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Dirty Laundry in Manila: Comparing Resource Consumption Practices for Individual and Shared Laundering

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  • Monique Retamal
  • Heinz Schandl

Abstract

Changing lifestyles in developing and emerging economies entail a shift in technology use, everyday practices, and resource consumption. It is important to understand the sustainability consequences of these changes and the potential for policy to guide practices toward more sustainable lifestyles. In this study, we investigate laundry practices in the City of Manila, the Philippines, and compare the resources consumed in three different modes of laundering. We examine (1) traditional washing by hand, (2) washing by machine at home, and (3) using a laundry service. In addition to comparing the consumption of water, energy, and detergents, we also examine the social aspects of laundering using the lens of social practice theory. We use empirical data gathered in interviews with laundry service operators and people laundering at home to undertake qualitative and quantitative analyses of laundry practices and resource consumption. We find that hand washing uses the least water and energy, but large quantities of detergents. Machine washing and laundry services are comparable for water consumption, but energy use is much higher for services as they use dryers. Social changes, such as an increase in work available for women and the nature of future housing, are likely to influence the dominance of either shared or individual laundering methods. These findings illustrate the social complexity of transitions to product‐service systems and the interdependencies between their social and environmental impacts.

Suggested Citation

  • Monique Retamal & Heinz Schandl, 2018. "Dirty Laundry in Manila: Comparing Resource Consumption Practices for Individual and Shared Laundering," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 22(6), pages 1389-1401, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:inecol:v:22:y:2018:i:6:p:1389-1401
    DOI: 10.1111/jiec.12696
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Fenna Blomsma & Geraldine Brennan, 2017. "The Emergence of Circular Economy: A New Framing Around Prolonging Resource Productivity," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 21(3), pages 603-614, June.
    2. Lin, Jiang & Iyer, Maithili, 2007. "Cold or hot wash: Technological choices, cultural change, and their impact on clothes-washing energy use in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 35(5), pages 3046-3052, May.
    3. Sophie Watson, 2015. "Mundane objects in the city: Laundry practices and the making and remaking of public/private sociality and space in London and New York," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 52(5), pages 876-890, April.
    4. Vincent Moreau & Marlyne Sahakian & Pascal Griethuysen & François Vuille, 2017. "Coming Full Circle: Why Social and Institutional Dimensions Matter for the Circular Economy," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 21(3), pages 497-506, June.
    5. Sahakian, Marlyne D., 2011. "Understanding household energy consumption patterns: When "West Is Best" in Metro Manila," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(2), pages 596-602, February.
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    Cited by:

    1. Dami Moon & Eri Amasawa & Masahiko Hirao, 2019. "Laundry Habits in Bangkok: Use Patterns of Products and Services," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(16), pages 1-17, August.
    2. Junming Zhu, 2020. "Suggested use? On evidence‐based decision‐making in industrial ecology and beyond," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 24(5), pages 943-950, October.

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