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Carbon Footprints and Consumer Lifestyles: An Analysis of Lifestyle Factors and Gap Analysis by Consumer Segment in Japan

Author

Listed:
  • Ryu Koide

    (Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, Hayama 240-0115, Japan)

  • Michael Lettenmeier

    (Department of Design, Aalto University, 00076 Aalto, Finland
    D-Mat Ltd., 00640 Helsinki, Finland
    Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy, 42013 Wuppertal, Germany)

  • Satoshi Kojima

    (Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, Hayama 240-0115, Japan)

  • Viivi Toivio

    (Department of Design, Aalto University, 00076 Aalto, Finland
    D-Mat Ltd., 00640 Helsinki, Finland)

  • Aryanie Amellina

    (South Pole, Jakarta 12160, Indonesia)

  • Lewis Akenji

    (SEED, 10559 Berlin, Germany)

Abstract

Addressing the prevailing mode of high-carbon lifestyles is crucial for the transition towards a net-zero carbon society. Existing studies fail to fully investigate the underlining factors of unsustainable lifestyles beyond individual determinants nor consider the gaps between current footprints and reduction targets. This study examines latent lifestyle factors related to carbon footprints and analyzes gaps between decarbonization targets and current lifestyles of major consumer segments through exploratory factor analysis and cluster analysis. As a case study on Japanese households, it estimates carbon footprints of over 47,000 households using expenditure survey microdata, and identifies high-carbon lifestyle factors and consumer segments by multivariate regression analysis, factor analysis, and cluster analysis. Income, savings, family composition, house size and type, ownership of durables and automobiles, and work style were confirmed as determinants of high-footprint Japanese households, with eight lifestyles factors, including long-distance leisure, materialistic consumption, and meat-rich diets, identified as the main contributory factors. The study revealed a five-fold difference between lowest and highest footprint segments, with all segments overshooting the 2030 and 2050 decarbonization targets. The findings imply the urgent need for policies tailored to diverse consumer segments and to address the underlying causes of high-carbon lifestyles especially of high-carbon segments.

Suggested Citation

  • Ryu Koide & Michael Lettenmeier & Satoshi Kojima & Viivi Toivio & Aryanie Amellina & Lewis Akenji, 2019. "Carbon Footprints and Consumer Lifestyles: An Analysis of Lifestyle Factors and Gap Analysis by Consumer Segment in Japan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-25, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:21:p:5983-:d:280970
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Gilang Hardadi & Alexander Buchholz & Stefan Pauliuk, 2021. "Implications of the distribution of German household environmental footprints across income groups for integrating environmental and social policy design," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 25(1), pages 95-113, February.
    3. Caixia Mao & Ryu Koide & Lewis Akenji, 2020. "Applying Foresight to Policy Design for a Long-Term Transition to Sustainable Lifestyles," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-20, July.
    4. Yujiro Hirano & Tomohiko Ihara & Masayuki Hara & Keita Honjo, 2020. "Estimation of Direct and Indirect Household CO 2 Emissions in 49 Japanese Cities with Consideration of Regional Conditions," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-17, June.
    5. Chen, Peipei & Wu, Yi & Zhong, Honglin & Long, Yin & Meng, Jing, 2022. "Exploring household emission patterns and driving factors in Japan using machine learning methods," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 307(C).
    6. Koide, R. & Murakami, S. & Nansai, K., 2022. "Prioritising low-risk and high-potential circular economy strategies for decarbonisation: A meta-analysis on consumer-oriented product-service systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    7. Yasuhiko Hotta & Tomohiro Tasaki & Ryu Koide, 2021. "Expansion of Policy Domain of Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP): Challenges and Opportunities for Policy Design," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-19, June.

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