IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/circec/v5y2025i2d10.1007_s43615-024-00444-9.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Circular Consumption in Everyday Life: Drawing Insights into the Creation of a Circular City

Author

Listed:
  • Akseli Tiensuu

    (Tampere University)

Abstract

Although individual consumption is the biggest contributor to cities’ carbon footprints, the link between personal actions and building a circular city remains narrowly researched. Similarly, the implications of the circular economy in individuals’’ everyday lives are not yet well known. This study bridges these research gaps by examining the impacts of circular consumption on urban neighborhood inhabitants’ everyday lives and by considering the relationship between individual consumption and the creation of a circular city. This qualitative research relies on interviews conducted with inhabitants, companies and a school of Tammela neighborhood. Results derived from a directed content analysis suggest that circular consumption is an advisable instrument for living in accordance with environmental values and promotes economic inclusion for individuals. However, circular consumption requires more consumption work from consumers compared to linear consumption. In conclusion, at the city level mainstreaming circular consumption might be achieved with policies aiming at (a) increasing environmental awareness and teaching circular skills and (b) enhancing convenient circular systems of provision to attract people with various values to engage in circular consumption, while considering the amount of consumption work required by the consumer.

Suggested Citation

  • Akseli Tiensuu, 2025. "Circular Consumption in Everyday Life: Drawing Insights into the Creation of a Circular City," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 5(2), pages 1137-1156, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:circec:v:5:y:2025:i:2:d:10.1007_s43615-024-00444-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s43615-024-00444-9
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s43615-024-00444-9
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s43615-024-00444-9?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Ropke, Inge, 1999. "The dynamics of willingness to consume," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 28(3), pages 399-420, March.
    2. Jo Williams, 2023. "Circular cities: planning for circular development in European cities," European Planning Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 31(1), pages 14-35, January.
    3. Rita Henriques & Filipa Figueiredo & João Nunes, 2023. "Consumers’ Perspectives on Circular Economy: Main Tendencies for Market Valorization," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(19), pages 1-26, September.
    4. Rojanakit, Patcharapar & Torres de Oliveira, Rui & Dulleck, Uwe, 2022. "The sharing economy: A critical review and research agenda," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 1317-1334.
    5. Kate Power & Oksana Mont, 2010. "The Role of Formal and Informal Forces in Shaping Consumption and Implications for Sustainable Society: Part II," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 2(8), pages 1-20, August.
    6. repec:sae:envval:v:19:y:2010:i:2:p:169-192 is not listed on IDEAS
    7. Kirchherr, Julian & Reike, Denise & Hekkert, Marko, 2017. "Conceptualizing the circular economy: An analysis of 114 definitions," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 221-232.
    8. Jackson, Tim, 2002. "Evolutionary psychology in ecological economics: consilience, consumption and contentment," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 41(2), pages 289-303, May.
    9. Panzone, Luca & Hilton, Denis & Sale, Laura & Cohen, Doron, 2016. "Socio-demographics, implicit attitudes, explicit attitudes, and sustainable consumption in supermarket shopping," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 77-95.
    10. Juana Camacho-Otero & Casper Boks & Ida Nilstad Pettersen, 2018. "Consumption in the Circular Economy: A Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(8), pages 1-25, August.
    11. Daniel R. Cooper & Timothy G. Gutowski, 2017. "The Environmental Impacts of Reuse: A Review," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 21(1), pages 38-56, February.
    12. Małgorzata Pusz & Andrew E. G. Jonas & Pauline Deutz, 2024. "Knitting Circular Ties: Empowering Networks for the Social Enterprise-led Local Development of an Integrative Circular Economy," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 4(1), pages 201-232, March.
    13. Alan Murray & Keith Skene & Kathryn Haynes, 2017. "The Circular Economy: An Interdisciplinary Exploration of the Concept and Application in a Global Context," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 140(3), pages 369-380, February.
    14. Trevor Zink & Roland Geyer, 2017. "Circular Economy Rebound," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 21(3), pages 593-602, June.
    15. Thomas Edward Sutcliffe, 2022. "Consumption work in household circular economy activities: findings from a cultural probe experiment," Journal of Cultural Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 15(5), pages 568-583, September.
