Práticas emergentes no enfrentamento domiciliar à pandemia da Covid-19

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic and its consequent implications had a global socioeconomic impact and, given this, substantially influenced consumption. New habits emerge from this impact, and new research opportunities are opening up. Thus, consumer behaviors in the context of a health crisis involve several issues, and an understanding of how these points can affect this behavior also requires a consideration of the social nature. We propose the practice theory lenses for the study of practices consumption-related household. This study aims to examine the changes resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic in domestic consumption practices related to Brazilians through the lens of the practices. For this purpose, we used a qualitative approach based on practice theory whose data collection took place through records in ‘solicited diaries’ digitally combined with interviews, in addition to notes in the field diary. We based the analysis on the constituent elements of the practices, following the precepts of categorical analysis. Based on the experiences of 34 Brazilian informants living in Brazil and Germany, we sought to unveil the materialities, meanings, and skills in the process of incorporating practices related to consumption in a period of confrontation with COVID-19. We noticed different impacts on consumption behaviors, often directed at unsustainable consumption. These new standards involve the increase in the consumption of cleaning products, such as bleach and soap, an increase in alcohol in this disinfection routine, and an increase in water consumption. The changes suffered in the performances invariably culminate in environmental impacts on different occasions, pointing out that the COVID-19 pandemic is contributing to global pollution and water scarcity. These results alert to the challenges that governments, institutions, and individuals will have to face in an attempt to reverse the damaging effects of the pandemic on sustainability goals. Thus, this research seeks to contribute to the literature referring to consumption in a crisis context and the application of theories of practice in a situation of disruption in daily life.