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Kirsi Laitala

Kirsi Laitala

Job title
  • Senior Researcher
Visiting address
  • Stensberggata 26, 0170 Oslo
Phone
  • Mobile: +47 984 86 950
  • Office: +47 672 35 632
E-mail
  • kirsi.laitala@oslomet.no
Affiliation

About

Kirsi Laitala is a senior researcher specializing in textiles and sustainability at the Department of Sustainable Textile and Food Consumption, Consumption Research Norway (SIFO), Oslo Metropolitan University. She earned her MSc in Textile, Clothing, and Fiber Engineering from Tampere University of Technology in 2001 and completed her PhD in Product Design at NTNU in 2014.

Laitala has led several interdisciplinary projects that have advanced understanding of environmentally sustainable and socially just consumption patterns. Her research focuses on product lifespans, maintenance, safety, design, fit, repair, and circular value chains, including sharing and reuse, with a particular emphasis on sufficiency-oriented and socially just circular systems. She applies interdisciplinary methods that combine material properties with consumer studies, utilizing both qualitative and quantitative approaches such as home visits, wardrobe studies, and global surveys. Laitala has published over 60 scientific papers and is ranked among the top 2% most cited researchers worldwide.

Field of study

Environment   Clothing   Textile   Consumer behaviour   Sustainable consumption   Clothing consumption   Tekstiler   Textile wash   Laundry

Research groups

Research projects

Ongoing research projects

Completed research projects

Publications and research

Scientific publications

Vanacker, Hester; Brooks, Andrew; Lemieux, Andrée-Anne; Laitala, Kirsi ; Lamouri, Samir (2026). The Circular Economy in Action or a Linear System in Disguise? The International Secondhand Clothing Trade in the Republic of Congo​. Circular Economy and Sustainability. Vol. 6.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s43615-026-01144-2

Mesiranta, Nina; Närvänen, Elina; Vänskä, Martta; Ainasoja, Mari; Mattila, Malla; Laitala, Kirsi ; Samsioe, Emma; Haugsrud, Ingrid ; Fuentes, Christian; Throne-Holst, Harald ; Tölg, Réka (2026). Interventions for Circular Consumption: A Review of Food Waste and Clothing Consumption Studies with Insights From Social Practice Theory. Circular Economy and Sustainability. Vol. 6.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s43615-026-01042-7

Vanacker, Hester; Lemieux, Andrée-Anne; Laitala, Kirsi ; Dindi, Michelle; Bonnier, Sophie; Lamouri, Samir (2025). Understanding garment durability through local lenses: a participatory study with communities across the globe. Scientific Reports. Vol. 15.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-19087-3

Hegnes, Atle Wehn ; Heidenstrøm, Nina ; Laitala, Kirsi (2025). Hygiene practices in everyday Life: Exploring the adoption and environmental implications of disposable gloves. Laursen, Linda Nhu; Hansen, Andreas Kornmaaler (Ed.). Proceedings of the 6th Product Lifetimes and the Environment Conference (PLATE2025). p. 626-631. Aalborg University.
https://doi.org/10.54337/plate2025-10318

Sigaard, Anna Schytte ; Laitala, Kirsi (2025). Repairability of clothing and textiles: Consumer practices and policy implications. International Journal of Sustainable Fashion & Textiles. Vol. 4.
https://doi.org/10.1386/sft_00064_1

Maldini, Irene; Klepp, Ingun Grimstad ; Laitala, Kirsi (2025). The environmental impact of product lifetime extension: a literature review and research agenda. Sustainable Production and Consumption. Vol. 56.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2025.04.020

Vanacker, Hester; Lemieux, Andrée-Anne; Laitala, Kirsi ; Dindi, Michelle; Lamouri, Samir; Bonnier, Sophie (2025). Extending the Lifespan of Garments Globally through Local Upcycling: A Multimethod Approach. Laursen, Linda Nhu; Hansen, Andreas Kornmaaler (Ed.). Proceedings of the 6th Product Lifetimes and the Environment Conference (PLATE2025). p. 1016-1022. Aalborg University.
https://doi.org/10.54337/plate2025-10283

Haugsrud, Ingrid ; Klepp, Ingun Grimstad ; Laitala, Kirsi (2024). Clothing care. Henninger, Claudia; Alevizou, Panayiota; Ryding, Daniella; Goworek, Helen (Ed.). The Palgrave Handbook of Sustainability in Fashion. p. 47-64. Palgrave Macmillan.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-69682-4_4

Laitala, Kirsi ; Klepp, Ingun Grimstad ; Berg, Lisbeth Løvbak (2024). The Impact of Modes of Acquisition on Clothing Lifetimes. Niinimäki, Kirsi (Ed.). Recycling and Lifetime Management in the Textile and Fashion Sector. p. 92-112. CRC Press.
https://doi.org/10.1201/9781003044413-8

Vladimirova, Katia; Samie, Yassie; Maldini, Irene; Iran, Samira; Laitala, Kirsi ; Henninger, Claudia; Alosaimi, Sarah Ibrahim; Drennan, Kelly; Lam, Hannah; Texeira, Ana-Luisa; Jestratijevic, Iva; Weber, Sabine (2024). Urban transitions towards sufficiency-oriented circular post-consumer textile economies. Nature Cities. Vol. 1.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s44284-024-00140-7



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These publications are obtained from Norwegian Research Information Repository. The list may be incomplete.

