Research project The project focuses on the utilisation of animal bodies after death within the framework of the circular economy. We examine how slaughter waste and manure are used in the production of new products, and how consumers handle animal by-products—such as bones, internal organs, and blood—in their everyday food consumption practices.
The aim of the project is to explore through what kinds of practices certain parts of animals are turned into waste or value, and how these practices shape human–animal relationships, as well as broader environmental, economic, ethical, and affective relations.
It is widely acknowledged that human–animal co-existence is currently strongly shaped by the global mass production and consumption of animal products such as meat and milk. However, what often receives less attention is that animal production generates enormous amounts of waste, such as manure and slaughter by-products, which must be managed in one way or another. Moreover, in current consumption practices, many parts of animals—such as internal organs, blood, or bones—are not considered edible.
The project “Waste Values” studies the utilisation of animal waste in the context of the circular economy from a sociological perspective. The aim of the project is to explore through what kinds of practices certain parts of animals are turned into waste or value, and how these practices shape human–animal relationships, as well as broader environmental, economic, ethical, and affective relations.
The project consists of two parts: (1) interviews with people working in biogas plants, on farms, in the meat industry, as well as in other companies that utilise animal waste, as well as participant observation conducted at the companies; and (2) interviews with people who consume meat. The data will be collected in Sweden and Finland.
By examining these two datasets, the project produces new knowledge about the ways of relating to parts of animal bodies after their death, as well as the ways in which production animals are turned into resources after death in the context of the circular economy.
The project contributes to social scientific waste studies and human–animal studies by examining the relationship between the circular economy and animal waste, a topic that has been largely overlooked in social scientific discussions. It builds on the premise that the functioning of the circular economy depends on the types of waste it relies on. In doing so, the project also advances broader societal understanding of the ethical and environmental implications of framing livestock and animal waste as resources. Thus, the project offers insights into how relationships with animals and the environmental consequences of animal production are shaped not only during the lives of production animals, but also after their death.
