Feb 12<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dear all participants of the webinars</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you for your participation and contribution to chat. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hope you enjoyed our presentation.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are planning to make it available on the Internet in due time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You are welcome to use this blog to provide your ideas, comments and recommendations.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Best, Oksana and Kate</span>Project teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06167384210454336201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333065803663354297.post-77143346386147478302012-08-31T14:01:00.000+02:002012-09-03T09:24:14.870+02:00The surprising science of motivation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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The myth that appealling to people´s self-interest is the key to motivating sustainable behaviour is dispelled in <a href="http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pink_on_motivation.html" target="_blank">this fascinating TED talk by Dan Pink</a>. This gives a great explanation of research showing that extrinsic motivations (e.g. money) only improve performance for a certain type of mechanical tasks with clearly defined end goals. For tasks involving any level of cognitive skill or creativity, extrinsic goals will either not work or hinder performance; that means for most tasks we are faced with today, instrinsic motivations - such as autonomy, mastery and purpose - are far more motivating. Here Dan Pink talks about this research in relation to the mismatch between the 40 years of evidence from social science research and how businesses motivate performance, although the prinicples also apply to motivating changing behaviour to more sustainable lifestyles. "This is one of the most robust findings in social science, and also one of the most ignored." The good news is that linking sustainable actions and lifestyles to people´s existing values of autonomy, mastery and serving a purpose larger than ourselves is an immediately accessible way of helping to promote more successful behaviour change.</div>
Project teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06167384210454336201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333065803663354297.post-11904032731275004232012-08-31T11:11:00.000+02:002012-08-31T11:12:17.861+02:00Dieticians in supermarkets help consumers make changes<span itemid="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2012/08/25/business/25dietitians/25dietitians-articleLarge-v2.jpg" itemprop="associatedMedia" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/ImageObject" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" height="197" itemid="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2012/08/25/business/25dietitians/25dietitians-articleLarge-v2.jpg" itemprop="url" src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/global/backgrounds/transparentBG.gif" style="filter: progId:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.AlphaImageLoader(src='http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2012/08/25/business/25dietitians/25dietitians-articleLarge-v2.jpg', sizingMethod='scale' );" width="320" /></span>Sometimes the right type of information at the right time and place can really assist consumers in changing their habits and lifestyles. <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/25/business/dietitians-pay-off-for-supermarkets.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all" target="_blank">This New York Times article</a> reports on the work of dieticians in supermarkets across the USA, who assist shoppers who want to improve their health or learn how to shop and cook for specific conditions such as gluten intolerance. Dietitians give in-store consultations and store tours with customers, hold cooking classes, prepare take-home meals e.g. for dieters, take biometric screenings of customers and staff, give presentations in schools, businesses and civic events, work with merchandisers, help set up community gardens, assess products for nutritional value and provide in-store information to explain nutrional information on packaging. The service helps consumers to acheive their health goals and the supermarket chain consider the scheme invaluable to their business model. It is well known that providing generic information to the population about what they "should" do to live more healthily and sustainably is largely unsuccessful; this scheme is an example of how specific, timely, tailored, practical guidance from a trusted expert can enable real positive change (and the goals of eating healthily and maintaining healthy body weight are very relevant for sustainability too - see "<a href="http://www.scp-knowledge.eu/sites/default/files/knowledge/attachments/KU_obesity.pdf" target="_blank">Obesity as a sustainable consumption issue</a>" for more info). This is also a great model for how businesses can help lead the shift towards healthy and sustainable lifestyles, as part of a successful business model.Project teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06167384210454336201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333065803663354297.post-7280515574792213132012-06-27T17:11:00.000+02:002012-06-27T19:35:34.179+02:00The power of clear communication<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhczmM8bKFGGSZS9OgrEFaC9JmTxlD-q_IFuWbdh1GtFZn5yp3sRMAC9NK7XYaZcZWjKAVYz7TmN2gFRRpocjFR1HPKXPzyIug68GdeRl9FV8rozIZjpAfJ4TmjRFYyhhk01aXrTbRw-c4/s1600/Bananas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhczmM8bKFGGSZS9OgrEFaC9JmTxlD-q_IFuWbdh1GtFZn5yp3sRMAC9NK7XYaZcZWjKAVYz7TmN2gFRRpocjFR1HPKXPzyIug68GdeRl9FV8rozIZjpAfJ4TmjRFYyhhk01aXrTbRw-c4/s320/Bananas.jpg" vca="true" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In a Swedish retail shop ICA in Nyköping store manager Magnus Åberg came up with an idea to describe conventional bananas in a more precise manner. So now customers can choose between organic bananas, fair trade bananas and sprayed bananas. The sign has been there for three years, but have recently been posted on Facebook and distributed almost 4 000 times and 13 000 people liked the idea. According to Magnus Åberg the sign does influence ecological purchases.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photo by Jens Alvin </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Original article in Swedish can be found <a href="http://www.sn.se/nyheter/nykoping/1.1477029" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></div>
</div>Project teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06167384210454336201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333065803663354297.post-35019150380754230302012-06-17T09:08:00.000+02:002012-06-17T19:35:15.920+02:00Creating a fresh perspective to enhance acceptabilityThis advert is a great example of presenting a ´controversial´ issue positively without referring to the usual pros, cons and myths. Thought-provoking?<br />
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<br />Project teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06167384210454336201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333065803663354297.post-56103538220897963432012-06-15T13:45:00.002+02:002012-06-15T13:46:54.605+02:00The eight biggest myths about sustainability in business<a href="http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2009/11/23/8-myths-about-sustainability-business" target="_blank">Myths about sustainability in the businesses world</a> are also interesting although a little different from those that hamper policymakers. There is some overlap - for example, the belief that ít´s too difficult, or that someone else should be taking the lead.<br />
