New open-access volume: Myths about Sustainable Consumption: Dispelled

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We are very pleased to share that our edited open-access volume, Myths about Sustainable Consumption: Dispelled, has now been published by Routledge. The volume is fully open access and available here: https://www.taylorfrancis.com/books/oa-edit/10.4324/9781003613718/myths-sustainable-consumption-dispelled-oksana-mont

The book critically examines widely held assumptions about sustainable consumption and addresses twelve persistent myths that continue to shape academic discourse, policy design, and business strategies. Contributors analyse the historical roots, political functions, and practical consequences of these narratives, and discuss their implications for governance and transformation.

The twelve myths examined in the volume are:

  1. There’s no point in me sacrificing myself when no one else cares
  2. Infophilia – information alone will change consumer behaviour
  3. Shopping is the perfect therapy – consumption offers lasting happiness
  4. The more, the merrier – the road to freedom and well-being is paved with endless choices
  5. In tech we trust – the environmental crisis can be engineered away and sustainable consumption attained
  6. Services will save us – sustainability without sacrifice through access, sharing and digitalisation
  7. It’s not worth repairing: the myth of neophilia
  8. Sufficiency means the end of modern life, comfort and joy – people will never choose less
  9. Without economic growth, sustainable consumption is impossible
  10. Economic progress will naturally lead to more free time
  11. Transition to sustainable consumption is primarily driven by consumer demand
  12. Strong sustainable consumption governance means sacrificing freedom and well-being

In parallel, we have developed a Massive Open Online Course, Dispelling Myths about Sustainable Consumption, which presents the core arguments in an accessible format with short lectures, quizzes, and additional interviews and seminars with researchers about the myths. The course is available on Coursera:  https://www.coursera.org/learn/dispelling-myths-about-sustainable-consumption

We hope the book contributes to ongoing critical debate within the SCORAI community and supports efforts to rethink how sustainable consumption is conceptualised and governed.

Please feel free to share this information within your networks, students and colleagues.