Extend Product Lifetimes Research Articles

The effect of repair and lifetime extension on the environmental performance of energy-using products. Application to electric water kettles

This study evaluates the environmental impacts of extending the lifetime of electric kettles through repair strategies by means of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology. A total of 2640 scenarios were analysed, each considering six variables: material composition, usage intensity, year of failure, failure management, lifetime extension, and end-of-life (EoL) management. The results demonstrate that extending kettle lifetimes through repair can reduce the total environmental impact by up to 35 %, particularly in scenarios where low-energy use is combined with maximum lifetime extension. The use phase contributed the most to the environmental impact, accounting for 48–64 % of the total in most scenarios, driven primarily by energy consumption during kettle operation. In contrast, material composition and EoL management had a smaller effect, representing only 5–10 % of the impact. Repairs focused on lime descaling were the most effective, reducing the environmental burden by up to 20 %, while repairs involving component replacement were less impactful in this regard. These findings underscore the potential of repair strategies to significantly reduce the environmental footprint of household appliances. Policymakers should prioritise repairability in product design and promote consumer awareness to extend product lifetimes and achieve lower environmental impacts.

Data Science Applications in Circular Economy: Trends, Status, and Future.

The circular economy (CE) aims to decouple the growth of the economy from the consumption of finite resources through strategies, such as eliminating waste, circulating materials in use, and regenerating natural systems. Due to the rapid development of data science (DS), promising progress has been made in the transition toward CE in the past decade. DS offers various methods to achieve accurate predictions, accelerate product sustainable design, prolong asset life, optimize the infrastructure needed to circulate materials, and provide evidence-based insights. Despite the exciting scientific advances in this field, there still lacks a comprehensive review on this topic to summarize past achievements, synthesize knowledge gained, and navigate future research directions. In this paper, we try to summarize how DS accelerated the transition to CE. We conducted a critical review of where and how DS has helped the CE transition with a focus on four areas including (1) characterizing socioeconomic metabolism, (2) reducing unnecessary waste generation by enhancing material efficiency and optimizing product design, (3) extending product lifetime through repair, and (4) facilitating waste reuse and recycling. We also introduced the limitations and challenges in the current applications and discussed opportunities to provide a clear roadmap for future research in this field.

Careless product use in access-based services: A rebound effect and how to address it

The sharing economy promises to alleviate environmental pressures by optimizing the distribution and use of resources, for example, shifting from ownership to access-based services. Services that grant users access for a long period only improve sustainability if they extend product lifetimes. However, careless use of accessed products reduces product lifetimes. We investigate the problem–solution space of product care in access-based services. A user survey reveals significantly lower product care for accessed than owned washing machines. We then systematically develop solutions to stimulate product care in access-based services, resulting in ten strategies and 23 design solutions. Levers and barriers to promoting product care are uncovered through interviews with access-based service providers; the range of products impacts providers’ ability to implement product-specific care strategies, the service can be designed to deter or attract user groups, and providers’ control over the supply chain determines which product care strategies they can implement.

Until death do us part? In‐depth insights into Dutch consumers’ considerations about product lifetimes and lifetime extension

AbstractLong‐lasting electronic products contribute to a sustainable society; however, both expected and actual lifetimes are in decline. This research provides in‐depth insights into consumers’ considerations about product lifetimes, barriers to extending lifetimes, and responses to a product lifetime label. Results of interviews (n = 22) with Dutch consumers suggest a positive view on long‐lasting products. Nevertheless, their products’ value depreciated during their lifetimes. Consumers consider themselves unable to estimate how long products should last, which can be detrimental as low expectations tend to negatively influence actual lifetimes. Also, use intensity and consumers’ care(less) behavior influence the lifetime. To extend product lifetimes, consumers often disregard the option of repairing malfunctioning products. They have limited knowledge and ability, and believe repair provides poor value for money. Lifetime extension can also be hindered by market‐related factors, such as convenient replacement services, new technological developments, and (attractive) deals. We suggest a product lifetime label should contain relevant and reliable information; furthermore, we recommend including (extended) warranty information. When information about repairability is included, potential negative responses should be considered. Finally, raising awareness about the environmental impact of short‐lived products via a label may have a positive effect but requires more research attention.

