Environmental impacts of embedded bathroom practices

Maj-Britt Quitzau

National Environmental Research Institute

Department of Policy Analysis

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Structure of the presentation

• Motivations, aim, approach and empirical sources

• Exploring two themes– The substance of present bathroom normalities– Comparing specific bathroom practices: toilet use and bathing

• Environmental impacts and challenges

• Conclusion

Environmental impacts of normal bathroom development

• Motivation and inspiration from Elizabeth Shove– Noticing the unnoticed– Environmental impacts of changing normalities

• Based on my PhD project: Culture in the bathroom– Social and cultural conditions for change of toilet practices– Twofold interest: stability of toilet, general changes in bathroom

• Research questions– What is seen as normal today and what has driven this? – What are the differences between normalities of toilet use and

bathing? – What are the environmental impacts?

Empirical sources

• Historical studies by others

• Archives: ”Bo Bedre” (Live Better), advertisements and articles through the last 40 years

• The present coverage and advertisements in newspapers, magazines, tv-programmes, exhibitions and shops

• Qualitative interviews with Danes about their bathrooms

A typical Danish bathroom

Observations of typical changes in Danish bathrooms

• Arrangement – Cold/white to warm/colourful– Sterile/functional to cosy/accessorised

• Composition of functions

– Baths to showers– Introduction of new functions like storage

and washing machines

• Status

– Remote to more of a integrated room– Leisure activities in addition to functional

use

Characteristics for present time use in the bathroom

• Effective time use – Get it over with, basic functions (Mette and Henrik)

• Give yourself time – Pleasure, relaxation, withdrawal (Betina and Katrine)

• Quality time – Being together, make use of time (Henrik)

• Extended time consumption – Demanding body care, self-pampering (Susanne and Katrine)

• Handling of time – Bottle-necks, co-ordination

What drives the shifts?

• Shifts in conventions and standards– E.g. more demanding body care, showers in stead of baths

• Reaction to everyday life conditions– The hectic life (dream of comfort and quality time)

• Social setting– Individualisation and status symbols

• New possibilities– Economical surplus, new technologies and greater selection

Comparing toilet use and bathing (I)

• Stability and change are knitted together

• Toilet use– Stabilised practice without recent changes

– The powerful water-flushing toilet: Setting the

scene

• Bathing– Stabilised practice with recent changes

– The variable bathing practice: Changing according to needs

Comparing toilet use and bathing (II)

• Doing as usual

• Uniform practices– water-flush as norm

• Isolated practice– distinction and separation from

other functions/practices

• Old values stick– hygiene, functionality and

privacy

• Stabilised norms

• Exploring new potentials

• Varying practices– bath/shower, spa

• Connected practice– general experience, reflected

in surroundings, connected

• New values arise– relaxing bath, self-pampering,

intensified body care

• Shifting norms

Environmental impacts and challenges

• Changes in normalisation (bathroom in general)– Escalating demands (more resource-intensive)– Spreading of demands (e.g. room comfort)– Challenge: bridle rising demands and resource-intensive

practices

• Differences between toilet use and bathing– Bathing practices could change back – Difficult to change back our toilet use (irreversibility)– Another challenge for toilet use: provide a breeding ground for

alternative toilet practices

Conclusion

• What is seen as normal today and what has driven this?– More integrated room and more extensive time use– Different social, cultural, technical and economic factors

• What are the differences between normalities of toilet use and bathing? – Old values stick to the toilet, while bathing/showering is renewed– Different degrees of embedding in the room (weak/strong link)– Different environmental challenges

• What are the environmental impacts of the normal bathroom?– Escalating demands (room comfort and personal well-being)– Stickiness and irreversibility of practices (e.g. toilet use)