Evaluating approaches to resource management in consumer product sectors - an overview of global practices
- Submitting institution
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Nottingham Trent University
- Unit of assessment
- 32 - Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory
- Output identifier
- 26 - 1202572
- Type
- D - Journal article
- DOI
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10.1016/j.jclepro.2019.03.203
- Title of journal
- Journal of Cleaner Production
- Article number
- -
- First page
- 218
- Volume
- 224
- Issue
- -
- ISSN
- 0959-6526
- Open access status
- Compliant
- Month of publication
- March
- Year of publication
- 2019
- URL
-
-
- Supplementary information
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- Request cross-referral to
- -
- Output has been delayed by COVID-19
- No
- COVID-19 affected output statement
- -
- Forensic science
- No
- Criminology
- No
- Interdisciplinary
- No
- Number of additional authors
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4
- Research group(s)
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D - Product Innovation Centre
- Proposed double-weighted
- No
- Reserve for an output with double weighting
- No
- Additional information
- The aim of the study reported in this paper was to identify examples of best practice that could lead to sustainable innovations across a range of consumer product sectors. It did so by creating a novel methodology to identify and evaluate practical approaches to resource efficiency undertaken by companies. The research part of an EPSRC-funded project on materials and embodied carbon emissions of which Tim Cooper was Co-Director.
A systematic method was used to collect, analyse and evaluate data on practical examples of products utilising resource management approaches that enable slower or closed material cycles. The specific approaches investigated were durable product design (evidenced by length of guarantee), enhanced repair and upgrade services, and product take-back schemes. Industry sector norms were compared with best practice in each product sector.
Based on an analysis of 519 products, the research identified 145 examples of product offerings representing best practices within specific product sectors, providing important insights into the requirements of circular business models in each sector. The study found that long-term guarantees (more than 6 years) and provision for repair were evident across product sectors, although large variations were found within, as well as across, the sectors. A considerable gap was observed in recovering resources from post-consumer products: post-consumer collection was noted for only 50 products (mainly clothing, furniture, household appliances and electronic goods). The study concluded by identifying social and economic challenges to sustainability-driven business model innovation.
The significance of the study is that in order to support value creation through multiple use cycles – an essential element of the circular economy to which most nations aspire – academia, government and industry require a better understanding of market dynamics, incentive structures and institutional support across the supply chain.
- Author contribution statement
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- Non-English
- No
- English abstract
- -