Research reports

Laitala, Kirsi ; Berg, Lisbeth Løvbak ; Ansteensen, Ann-Kristin (2026). Møbler i referansebudsjettet 2026. ISBN: 9788270636037. 55 p. Forbruksforskningsinstituttet SIFO, OsloMet.
https://hdl.handle.net/11250/5517283

Laitala, Kirsi ; Sigaard, Anna Schytte ; Simon, Nina; Rubach, Synnøve; Sadeleer, Irmeline de (2025). Mot en mer bærekraftig garderobe: Forbrukerperspektiver, markedspotensial og faren for grønnvasking i bruktmarkedet. ISBN: 9788270635825. 34 p. OsloMet - storbyuniversitetet.
https://hdl.handle.net/11250/3199170

Laitala, Kirsi (2025). Textile waste as an environmental challenge - A Knowledge Base for What Now? The Change Lab (Hva nå? Endringslaben). ISBN: 9788270635900. 42 p. Forbruksforskningsinstituttet SIFO, OsloMet.
https://hdl.handle.net/11250/5320063

Berg, Lisbeth Løvbak ; Laitala, Kirsi (2023). Professional and private clothing repair in Norway: scale and price examples. 22 p. OsloMet - storbyuniversitetet.
https://hdl.handle.net/11250/3103741

Clarke, simon J.; Klepp, Ingun Grimstad ; Laitala, Kirsi ; Wiedemann, Stephen G. (2022). Delivering EU environmental policy through fair comparisons of natural and synthetic fibre textiles in PEF. 20 p. Make The Label Count.
https://hdl.handle.net/11250/4701869

Vittersø, Gunnar ; Hebrok, Marie ; Heidenstrøm, Nina ; Klepp, Ingun Grimstad ; Laitala, Kirsi ; Tangeland, Torvald ; Throne-Holst, Harald ; Torjusen, Hanne (2021). Bærekraftig koronaliv. 30 p. OsloMet - storbyuniversitetet.
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12199/6528

Heidenstrøm, Nina ; Strandbakken, Pål; Haugrønning, Vilde ; Laitala, Kirsi (2021). Product lifetime in European and Norwegian policies. ISBN: 9788270635313. 142 p. OsloMet - storbyuniversitetet.
https://hdl.handle.net/11250/2774663

Roos, Gun ; Klepp, Ingun Grimstad ; Laitala, Kirsi ; Haugrønning, Vilde ; Bugge, Annechen Bahr ; Skuland, Silje Elisabeth ; Steinnes, Kamilla Knutsen ; Teigen, Helene Maria Fiane (2020). Barn og unges forbruk: klær, mat og kropp. ISBN: 9788270635160. 180 p. OsloMet - storbyuniversitetet.
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12199/6458

Laitala, Kirsi ; Klepp, Ingun Grimstad (2020). Klær og miljø:Innkjøp, gjenbruk og vask. ISBN: 9788270635047. 50 p. OsloMet - storbyuniversitetet.
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12199/3065

Tangeland, Torvald ; Heidenstrøm, Nina ; Haugrønning, Vilde ; Throne-Holst, Harald ; Hebrok, Marie ; Klepp, Ingun Grimstad ; Laitala, Kirsi ; Steinnes, Kamilla Knutsen (2020). Virkemidler for forbruksendringer – med utgangspunkt i tiltak fra Klimakur 2030. ISBN: 9788270635184. 156 p. OsloMet - storbyuniversitetet.
https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12199/6496



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These publications are obtained from Norwegian Research Information Repository. The list may be incomplete.

Dissemination

Townsend, Nick; Laitala, Kirsi (2026). Does washing in cold water actually clean clothes? · The Wash Guide.
https://hdl.handle.net/11250/5591631

Tonheim, Liselotte Bakkevig; Laitala, Kirsi (2026). Fretex Miljø slit – den lokale butikken går i pluss.
https://doi.org/https://www.jbl.no/fretex-miljo-sl

Sigurdsen, Mathilde Nordskog; Laitala, Kirsi (2026). Vaskepulver: Kan koste deg dyrt - VGTV.
https://hdl.handle.net/11250/5570412

Risa, Elisabeth; Laitala, Kirsi (2026). Gratis arbeidskraft er avgjørende.
https://hdl.handle.net/11250/5570039

Fossheim, Mari; Laitala, Kirsi ; Thornton, Tereza; Bjørge, Adrian (2026). Slik ser du om klærne varer før du kjøper.
https://doi.org/https://www.klimaoslo.no/slik-ser-

Laitala, Kirsi (2026). Luksus, bærekraft og forbruk: Hva kan silke lære oss ?. Earth- and East festival. Nerdrum Museum, Sjøparken, Thor Heyerdahl Instituttet ved Vestfoldmuseene og CAN.
https://hdl.handle.net/11250/5531454

Lassen, Kjersti ; Laitala, Kirsi ; Volden, Tuva Neraal (2026). – Mange blir overrasket over hvor mye klær vi kaster i Norge.
https://doi.org/https://ung.forskning.no/barn-og-u

Volden, Tuva Neraal; Laitala, Kirsi (2026). Klærne vi kaster - Hva nå? Endringslaben på Arendal bibliotek.
https://doi.org/https://endringslaben.no/

Laitala, Kirsi ; Volden, Tuva Neraal (2026). Klærne vi kaster - Hva nå? Endringslaben på Kongsvinger bibliotek.
https://hdl.handle.net/11250/5531455

Laitala, Kirsi (2025). Når overproduksjon og forbruk blir et problem: Konsekvenser for miljø og mennesker globalt. Fra motedrøm til søppeldynga – hva gjør vi med klærne ingen vil ha?. NTNU, NF&TA & OsloMet.
https://hdl.handle.net/11250/5531453



See all publications


These publications are obtained from Norwegian Research Information Repository. The list may be incomplete.
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