My research studies how consumer well-being can be maximized while still decreasing environmental impact through reduced consumption. Material consumption may increase happiness but there may be no further progress beyond a certain point, and happiness may even decline. It is not realistic to expect all consumers to reduce consumption, nor is it likely that all businesses will adopt sufficiency practices of their own accord, despite there being benefits for both. Individual consumers must be supported in changing their consumption behavior and companies and governing organizations have a significant role to play as they are responsible for much of the external conditions limiting consumers’ freedom to choose and act. Strategies encouraging reduction, such as demarketing and sufficiency business models, and how they affect consumers' well-being are the focus of study.
Past affiliations:
- MSc Industrial Ecology, TU Delft and Leiden University
- BSc Environmental Science and Management, University of Rhode Island
- Research Intern, Meyserson Laboratory, University of Rhode Island
- Non-academic employment: project management, outdoor education, elementary science and technology education