Embedded disposability : A cultural political economy of plastics

Plastic disposability is a pervasive feature of modern life, contributing to environmental degradation and waste generation on a global scale. This dissertation investigates how plastic disposability became deeply embedded within Sweden's cultural, political, and economic structures. Using a Cultural Political Economy (CPE) framework, it applies three lenses – hegemony, lock-in, and practice – to analyse the emergence of plastic disposability in Sweden during the twentieth century. The study examines three key sites to demonstrate how plastic disposability became entrenched: the rise of self-service retail, the introduction of disposable packaging, and the expansion of petrochemical industries. It shows how regulatory frameworks, technological advancements, and cultural shifts normalised a throwaway culture. By the end of the 1960s, waste management and recycling addressed disposability’s consequences without challenging its underlying logic.This dissertation advances CPE scholarship by displaying how the combined lenses of hegemony, lock-in, and practice provide a structured way to analyse socio-material embeddedness. Together, these lenses reveal how disposable plastics became almost impossible to escape, making it challenging to envision alternatives. The analysis demonstrates how the embedded disposability of plastics occurred in Sweden because of structural necessity, economic rationality, and social normalisation. The conclusion is that technological fixes or behavioural nudging alone are insufficient to enable sustainability transitions. Instead, it calls for a shift towards ethics and value rationalities as guiding principles in modern society. By revealing the socio-political dynamics that sustain plastic disposability, this study provides critical insights into the barriers and pathways to more sustainable material practices.