Materials Management through Sustainable Consumption: Research, Policy and Practice
Cindy Isenhour, Dept. of Anthropology, UMaine
A significant body of research suggests that production efficiencies are unlikely to result in environmental improvements adequate to avoid “dangerous” climate change, resource depletion, and increasingly significant waste management issues. This is, in part, because rapidly growing levels of consumption are outpacing efficiency improvements globally (OECD 2008, Jenkins et. al. 2011, EEA 2014). These findings have increased awareness of and policy support for engaging communities in more effective materials management practices (EEA 2014). Emerging policies designed to support re-use and sharing economies reflect this growing recognition (Agyeman 2013, Orsi 2013, Oregon DEQ 2012, EEA 2014). Dr. Isenhour’s seminar builds upon these findings and her own research to: 1) review recent efforts to measure the environmental impacts of consumption – and the economic, social and environmental value of re-use economies; 2) outline a proposed research program designed to measure the economic, ecological, social and cultural value of Maine’s reuse economy; and 3) provide an overview of several existing policies that might be implemented in Maine to improve materials management and reduce emissions through sustainable consumption.