L' intégration des principes de l’économie circulaire dans le quotidien des ménages : le cas des objets usagés
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1522/revueot.v34n3.2011Keywords:
Second-hand objects, circular consumption, sociology of consumption, social practice theoryAbstract
This article provides the results of a research project on the circular economy as implemented by individuals, through the consumption of second-hand objects. It falls within the sociology of sustainable consumption and is based on a social practices approach. The analysis of 19 interviews conducted with people who acquire and use second-hand objects revealed the complexity and richness of this set of practices, in terms of the skills involved and their material aspect, and regarding the meaning attached to the objects and the act of acquiring, using, and disposing them. On the other hand, the results provided clearly show that, as things stand, the acquisition of used objects is a hobby or a passion that requires the development of specific skills and the significant display of temporal, financial, cultural, and social resources, much more than a set of easily generalizable practices. Scaling up this form of circular consumption will require the development of infrastructures that will enable to give objects a real second life.
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