dc.contributor.author	Muster, Viola
dc.contributor.author	Iran, Samira
dc.contributor.author	Münsch, Marlene
dc.date.accessioned	2022-11-28T12:37:54Z
dc.date.available	2022-11-28T12:37:54Z
dc.date.issued	2022-08-26
dc.date.updated	2022-09-09T07:14:23Z
dc.description.abstract	Popular literature and guidebooks on minimalism and decluttering have brought the idea of “less is more” into the mainstream. Although decluttering constitutes a central household chore in consumer societies, it is rarely communicated as work within the current popular minimalism discourse, but rather as an expression of self-care. Whether and to what extent this “lifestyle minimalism” can contribute to sustainable consumption has – with a few exceptions – not yet been studied in detail. In this article, decluttering is first conceptualized in between housework and self-care. Based on this work, potentials and limits for the promotion of sustainable consumption are outlined. Finally, initial insights from an ongoing citizen science project on decluttering in Germany are presented. The qualitative results from two workshops and two reflection exercises show that the main motivation for participants is the dissatisfaction with their multitude of possessions and the desire for fewer material possessions in the future. The decision to declutter can be understood as a window of opportunity in which individuals are willing to reflect on and realign their possessions and desires for goods. Thus, we argue that decluttering can be a relevant starting point for changing consumption behavior toward (more) sustainable consumption. At the same time, it remains unclear whether and to what extent the participants' willingness to change regarding possessions and consumption actually leads to more sustainable consumption behavior after decluttering. It is even conceivable that the newly gained space will stimulate additional consumption. Decluttering would then rather function as a catalyst for further consumption (and would have no or rather a negative contribution to sustainability goals). Further research is needed to shed light on this.
dc.description.sponsorship	BMBF, 01BF2111B, Mein Ding - Teilvorhaben TU Berlin - Ich bin, was ich (nicht) habe
dc.description.sponsorship	BMBF, 01BF2111C, Mein Ding - Teilvorhaben ConPolicy - Ich bin, was ich (nicht) habe
dc.description.sponsorship	DFG, 414044773, Open Access Publizieren 2021 - 2022 / Technische Universität Berlin	en
dc.identifier.eissn	2673-4524
dc.identifier.uri	https://depositonce.tu-berlin.de/handle/11303/17726
dc.identifier.uri	https://doi.org/10.14279/depositonce-16512
dc.language.iso	en
dc.rights.uri	http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.subject.ddc	333 Boden- und Energiewirtschaft	de
dc.subject.other	decluttering
dc.subject.other	lifestyle minimalism
dc.subject.other	sustainable consumption
dc.subject.other	household work
dc.subject.other	care
dc.title	The cultural practice of decluttering as household work and its potentials for sustainable consumption
dc.type	Article
dc.type.version	publishedVersion
dcterms.bibliographicCitation.articlenumber	958538
dcterms.bibliographicCitation.doi	10.3389/frsus.2022.958538
dcterms.bibliographicCitation.journaltitle	Frontiers in Sustainability
dcterms.bibliographicCitation.originalpublishername	Frontiers
dcterms.bibliographicCitation.originalpublisherplace	Lausanne
dcterms.bibliographicCitation.volume	3
tub.accessrights.dnb	free
tub.affiliation	Fak. 1 Geistes- und Bildungswissenschaften::Inst. Berufliche Bildung und Arbeitslehre::FG Arbeitslehre / Ökonomie und Nachhaltiger Konsum
tub.affiliation.faculty	Fak. 2 Mathematik und Naturwissenschaften	de
tub.affiliation.group	FG Physikalische Chemie / Molekulare Materialwissenschaften	de
tub.affiliation.institute	Inst. Chemie	de
tub.publisher.universityorinstitution	Technische Universität Berlin

The cultural practice of decluttering as household work and its potentials for sustainable consumption

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