Marnell Kirsten: Consumer behaviour in the circular economy

Marnell Kirsten is a doctoral student in Industrial Marketing. Her work comprises of a multi-media and interdisciplinary project that starts from the basis of remapping and redefining consumption for the circular economy.

Where do you come from? Where have you been?

I am from South Africa and was raised in a small town north of Cape Town. Born in the last decade of the country’s apartheid period, and seeing the country’s many transitions since 1994, I became acutely aware of social, economic, and political inequalities. As a result, my work is still motivated by the possibility of addressing systemic social and other injustices in South Africa and elsewhere.

My academic background is diverse and allows me to make creative and critical connections in my research. I have an undergraduate degree in jewellery design, a honours and master’s in visual studies, and a master’s in science and technology studies, specialising in science communication. My areas of interest include cultural semiotics, the politics of visual representation, data visualisation, and cultural implications of visual AI generated content.

What brought you to Luleå University of Technology?

After my master’s in science communication, I knew I wanted to pursue doctoral studies, but was simultaneously job hunting and looking for a stimulating opportunity that could help me make a difference in the world. I found the position at Luleå University of Technology by luck and started my studies here in October 2023.

What is your research contribution to Creaternity?

Established critiques against the circular economy shows that current literature does not sufficiently address social dimensions of sustainability or the critical role that consumption plays in the polycrisis we find ourselves in. My work attempts to contribute to both these points by focusing my empirical research on two communities on the margins of linear consumption, who each extend the lifecycle of ‘waste’ and thus help to ‘close the loop’ of discarded items that are not yet at their usable end-of-life. These communities are informal waste reclaimers in South Africa and dumpster divers in Sweden. Practices that currently sit on the margins of linear consumption may supplement an understanding of the place and function of consumption in the CE.

Why is Creaternity important?

Creaternity provides a valuable space and opportunity for researchers to collaborate with each other and key industry players to address some of the most pressing issues around sustainability challenges. The emphasis on cross-disciplinary work is very powerful and could help accelerate relevant solutions to these challenges.

Where are you going?

For now, I am trying to be a sponge and absorb as much knowledge and understanding as possible. I am hoping that my research will offer new and valuable insights into the circular economy, its strengths and its weaknesses, while providing ways to address such limitations.

• Contact: Marnell Kirsten