Lauritz Gjedsted Brask, Niels-Peter Greve, Andreas Kornmaaler Hansen

Exploring Consumer Behavior on Product Longevity as a Pathway to Product-Service System Adaptation

Introduction

Exploring consumer behavior on product longevity as a pathway to product-service system adaptation. Explore consumer behavior & product longevity to adapt Product-Service Systems (PSS) for e-waste reduction. Discover barriers & a user-centric PSS model for sustainable electronics.

Abstract

The growing environmental challenge of consumer electronic waste has become increasingly urgent and is projected to reach 82 million tons by 2030. This paper examines product-service systems (PSS) as a potential approach to minimize e-waste and extend overall product longevity and circularity. The relationships with electronic devices and perceptions of product longevity and ownership versus leasing were explored among 20 participants aged 21 to 65, all from Denmark. Insights gained provided a basis for identifying key technological (e.g., software obsolescence) and psychological (e.g., endowment effect, mistrust of leasing) barriers to PSS adoption. A six-step user-centric PSS model is proposed, advocating product-oriented services where consumers maintain ownership but receive company maintenance and repair. The Ownership PSS model underlines consumer trust via transparent pricing, flexible solutions, and alignment with EU right-to-repair policies. This research highlights the need for further quantitative assessment (e.g., life cycle analysis) and broader cultural sampling to strengthen adoption pathways in the electronics sector.

Review

This paper presents a timely and relevant exploration into consumer behavior concerning product longevity, specifically within the context of electronic waste reduction through Product-Service Systems (PSS). By investigating consumer perceptions of ownership versus leasing, and their relationships with electronic devices, the research aims to pave the way for more effective PSS adaptation. The proposed "Ownership PSS model," advocating for consumer ownership coupled with company maintenance and repair, offers a novel perspective that merits attention in the discourse around circular economy solutions, particularly given the projected increase in e-waste. A significant strength of this work lies in its identification of specific technological (e.g., software obsolescence) and psychological (e.g., endowment effect, mistrust of leasing) barriers to PSS adoption. These insights, derived from qualitative exploration, provide a crucial foundation for designing more user-centric and acceptable PSS models. The "Ownership PSS model" is particularly compelling, as it seeks to address these barriers directly by building consumer trust through transparent pricing, flexible solutions, and alignment with existing policy frameworks like the EU's right-to-repair initiatives. This approach moves beyond traditional leasing models and offers a potentially more palatable pathway for consumers to engage with product circularity. While the qualitative insights from 20 Danish participants provide a valuable starting point, the generalizability of these findings is inherently limited. The abstract explicitly acknowledges the need for further quantitative assessment, such as life cycle analysis, and broader cultural sampling to strengthen the adoption pathways proposed. Without these subsequent stages of research, the proposed PSS model remains largely conceptual and its broader applicability and real-world impact are difficult to ascertain. Despite these limitations, the paper makes a commendable contribution by highlighting critical consumer-centric considerations for PSS design and setting a clear agenda for future research in this vital area.

Full Text

Comments

You need to be logged in to post a comment.