Konsumtionskedja

Konsumtionskedja, a term used in Swedish social sciences, describes the sequence through which goods and services move from natural resources to final use and waste. The concept encompasses production (extraction of raw materials, manufacturing), distribution (logistics, wholesale and retail), consumption (purchase, use, and everyday practices), and end-of-life management (repair, reuse, recycling, and disposal). It emphasizes both material flows and the social and cultural practices that shape demand and use.

While closely related to the broader supply chain or value chain, konsumtionskedja foregrounds the role of consumer behavior, norms, advertising, and identity in driving consumption. The chain is often treated as linear, but many scholars highlight feedback mechanisms, product repair, remanufacturing, and circular economy approaches that shorten or close loops between production and disposal. The concept also considers how digital platforms, marketing, and availability influence what people buy and how long products last.

Understanding konsumtionskedja has implications for environmental policy, resource use, and sustainability. Analyses may address energy consumption, emissions, material throughput, and questions of equity in access to goods. Policy responses include promoting sustainable consumption, improving efficiency, extending producer responsibility, and creating incentives for reuse and recycling. Critics note that focusing on individual consumption can risk obscuring structural factors such as production systems, global inequality, and corporate practices that shape what is consumed and discarded.