Lifetime modeling for organic light-emitting diodes: a review and analysis

ABSTRACT Organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs) of all kinds inevitably undergo permanent performance degradation over time, leading to burn-in in the displays made with the OLEDs. To compensate for display burn-in and extend product lifetimes, having a model that can precisely predict OLED degradation is most essential. In this work, we review a few select studies that focused on the physics-based analysis and modeling of OLED degradation. The framework and features of the lifetime models based on the physical mechanisms behind OLED degradation are discussed. In particular, the post-degradation performance of OLEDs is understood in terms of the detrimental effect of degradation-induced defects on the behavior of charges and excitons. Experimental attempts to identify the type and relevant characteristics of the defects are particularly important and thus, are dealt with in this review. Lastly, we discuss the relevant theories and methodologies for measuring the exciton distribution in OLEDs, which is one of the most crucial pieces of information in understanding the device characteristics. We emphasize the limitation of the current lifetime models and what needs to be improved for practical use to achieve a longer lifetime for OLED displays.

Do consumers mind contamination by previous users? A choice-based conjoint analysis to explore strategies that improve consumers' choice for refurbished products

Refurbishment is an effective strategy to extend product lifetimes in a circular economy. However, consumers believe that refurbished products are contaminated with traces of prior use, which can be indicated by the appearance (e.g., scratches) or functionality (e.g., lower battery capacity) of refurbished products. This research explores strategies to improve consumer adoption of refurbished products by reducing contamination. In a choice-based conjoint analysis, 785 participants were exposed to refurbished headphones varying in features related to contamination, warranty, and price. We tested three contamination-reducing strategies, including (1). Communication about the clean object state, (2). Eliminating signs of use (aesthetic and functional wear-and-tear) and (3). Renewing parts that touch the skin (e.g., ear-cushions). Additionally, we analysed whether different consumer groups are driven by different attributes of refurbished products. Results showed that most consumers value refurbished products that show no signs of wear-and-tear and that have parts touching the skin renewed during the refurbishment process. These attributes are even more important than the reduced price or warranty, even though these are frequently used to market refurbished products. Depending on the consumer group, other contamination-reducing strategies were of great influence. While some consumer groups highly valued that signs of prior use are eliminated through an as-new appearance, others preferred refurbished products without functional wear-and-tear. In conclusion, four design strategies to deal with contamination during multiple life cycles of refurbished products are discussed.

Product obsolescence and its relationship with product lifetime: An empirical case study of consumer appliances in Japan

A precise understanding of product obsolescence is fundamental for extending product lifetimes and promoting a circular economy. Previous studies have revealed that various factors affect product obsolescence other than failure. However, very few studies have quantitatively examined the relationships between these factors and product lifetime. Therefore, this study investigated the relationship between the lifetime of consumer appliances (digital cameras, microwaves, and PCs) and the reasons for their obsolescence based on a questionnaire survey to Japanese consumers. Device failure appeared to be the major reason for product obsolescence for all products. However, consumer demand for new functions or other new device characteristics was also a significant reason for product obsolescence for digital cameras, regardless of the duration of use, as well as for microwaves during the first three years of use. These results provide useful insights for designers and manufacturers aiming to extend product lifetimes.

