Systemic change beyond the individual: Pathways to resilient and sustainable consumption
Sustainable consumption and resilience in Central and Eastern European business and economics: Regional insights and global perspectives, M. Twardzik,K. Chen, Editör, Routledge, London/New York , New York, ss.1-29, 2026
- Yayın Türü: Kitapta Bölüm / Araştırma Kitabı
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.4324/9781003768494
- Yayınevi: Routledge, London/New York
- Basıldığı Şehir: New York
- Sayfa Sayıları: ss.1-29
- Editörler: M. Twardzik,K. Chen, Editör
- Ankara Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Responsibility for sustainable consumption is usually attributed to the individual consumer, often without analyzing the structure of production, distribution, and trade. This chapter proposes a different approach. The authors point out that lasting change in food consumption requires systemic intervention, not merely a shift in emphasis toward individual awareness or responsibility. This implies shifting the burden from “consumer decisions” to the system’s architecture. The authors of the chapter distinguish between three related concepts: sustainable consumption (which sets the direction), resilient consumption (which ensures resilience in the face of crises), and systemic change (the mechanism linking the two). The shift is guided by the principle of “quality over quantity”, with access to high-quality, safe food products as a prerequisite for resilient and sustainable consumption. This chapter adopts four perspectives (“lenses”) that were applied in the analysis of these phenomena: SD, resilience, safety, and trust. At the core of this chapter is the following mechanism: consumer awareness is essential for verifying the quality and safety of food products, which leads to a change in consumer behavior. This, in turn, leads to the conscious selection of safe, high-quality food products, which positively impacts the health of individuals, communities, and society, the environment, as well as the resilience of businesses that are able to meet consumer expectations and needs. Using the food market in the European and Polish contexts as an example, this chapter demonstrates that intervention at the source is most effective. However, it is effective only when consumer awareness is reflected in actual purchasing behavior.