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<a href="http://www.greenbiz.com/blog/2009/11/23/8-myths-about-sustainability-business" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhInWJMDwf4m4aGq0SIsdKgX4Un65EyCUfdj2Ic2JpwUjhxbsfd4Gfl1jD4ea7l5LfhvqRJc3SkEuChNZ9f2RB_q8SW5hEFpw4OLsDbzaRJWsp-64n8srTa397aUfwrkpgg6yLA2sk1wsc/s1600/greenbiz.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />Project teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06167384210454336201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333065803663354297.post-48451612808970752632012-06-15T10:11:00.000+02:002012-06-15T10:39:00.795+02:00Sustainable wellbeing and happiness: dispelling myth 9<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Kingdom of Bhutan are working with the UN to set up an expert task force on "<a href="http://www.2apr.gov.bt/" target="_blank">Wellbeing and Happiness: Defining a New Economic Paradigm</a>". Their website has really useful <a href="http://www.2apr.gov.bt/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=207&Itemid=162" target="_blank">reading lists</a> and <a href="http://www.2apr.gov.bt/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=208&Itemid=192" target="_blank">two-page summaries</a> of solutions for promoting sustainability and wellbeing. This important work is also dispelling the myth that people want to earn more money and increase consumption levels to become happier. Here is a facinating 7 minute video giving some background to how Bhutan got started on the path to promoting sustainable happiness.<br />
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<br />Project teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06167384210454336201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333065803663354297.post-64308570652312760942012-06-11T18:46:00.000+02:002012-06-11T18:51:37.349+02:00The Sharing Economy: myth 8 dispelled<span lang="EN"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many decision makers </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and consumers are convinced that 1) people in general have a deeply rooted desire to buy and own all kinds of products and services and 2) that sharing access to products or collaboratively using them is not attractive</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. Watch the video about a new collaborative economy emerging in the USA, where "access trumps ownership", where people make use of idling capacity of many products they have in their possession by improving the utility rate of these products and by learning how to use less and do more. Learn about <a href="http://www.taskrabbit.com/" target="_blank">TaskRabbit</a>; <a href="http://www.getaround.com/" target="_blank">Getaround</a>; <a href="http://www.airbnb.com/" target="_blank">AirBnB</a>; <a href="http://www.vayable.com/" target="_blank">Vayable</a>; and many more.</span></div>Project teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06167384210454336201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333065803663354297.post-47556335705807226242012-06-10T22:42:00.001+02:002012-06-11T11:50:38.285+02:00Half of Germany was running on Solar PowerGermany´s solar subsidies not only create <a href="http://www.treehugger.com/energy-policy/half-germany-was-powered-solar.html" target="_blank">record-breaking clean energy generation</a>, they also <b>dispel the myth that people are only motivated by self-interest</b> (e.g. lower energy prices): Germans pay a bit extra for subsiding the solar industry (and this article suggests American citizens would be willing to do the same). It also shows that <b>policies considered ´too controversial´ </b>in some places are already up and running in others. Good news!<br />
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</div>Project teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06167384210454336201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333065803663354297.post-32827259841001323942012-06-10T20:31:00.000+02:002012-06-15T12:58:41.457+02:00Life lessons from an ad man: Rory SutherlandThis is a hilarious talk with inspiring ideas about how to create intangible wealth instead of consuming ever-more material resources, as well as some memorable examples of how to change behaviour - <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=audakxABYUc" target="_blank">enjoy</a>!<br />
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<br />Project teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06167384210454336201noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333065803663354297.post-78936518377642405662012-06-08T12:17:00.000+02:002012-06-11T11:48:39.698+02:00From behaviour to environmental policy and back<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">On May 4 2012, DG ENV/DG SANCO organized a workshop “From Behaviour to Environmental Policy, and Vice Versa” with the goal to explore the available scientific evidence about behaviour and the most recent behaviour-driven policy applications with a special focus on the environment. Oksana Mont, representing the European Topic Centre on Sustainable Consumption and Production at the European Environmental Agency and the International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics at Lund University, Sweden, contributed to the workshop with presentation. Oksana argued that information provision as the main tool of the current SCP policy is insufficient to affect consumer behaviour. The change has to be systemic lead by pro-active policy making and supported by infrastructure that enables sustainable lifestyles, by business models furthering sustainable consumption patterns and levels and by changes in peoples’ values. In instigating the necessary change, framing of messages of SCP policies is vital: in addition to emphasising the personal benefits of consuming more sustainably, policymakers need to strengthen the appeal of collective, pro-environmental and pro-social goals thereby paving the way for and embedding sustainable societal values. New SCP policies will be more efficient and effective in changing values when introduced within the windows of opportunity offered by the evolving focus of the public debate. Oksana further underlined the importance of dispelling the persistent myths that have penetrated the mainstream policy and discourse on sustainable consumption. She highlighted deliberative democracy, choice architecture and social marketing as essential, but underutilised mechanisms for advancing sustainability. In conclusion, Oksana emphasised the need for strategic roadmaps to operationalise emergent visions of sustainable societies.</span></span></div>
</div>Project teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06167384210454336201noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6333065803663354297.post-55378008891637540722012-06-06T14:09:00.002+02:002012-06-09T16:35:59.884+02:00Welcome!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">The intention with this blog is to create discussion about consumer behaviour and myths that have penetrated modern policy making, collect supporting and opposing evidence and disseminate it , thereby contributing to more effective and efficient policy making for sustainable consumption.</span></div>Project teamhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06167384210454336201noreply@blogger.com0