Skip to main content

The Stubborn Consumer

  • Chapter
Greening Society

Part of the book series: Environment & Policy ((ENPO,volume 33))

  • 90 Accesses

Abstract

Environmental effects resulting from production and consumption are closely linked. An increasing level of prosperity, shifts in consumer patterns, and the alleged power of the consumer through the market brings the role of civil society into the picture in the transition to a sustainable society. The role of consumers and their organisations can — by way of an articulated demand for products with a lower environmental load — be a significant motive for manufacturers to accept the extended coresponsibility described in the previous chapter. Looked at from this point of view it is relevant to find out which trends are taking place in consumer behaviour, and what are the environmental consequences of those trends. It is also interesting to analyse how the interaction between market and civil society in this field takes shape, and what role is and can played by the state to influence consumer behaviour.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Aarts, W., J. Goudsblom, K. Schmidt and F. Spier (1995) Towards a Morality of Modernity, Amsterdam School for Social Science Research, Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aarts, W. (1999) De status van soberheid,Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Baggerman, T. and M.D. Hack (1992) Consumentenonderzoek naar biologische producten, LEI-DLO, Den Haag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Becker, J.W. et al. (1996) Publieke opinie en milieu, Sociaal Cultureel Planbureau, VUGA Uitgeverij, Den Haag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Brezet, H. (1994) Van prototype tot standaard, De diffusie van energiebesparende technologie,Rotterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carley, M. and Ph. Spapens (1998) Sharing the World. Sustainable Living and Global Equity in the 21st Century, St. Martins Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Centrale Raad voor de Milieuhygiene (1981) Milieu van jaar tot jaar 1980,

    Google Scholar 

  • Haag. Couvert, E. and A. Reuling (1999) Milieugedragsmonitor I X, NIPO, Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Couvert, E. and A. Reuling (2000) Milieugedragsmonitor X, NIPO, Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eko-monitor (1999), jg. 1999, nrs. 5 en 6.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ester, P. and H. Vinken (2000) Sustainability and the Cultural Factor. Results from the Dutch GOES MASS PUBLIC MODULE,Dutch National Research Programme on Global Air Pollution and Climate Change, Report 410 200 048, Bilthoven.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eurostat (1998) Final Household Consumption. Main Results and Detailed Tables 1975-1995, European Commission, Bruxelles.

    Google Scholar 

  • Glasbergen, P. and M.C. Groenenberg (2001) Environmental Partnerships in Sustainable Energy, European Environment, 11, pp. 1 - 13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Harland, P. and H.J. Staats (1995) Het EcoTeam Programma in Nederland. Deelrapport 4: longitudinal onderzoek naar de effecten van het EcoTeam Programma op milieurelevant gedrag en psychologische achtergronden. Werkgroep Energie-en Milieuonderzoek,Rijksuniversiteit Leiden.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hoefnagel, R. et al. (1996) Milieurelevant consumentengedrag, Sociaal Cultureel Planbureau, Den Haag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Inglehart, R. (1997) Modernization and Postmodernization: Cultural, Economic and Political Change in 43 Societies, Princeton University Press, Princeton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leiss, W. (1976) The Limits to Satisfaction, University of Toronto Press, Toronto.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lutzenhiser, L. (1997) Social Structure, Culture and Technology: Modelling the Driving Forces of Energy Household Consumption, in: Stern, P.C. et al., Environmentally Significant Consumption: Research Directions, National Academy Press, Washington D.C., pp. 77 - 91.

    Google Scholar 

  • Midden, C.J.M. and G. Louw (1994) `Emotieve factoren in consumentengedrag’, in: C.J.M. Midden and G.C. Bartels, Consument en milieu, Bohn Statleu van Loghem, Houten/Zaventem, pp. 212 - 228.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Management and Fisheries (Ministerie van LNV) (1996) Kracht en Kwaliteit. Plan van Aanpak biologische landbouw,TK 25127 (1-2), Den Haag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment (Ministerie van VROM) (1989) Nationaal Milieubeleidsplan. Kiezen of verliezen,TK 21137(1-2), Den Haag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment (Ministerie van VROM) (1990) Nationaal Milieubeleidsplan-plus,TK 21137(20-21), Den Haag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment (Ministerie van VROM) (1993) Nota Product en Milieu,TK 23562(1/2), Den Haag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment (Ministerie van VROM) (1997) Nota Milieu en Economie,TK 25405(1-2), Den Haag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ministry of Public Health and Environmental Hygiene (Ministerie van VoMil) (1972) Urgentienota Milieuhygiene,TK 11906(1-2), Den Haag.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) (1998) Milieubalans 1998,Alphen aan den Rijn.

    Google Scholar 

  • National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) (2000) Achtergronden bij Milieubalans 2000,http://www.rivm.nl.

    Google Scholar 

  • OECD (1997) Eco-labelling: Actual Effects of Selected Programmes,Paris. Robin, V. and J. Dominguez (1992) Your Money or Your Life,New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Slob, A. et al. (1996) Trendanalyse Consumptie en Milieu, TNO-STB, Apeldoorn.

    Google Scholar 

  • Staatscourant (1998), 24 juni.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steg, E.M. (1999) Verspilde energie?,Sociaal Cultureel Planbureau, Cahier 156, Den Haag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stichting Milieukeur (1999) Jaarverslag 1998,Den Haag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stichling Natuur en Milieu (1975) Natuur en milieu 1972-1974,Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Veen, H. and R van Eeden (1994) Meer doen met minder, Aramith Uitgevers, Bloemendaal.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vermeend, W. and J. van der Vaart (1998) Green Taxes, the Dutch Model, Kluwer, Deventer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vermeulen, W.J.V. (1992) De vervuiler betaald. Onderzoek naar de werking van subsidies op vier deelterreinen van het milieubeleid, Jan van Arkel, Utrecht.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vermeulen, W.J.V. and C.F.M. de Bok (2000) Hobbels op de weg naar een integrale milieubeoordeling van gedragsalternatieven voor huishoudens', Milieu, jg.15, nr. 1, pp. 27-39.

    Google Scholar 

  • Viinger, K. et al. (1997) Her directe en indirecte energiebeslag van Nederlandse huishoudens in 1995, Universiteit Utrecht, Utrecht.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vinger K., et al. (2001) Nederlandse consumptie en energiegebruik in 2030. Een verkenning op basis van twee lange termijn scenario's,RIVM, rapport 408129015, Bilthoven.

    Google Scholar 

  • UN Conference on the Environment and Development (1992) Verklaring van Rio: Agenda 21, Distributiecentrum VROM, Den Haag.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weenig, W.H. (1994) Voorlichting in kleine sociale systemen, in: C.J.M. Midden and G.C. Bartels, Consument en milieu, Bohn Stafleu van Loghem, Houten/Zaventem, pp. 193 - 211.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2002 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Vermeulen, W.J.V. (2002). The Stubborn Consumer. In: Driessen, P.P.J., Glasbergen, P. (eds) Greening Society. Environment & Policy, vol 33. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-9958-0_5

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-9958-0_5

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-90-481-6031-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-015-9958-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics