Publications
Da klær ble av plast. Nylonstrømpenes vekst og fall [When Clothes Became Plastic: The Rise and Fall of Nylon Stockings].
Arr – Idéhistorisk tidsskrift. 2023, (3-4), 57-65.
By Tone Rasch, Ingrid Haugsrud, and Kirsi Laitala
Abstract
Thin stockings for women were the first clothes made from oil-based fibers in the years immediately following World War II. We have examined how nylon stockings, as industrially produced plastic consumer goods, became part of everyday life and how perceptions of them were shaped and changed during the period from 1950 to 1970 in Norway. From being considered fashion items, they gradually became common consumer goods and are now, in many cases, regarded as disposable products. The value of nylon stockings has declined. At the same time, synthetic fibers have influenced consumer practices. We argue that the history of the rise and fall of nylon stockings in cultural and economic hierarchies during this period helps to understand how plastic became an integral part of our consumer everyday life. This example illustrates how the introduction of synthetic textiles fundamentally changed the use, maintenance, and lifespan of clothing.
Read the full article here.
Plast i hverdagslivet: Politikk, praksis og design for reduksjon
[Plastics in Everyday Life: Policy, Practice and Design for Reduction]
By Nina Heidenstrøm, Marie Hebrok, Harald Throne-Holst and Arne Dulsrud
Date: November 2025 Language: Norwegian (Bokmål) Total number of pages: 84
Publisher: Consumption Research Norway (SIFO), Oslo Metropolitan University
Read it here.
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.
A visual scoping review of plastic consumption in everyday life
Cleaner and Responsible Consumption Volume 16, March 2025, 100248
By Ayse Kaplan Sarisaltik, Tore Gulden and Casper Boks
Read it here.
Abstract
This scoping literature review aimed to understand state-of-the-art knowledge about plastic consumption in the context of daily life by identifying controversies and interventions addressed in the reviewed articles. First, we reviewed articles based on theoretical approaches, methodologies, and country contexts. Second, using a concept map, we analyzed key concepts and dilemmas inherent in plastic consumption, highlighting its complexity. Third, we identified various approaches to interventions for reducing plastic consumption, along with stakeholders’ perceived responsibilities to initiate and implement these changes. We found that in the existing research, behavioral studies are central to the investigations of plastic consumption and primarily focus on single-use plastic products (SUPs), yet within a very narrow scope of product variation. Hence, much of the existing research concentrates on a narrow subset of SUP items, while other significant SUPs and consumer products remain underexplored. We argue that the challenges associated with plastics extend far beyond individual behaviors related to specific products and materials. Finally, we identified research gaps and proposed future studies to expand the scope of plastic products covered, adopt systemic approaches to plastic consumption dilemmas, and explore relational and holistic perspectives beyond disciplinary norms. Drawing on the research-policy nexus on plastic consumption, we emphasize the importance of critically reflecting on how knowledge is produced and applied in policymaking. To achieve just and sustainable transitions, policymakers should prioritize equitable solutions that do not disproportionately burden specific stakeholders, such as consumers, while holding all relevant parties accountable.
A systemic design approach to sustainable menstruation practices.
Proceedings of Relating Systems Thinking and Design, RSD13. Article 76. 2025.
Format: Papers, RSD13 Papers, Topic: Mapping & Modelling, Topic: Socioecological Design
Read it here.
By Ayşe Kaplan Sarısaltık, Marie Hebrok, and Tore Gulden
Abstract
Menstruation practices have significant environmental implications due to the widespread use of disposable menstrual products containing plastic. Despite growing concern over single-use plastics, menstrual products remain largely overlooked in sustainability discussions. This study investigates the intersection of menstruation practices and plastic consumption, aiming to address the lack of attention to menstrual products in sustainability discussions. Drawing from social practice theory and systemic design, the research explores potential intervention areas within menstruation practices to reduce plastic consumption. We conducted visual interviews and workshops to identify diverse perspectives and understandings of participants, leading to a variety of intervention suggestions. The findings of the empirical research are presented in two sections. The first section describes how participants understand menstruation practices, focusing on the elements of practices (materials, meanings, and competences), the interconnected bundles and complexes of practices, and the inter-relations between them. Secondly, we present the suggested interventions by contextualizing them with participants’ perspectives following Soft System Methodology. The synthesized interventions are categorized into four key areas: (1) replacement of disposable products with reusable alternatives, (2) social dynamics, knowledge, and taboo, (3) policy changes, and (4) infrastructure. Overall, findings emphasise the importance of considering broader social dynamics and using relational and comprehensive approaches in promoting sustainable menstruation practices.
KEYWORDS: systemic design, social practice theory, menstruation, plastic consumption, sustainability
Hygiene practices in everyday Life – Exploring the adoption and environmental implications of disposable gloves
No. 6 (2025): Proceedings of the 6th Product Lifetimes and the Environment Conference (PLATE2025) /
Track 8: Rebound Effects and Critical Views – Research Papers
By Atle Wehn Hegnes, Nina Heidenstrøm and Kirsi Laitala
Read it here.
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to increased use of disposable products, notably face masks and disposable gloves. While these items serve as a protective barriers against health hazards, they also pose significant environmental risks due to their resource-intensive production and waste generation. This study explores the adoption of disposable gloves beyond healthcare, probing their use and significance in the daily lives of Norwegian consumers. Employing social practice theory, the research investigates the underlying reasons and ways Norwegian consumers incorporate disposable gloves into various practices, and how more sustainable alternatives could be promoted. The methods encompass mobile ethnography and focus groups with Norwegian consumers. The findings demonstrate that disposable gloves are used to reduce health risk and enhance hygiene in daily life conveniently, consequently increasing waste. Alternative methods for increasing hygiene, such as reusable and longer lasting products or hand washing, are perceived as less hygienic and less convenient. Conclusively, the study sheds light on the complexities of changing material-practice entanglements and offers insights for developing more sustainable hand hygiene practices.