An analysis of a product service system in Bolivia: coffee in Yungas

Abstract

The concept of Product-Service Systems (PSS) was suggested as one of the solutions to address the increasing levels of production and consumption. It advocates the view that sustainability can be reached if all elements of the system are optimised from economic, environmental and social perspectives. Lately, we have seen the proliferation of examples of PSS in Western countries, driven by market and legislative pressures. On the other hand, there are still very few cases from developing countries that are described and analysed. It is therefore useful to investigate whether the PSS concept is of value for non-Western countries and how the existing cases are shaped in a different context. This article analyses the case of coffee production in Bolivia from the PSS perspective. It is demonstrated that the shift to the shared ownership of equipment had not only economic but also environmental and social implications and led to an improved quality of life in the community.