The adoption of circular economy practices in supply chains – An assessment of European Multi-National Enterprises

The European Commission Circular Economy Action Plan aims at fostering a society based on sustainable production and consumption. Within this context, industrial organisations are called to implement a wide set of practices to drive this transition: manufacturing easy-to-repair and sustainable products, adopting solutions aimed at extending product lifetime, and promoting remanufacturing and materials’ recycling. A major contribution is expected from Multi-National Enterprises (MNEs), as these organisations dominate the European economy and coordinate resource-intensive global supply networks.As such, this study assesses the Circular Economy-inspired initiatives promoted by the largest European MNEs. The content of sustainability reports is scrutinised, through a template analysis technique, in order to create a database of Circular Economy practices. Key findings include the degree of implementation, the level of involvement of supply chain partners, and the drivers behind the implementation of such practices. Furthermore, a conceptual framework is proposed, in order to describe the adoption of Circular Economy practices as a supply chain process. A theoretical discussion explores the role of institutional pressures and supply chain integration to shape the transition towards the adoption of Circular Economy practices in global supply chains.

Re-thinking producer responsibility for a sustainable circular economy from extended producer responsibility to pre-market producer responsibility

The transition to a sustainable Circular Economy (CE) requires moving away from linear production processes and the throwaway mentality. Waste needs to be prevented and the consumption of new products must decline. In particular, this involves extending product lifetime (through maintenance and repair) and supporting second-hand trading (reuse). Such a transformation of consumption patterns requires a fundamental change notably in business models. The role of the law is to enable the change. For a long time, the objective of retaining the primary value of products has been linked to waste prevention, which is the main priority of the waste hierarchy as laid out in the EU Waste Framework Directive, 2008/98/EC. However, waste law appears somewhat ill-suited to address these issues. The incentives provided by the extended producer responsibility (EPR) scheme are limited when it comes to promoting upstream design changes. In line with what Lindhqvist, the father of EPR in Europe, originally had in mind, the responsibility of producers should cover products’ entire life cycle, not just their end-of-life. This article explores the current tensions between EU waste law and the objectives of the CE, and calls for incorporating a pre-market producer responsibility (PPR) within a legal framework for products in order to limit market access to durable, reparable and reusable products.

COMPARING CONSUMERS’ PRODUCT CARE IN ACCESS AND OWNERSHIP MODELS

AbstractProduct-service systems are circular business models that can potentially extend product lifetimes and reduce resource consumption. However, consumer product care is crucial in these business models. We explore consumer product care of newly bought, second-hand, and accessed bicycles and washing machines through an online survey (n = 212). Our analysis shows lower consumer product care of accessed products compared to ownership. Three strategies could address this; design for care, design to reduce the need for care, contractual conditions to stimulate care or penalise the lack thereof.

Theorizing self‐repairers' worldview–personhood to advance new thinking on extended product lifetimes

AbstractThe ecological and societal problems caused by product obsolescence and consumerism in modern economies constitute a “wicked human‐made problem” of significant magnitude. Current (old) ways of thinking cannot address these problems. Accordingly, in this paper, we critically explore the novel idea of integrated personhood and worldviews to theorize research on self‐repairers and their repair behaviours to extend product lifetimes. We conducted a structured and systematic review of published work (n = 183) to identify the conceptual content of the field to inform our theorization. Our findings highlight three key issues. First, constricted theorization undermines understanding of self‐repairers and their product lifetime extension (and spillover) behaviours. Second, the underlying conceptual complexity is typically underestimated. Third, the dominance of voluntarist and deterministic studies impedes new directions in research. From our review, an integrated worldview–personhood framework emerges that can deepen understanding of avant‐garde self‐repairers’ engagement with product lifetimes.

Ageing (dis)gracefully: Enabling designers to understand material change

From the moment of purchase, pristine objects are subjected to an array of stimuli including wear, impact, heat, light, water and air which alter their tactile and aesthetic properties. Material change is often regarded as ‘damage’ or ‘degradation’ and contributes to premature obsolescence but has potential to be used as a tool to engender emotional engagement with an object and extend product lifetimes. However, materials resources for designers rarely provide information about how materials will change in use. In this paper we draw on a combination of literature and user studies to elucidate the complex web of factors which contribute to changes in material surfaces, which we present in a ‘framework for understanding material change’. We go on to explore the role that changes to product material surfaces, and the design of objects to change in particular ways with use, could have on the transition to circular modes of consumption. A range of resources which aim to increase designers' understanding of material change are presented, and the challenges of creating, utilising and developing these resources are discussed.

