Circular consumption and valuation work: enacting circularity in everyday clothing practices

This paper investigates and conceptualises the valuation work that consumers perform in circular economies. Drawing on valuation studies, we bring analytical attention to the processes by which value is constituted, negotiated, and operationalised in circular acquisition, use, and disposal practices. Our findings indicate that engaging in circular consumption necessitates the cultivation of specific modes of valuing that challenge prevailing consumer culture and market structures. This involves shifting between different registers of valuing, developing relevant competences, and securing – or being granted – access to essential valuation devices. Such work is demanding, and valuation difficulties frequently arise, at times rendering the enactment of circular consumption challenging or unfeasible. The paper concludes by discussing the implications of these findings for research on circular consumption and for valuation studies more broadly.