The overall goal of DISCo is to produce both theoretically informed and applied-oriented knowledge about how sustainable consumption – i.e. consumption that is less resource- and carbon-intensive and/or less environmentally harmful – can be enabled through digital technologies. Previous research has shown that while households are motivated, they face more barriers in a transition to more sustainable consumption practices. This project is based on practice theories and uses several methods to systematically redirect, reorganize and reduce consumption. Ethnographic methods are used to understand everyday life, life cycle assessment (LCA) to understand the effects of proposed solutions, and product design methods to initiate positive change. The focus is both on i) understanding how and under what conditions digital technologies that promote sustainable consumption (both explicitly and otherwise) are integrated into household practices and ii) assessing the sustainability impacts of these efforts. Empirical focus will be on food consumption and mobility. These areas are of interest both because of their significant carbon footprint and because of their central importance for daily consumption.
Progress in the project's first year of life has taken place according to plan without any significant deviations, as data collection in all work packages has been carried out without delays. In terms of implementation, DISCo has been provided with more resources through an allocated deductible from SIFO in 2024 of NOK 450,000, which will make it possible to expand SIFO's role in work package 3 through a survey in collaboration with the University of Tokyo that compares the propensity to use sharing services for transport in Misaka and Oslo, respectively. This will support the importance of the LCA analysis in the project description that will be done in connection with alternative modes of transport. The project has been significantly strengthened by the inclusion of Ruter as stakeholder of the project since August 2024. Their contribution will be in the form of professional input and sharing of transport data that is relevant to the project. In 2025, we gained access to data through Bauer Media Communications, which operates the city bike scheme in Norway – where we get access to user data.
During 2025, SIFO will submit two articles as first author and contribute to four others that are in the process of being submitted. Here are some of the key findings so far:
Main findings: platforms for local food
1. Local food platforms provide access to more organic products
2. They also help support local and small-scale producers
3. However, since small-scale and local are a prerequisite for these platforms, they are difficult to scale up
4. The price and limited availability of pickup times and locations also limit access to these products to consumers who have the financial, technical, and logistical capabilities to leverage the local food platforms
Main findings, sharing platforms, transport
1. Limited sustainability gains since the platforms often replace active transport and public transport rather than driving.
2. The platforms can contribute to more sustainable mobility practices by replacing private car ownership/use.
1. Users of the platforms rarely mention sustainability as a motivation, which can hinder the platforms' ability to replace unsustainable mobility practices.
1. This reduces the ability of platforms to replace unsustainable mobility practices.
Generally:
1. While the digital platforms frame their services as sustainable alternatives, consumers use these platforms in different ways
2. Often, other motivations govern the use of the platforms; e.g. price, convenience, fun/novelty, flexibility, availability of products
3. When platform use is framed in these ways, the sustainability potential is limited.
Global consumption and production volumes have increased for years and are now at a non-sustainable level. This has resulted in over-exploitation of natural resources, loss of biodiversity and climate change. DISCo aims to produce knowledge on how consumption can move in a more sustainable direction by applying digital technologies. While many would agree that it is important to transition to more sustainable lifestyles to address the problems we are facing, changing current consumption patterns has proved difficult. Part of this has to do with the difficulties associated
with being a sustainable consumer. Lack of information, multiple sustainability labels, and green washing create confusion among consumers. Furthermore, practices such as repairing, reusing, purchasing second hand and recycling require knowledge and can be time consuming. Digital technologies can solve many of these problems. Smartphone applications and digital platforms can assist consumers to choose sustainable products in-store, support peer-to-peer sharing networks, and facilitate the reselling of goods. Digital technologies contain thus great promise for promoting sustainable consumption. However, if this potential is to be realised, we must have a better understanding of how and with what environmental consequences these "greening" technologies become part of households' everyday practices. What is involved in the successful introduction of these digital technologies? Do they really bring about more sustainable modes of consumption? DISCo draws on theories of practice and makes use of multiple methods to systematically investigate digital efforts reconfigure consumption in the areas of food and mobility. Ethnographic methods are put to use to understand everyday life, life cycle analysis to understand the impacts of proposed solutions, and design methods to instigate positive change. Empirical focus will be on the consumption of food and mobility.
