Kerstin Nolte and Hauke Kruse, together with Leonie Tuitjer, have published a new article in the journal Ecological Economics. The paper examines how different crises influence sustainable food consumption and brings together two theoretical schools of thought that are rarely considered jointly: individualistic behavioural theories and practice-theoretical approaches.
The analysis shows that different crises trigger different mechanisms of sustainable food consumption. The climate crisis highlights the importance of belief-based and value-based mechanisms: climate anxiety, fears, and identity-based motivations can encourage more sustainable choices, although outcomes are often contradictory. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted everyday routines and sparked a temporary increase in interest in regional and healthy food. Inflation and income losses, by contrast, lead consumers to become more price-sensitive and to turn away from certified or higher-priced sustainable products.
Furthermore, the analysis demonstrates that social inequalities directly shape consumer behaviour during times of crisis and are often exacerbated by crises. A lasting transition towards sustainable food consumption will not be achieved through nudging alone. Rather, it requires structural solutions, such as stable supply chains and better access to sustainable food for all.
The publication is an outcome of the project „Consumption of sustainable food in the context of crises: Climate Change and the Covid 19 Pandemic in Lower Saxony" funded by the MWK.
Nolte, K.; Kruse H.; Tuitjer L. (2026): Sustainable food consumption in times of crisis. Ecological Economics 248. DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2026.109085
