New report!
Read it here! (in Norwegian)
This project report from the REDUCE project explores how everyday plastic consumption can be decreased through political, social, and design-driven measures. The analysis shows that the plastic problem has historically been framed primarily as a waste-management issue—placing too much responsibility on consumers while paying too little attention to production systems and upstream drivers.
The report highlights the inherent duality of plastics in daily life: plastics enable convenience, hygiene, and meaningful cultural practices, yet they also contribute to significant and long-lasting environmental challenges. Reducing plastic use effectively therefore requires a systemic perspective. It is not enough to redesign single products; change must reach across practices, infrastructures, regulations, and cultural norms.
The report argues that meaningful progress depends on coordinated, interdisciplinary interventions. Policy measures, design innovation, and increased material awareness must work together to balance functional needs with environmental considerations. Only by shifting attention from individual behaviour to broader socio-material systems can we create conditions for substantial and lasting reduction in plastic consumption.