Resumo

CASTANEDA, Marcelo. Enviromentalization and politicization of consumption in organic food purchasing practices. Cad. CRH [online]. 2012, vol.25, n.64, pp. 147-160. ISSN 0103-4979.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0103-49792012000100011.

This article's main objective is to reflect upon the processes of environmentalization and politicization of consumption in daily life, emphasizing the multisided field of alimentation. The text focuses on different forms of organic food purchasing practices, by considering the consumers as social actors. The main research questions are the following: Are the organic food purchasing practices perceived as a form of political action? How do consumers deal with the environmental discourse and the demand of responsibility regarding the environmental crisis? Through an ethnographic study of the organic food purchasing practices, the article reveals an increasing individual autonomy concerning political choices in the field of consumption, when public and private spheres meet. Organic food purchasing is perceived as part of a repertoire of individualistic romantic political actions, building bridges to citizenship and creating possibilities for new collective actions.

Palavras-chave : environmentalization and politicization of consumption; daily life; purchasing practices; organic food.