Ненужные вещи, мусорная проблема и солидарные практики российских потребителей

Экономическая социология. 2024. Т. 25. № 2. С. 11–42.

Shabanova M. A.

Drawing on the results of three all-Russia representative surveys (2017, 2020, and December 2022, N=2000 in each case), this study for the first time reveals the data on the level, dynamics and factors of Russians’ engagement in various practices of handling underutilized items that have not lost their consumer properties, but no longer needed by their owners. Special emphasis is made on solidarity practices, such as free transfer of such items to strangers and acquaintances (with the exception of relatives) as compared to market practices (sales through Internet platforms, second-hand shops, etc.) and throwing items into the landfill. It has been established that there is a different probability to be engaged in various practices for Russians with different value-activity, socio-demographic and status characteristics. Young people (18-34) are a problematic group, more likely to be engaged in throwing items away and market practices and less likely - in charitable giving.  It has been shown that donors’ resource potential (willingness to transfer unwanted items in good condition to other people for free) has substantially declined on most counts in 2022 as opposed to 2020. However, the donors’ potential has not been fully realized and it still remains fairly significant. Recommendations are made for measures to enhance the role of civil society and productive practices, while reducing the destructive ones in this sphere. The conclusion is made that the practices of discarding unnecessary items are increasingly becoming a tool for manifesting civic responsibility and expanding the boundaries of civil society in Russia.

Keywords: гражданское общество, civil society, устойчивое развитие, проэкологическое поведение, pro-environmental behavior, donations, пожертвования, sustainable development, waste issue, мусорная проблема, disposal of unnecessary items, used items, solidarity practices, ethical (responsible) consumption, избавление от ненужных вещей (предметов), подержанные вещи (предметы), солидарные практики, этичное (ответственное) потребление

Publication based on the results of: Evolution of self-organization and charity institutions (2024)