Introduction

Abstract

This opening chapter of the book presents an overview of the main themes and issues to be covered in the volume. It identifies the principal challenges connected with sustainable consumption and situates these in relation to developments in academic thinking in innovation, design, economics and environmental sociology, and in connection with public policy-making, market development and consumerism and ‘bottom up’ initiatives. The chapter lays the foundations of the book in terms of its concern with the contribution of design and environmental activism, innovation and changing social practices towards reducing unsustainable consumption, and with the nature and extent of emerging phenomena related to the sharing economy, DIY design and ‘prosumption’.