Public acceptance of resource-efficiency strategies to mitigate climate change

Rapid action to improve resource efficiency is essential for achieving climate mitigation goals. As they are likely to reshape everyday life in unexpected ways, new products, policies and business models will need to consider the public acceptability of resource-efficiency strategies, as well as the technical emission-reduction potential. Here, using consumption-based emissions modelling and deliberative public workshops, we find considerable public support for a range of resource-efficiency strategies that combined could reduce the carbon footprint in the United Kingdom by up to 29 Mt of CO2-equivalent (CO2e) emissions (a 39% emissions reduction from household products, such as cars, clothing, electronics, appliances and furniture). Public acceptability is already high for strategies that aim to develop more resource-efficient products. Strategies that aim to encourage product sharing and extend product lifetimes were also perceived positively, although acceptance was dependent on meeting other important conditions, such as trustworthiness, responsibility, fairness, affordability, convenience, safety and hygiene.

Consumer Intervention Mapping—A Tool for Designing Future Product Strategies within Circular Product Service Systems

Re-distributed manufacturing presents a number of opportunities and challenges for New Product Development in a future Circular Economy. It has been argued that small-scale, flexible and localised production systems will reduce resource consumption, lower transport emissions and extend product lifetimes. At the same time smart products within the Internet of Things will gather and report data on user behaviour and product status. Many sustainable design tools have previously been developed but few are able to imagine and develop visions of how future sustainable product service systems might be manifested. This paper introduces the concept of Consumer Intervention Mapping as a tool for creating future product strategies. The tool visualises the points within a product’s lifecycle where stakeholders are able to intervene in the product’s expected journey. This perspective enables the rapid construction of scenarios that explore and describe future circular product service systems. Validation of the tool in three workshops is described and the outcomes are presented. Consumer Intervention Mapping is successful in creating scenarios that describe existing product service systems and new product concepts adapted to a Circular Economy paradigm. Further work is required to refine the tool’s performance in more focused and reflective design exercises.

Identification of irradiated wheat by germination test, DNA comet assay and electron spin resonance

In several countries, there has been an increase in the use of radiation for food processing thus improving the quality and sanitary conditions, inhibiting pathogenic microorganisms, delaying the natural aging process and so extending product lifetime. The need to develop analytical methods to detect these irradiated products is also increasing. The goal of this research was to identify wheat irradiated using different radiation doses. Seeds were irradiated with a gamma 60Co source (Gammacell 220 GC) in the Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura and the Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares. Dose rate used were 1.6 and 5.8 kGy/h. Applied doses were 0.0, 0.10, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.0, and 2.0 kGy. After irradiation, seeds were analysed over a 6 month period. Three different detection methods were employed to determine how irradiation had modified the samples. Screening methods consisted of a germination test measuring the inhibition of shooting and rooting and analysis of DNA fragmentation. The method of electron spin resonance spectroscopy allowed a better dosimetric evaluation. These techniques make the identification of irradiated wheat with different doses possible.

Extending Product Lifetime: Prospects and Opportunities

Examines methods to extend the product lifetime of everyday items. Stresses the importance of attempting to extend product lifetimes – e.g. as a solution to waste management and environmental pollution. Analyses the results of a survey conducted in the Hague‐Delft‐Rotterdam area amongst consumers who recently replaced one of the following products – washing machine, refrigerator, TV furniture or car. Outlines six main areas in the study: Consumer characteristics; Usage situation characteristics; Purchase situation characteristics; Product characteristics; Replacement motives; Product retention times. Concludes that with careful thought, products could be reconditioned instead of discarded – the functioning of second‐hand markets would be stimulated, and the practical lifetime of products would be extended.