    16. Oksana Mont & Kate Power, 2010. "The Role of Formal and Informal Forces in Shaping Consumption and Implications for a Sustainable Society. Part I," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 2(7), pages 1-21, July.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Risa Arai & Martin Calisto Friant & Walter J. V. Vermeulen, 2024. "The Japanese Circular Economy and Sound Material-Cycle Society Policies: Discourse and Policy Analysis," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 4(1), pages 619-650, March.
    2. Leonidas Milios, 2021. "Towards a Circular Economy Taxation Framework: Expectations and Challenges of Implementation," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 1(2), pages 477-498, September.
    3. Mariana Oliveira & Mécia Miguel & Sven Kevin Langen & Amos Ncube & Amalia Zucaro & Gabriella Fiorentino & Renato Passaro & Remo Santagata & Nick Coleman & Benjamin H. Lowe & Sergio Ulgiati & Andrea Ge, 2021. "Circular Economy and the Transition to a Sustainable Society: Integrated Assessment Methods for a New Paradigm," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 1(1), pages 99-113, June.
    4. Chembessi Chedrak & Gohoungodji Paulin & Juste Rajaonson, 2023. "“A fine wine, better with age”: Circular economy historical roots and influential publications: A bibliometric analysis using Reference Publication Year Spectroscopy (RPYS)," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 27(6), pages 1593-1612, December.
    5. Hervé Corvellec & Alison F. Stowell & Nils Johansson, 2022. "Critiques of the circular economy," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 26(2), pages 421-432, April.
    6. Hampus André & Anna Björklund, 2023. "A framework to open the black box of the use phase in circular economy life cycle assessments: The case of shell jacket reuse," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 27(4), pages 1137-1150, August.
    7. Erik G. Hansen & Ferdinand Revellio, 2020. "Circular value creation architectures: Make, ally, buy, or laissez‐faire," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 24(6), pages 1250-1273, December.
    8. I. Gåvertsson & L. Milios & C. Dalhammar, 2020. "Quality Labelling for Re-used ICT Equipment to Support Consumer Choice in the Circular Economy," Journal of Consumer Policy, Springer, vol. 43(2), pages 353-377, June.
    9. Balint Horvath & Miriam Bahna & Csaba Fogarassy, 2019. "The Ecological Criteria of Circular Growth and the Rebound Risk of Closed Loops," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-15, May.
    10. Cris Garcia-Saravia Ortiz-de-Montellano & Yvonne Meer, 2022. "A Theoretical Framework for Circular Processes and Circular Impacts Through a Comprehensive Review of Indicators," Global Journal of Flexible Systems Management, Springer;Global Institute of Flexible Systems Management, vol. 23(2), pages 291-314, June.
    11. Andrew Wear, 2023. "Emergent concepts in local economic development," Local Economy, London South Bank University, vol. 38(8), pages 804-826, December.
    12. Andreas Mayer & Willi Haas & Dominik Wiedenhofer & Fridolin Krausmann & Philip Nuss & Gian Andrea Blengini, 2019. "Measuring Progress towards a Circular Economy: A Monitoring Framework for Economy‐wide Material Loop Closing in the EU28," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 23(1), pages 62-76, February.
    13. Monia Niero & Charlotte L. Jensen & Chiara Farné Fratini & Jens Dorland & Michael S. Jørgensen & Susse Georg, 2021. "Is life cycle assessment enough to address unintended side effects from Circular Economy initiatives?," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 25(5), pages 1111-1120, October.
    14. Lahcen, Bart & Eyckmans, Johan & Rousseau, Sandra & Dams, Yoko & Brusselaers, Jan, 2022. "Modelling the circular economy: Introducing a supply chain equilibrium approach," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    15. Alexandra Barón Dorado & Gerusa Giménez Leal & Rodolfo de Castro Vila, 2022. "Environmental policy and corporate sustainability: The mediating role of environmental management systems in circular economy adoption," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 29(4), pages 830-842, July.
    16. Manon Eikelenboom & Thomas B. Long, 2023. "Breaking the Cycle of Marginalization: How to Involve Local Communities in Multi-stakeholder Initiatives?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 186(1), pages 31-62, August.
    17. Paul Dewick & Magnus Bengtsson & Maurie J. Cohen & Joseph Sarkis & Patrick Schröder, 2020. "Circular economy finance: Clear winner or risky proposition?," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 24(6), pages 1192-1200, December.
    18. Ioannis E. Nikolaou & Nikoleta Jones & Alexandros Stefanakis, 2021. "Circular Economy and Sustainability: the Past, the Present and the Future Directions," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 1(1), pages 1-20, June.
    19. Swati Kasana & Meena Chavan & Darshana Sedera & Zhiming Cheng & Max Ganzin, 2024. "Unlocking circular start‐ups: A model of barriers," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 33(3), pages 2546-2577, March.
    20. Tina Wiegand & Martin Wynn, 2023. "Sustainability, the Circular Economy and Digitalisation in the German Textile and Clothing Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-30, June.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:circec:v:5:y:2025:i:2:d:10.1007_s43615-024-00444-9. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.