As a part of the department’s ongoing internationalisation efforts, Professor Arve Hansen and Researcher Johannes Volden from the Centre for Global Sustainability at the University of Oslo visited the department. The visit was hosted by the research group Consumption, Marketing and Retail on 27–28 November.
Hansen and Volden shared findings from their research, with a focus on building collaboration around sustainability and, in particular, sustainable consumption. Across two open research seminars, both visiting and local researchers shared new insights into how everyday consumption patterns are shaped and how they might change in more sustainable directions.
From alternative proteins to sustainable travel and mobility dilemmas
The first seminar, “Replacing meat and the challenge of edibility,” focused on the growing interest in alternative proteins and plant-based foods. Johannes Volden presented findings from field research in Norway examining how consumers approach meat replacement in daily life. Arve Hansen explored broader “systems of edibility,” showing how cultural traditions, food industries, and everyday habits influence what people consider appropriate or desirable to eat across different regions, including Asia. The session concluded with a presentation by Annabell Merkel, who discussed how unfamiliar foods such as seaweeds are made appealing through processes of tasting, storytelling, and valuation.
Day two turned to the sustainability of travel and mobility practices under the theme “(Un)sustainable mobilities and changing travel practices.” Drawing on fieldwork done in Vietnam, Arve Hansen outlined how mobility should be understood not just as individual travel choices, but as systems of infrastructure, routines, and geography that shape what kinds of movement are considered normal or necessary. Johannes Volden addressed the dilemmas faced by academics and environmental professionals who seek to reduce their climate impact while remaining dependent on air travel. Christian Fuentes presented research on shared mobility platforms, showing that car-sharing and ride-sharing services generally fill specific mobility needs but rarely replace private car ownership altogether.
Conversations about future research on sustainable consumption
In addition to the formal seminars, the visit enabled rich informal discussions among researchers, contributing to the exchange of ideas and the development of future collaborative projects between Lund University and the University of Oslo.
The visit clearly illustrated how international research collaboration can enhance our understanding of complex sustainability challenges embedded in everyday life — from what we eat to how we travel — reinforcing the Department of Service Studies’ commitment to advancing research on sustainable consumption through global academic partnerships.
