| 1. |
- Boyer, Robert, et al.
(författare)
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Consumer demand for circular products : Identifying customer segments in the circular economy
- 2021
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Ingår i: Sustainability. - : MDPI. - 2071-1050. ; 13:22
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Understanding consumer preferences in the circular economy can help producers develop profitable strategies, lowering the risk involved in transitioning to circular business models and circular product design. This study uses a choice experiment to identify customer segments for mobile phones and robot vacuum cleaners at different levels of circularity. The experiment observes how a product’s theoretical Circular Economy Score (ranging from 0 to 100) influences consumer preferences as compared to other product attributes like price, appearance, warranty, battery life, reseller type, or ease of repair. Drawing from 800 UK respondents, the results indicate the presence of three customer segments that are sensitive to a product’s Circular Economy Score, including two that appear willing to purchase recirculated items and one that expresses a preference against them. The results offer initial evidence that a market for recirculated consumer electronics exists and that circularity labeling is a marketable option. The results also present a strong rationale for further research that probes a greater variety of products and contexts. © 2021 by the authors
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| 2. |
- Boyer, Robert, et al.
(författare)
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Product Labels for the Circular Economy : Are Customers Willing to Pay for Circular?
- 2021
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Ingår i: Sustainable Production and Consumption. - : Elsevier B.V.. - 2352-5509. ; 27, s. 61-71
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- While existing research has probed consumer responses to products of different recirculation pathways (recycling, reuse, refurbishment, etc), little work has examined consumer responses to an explicit “circular economy” product label or how willingness to pay is influenced by a continuum of circularity levels. This paper reports on the results of an online survey experiment that tests whether customers are willing to pay more for products with a theoretical multi-level Circular Economy score. Conjoint analysis was used on 800 respondents in the United Kingdom to test their willingness to pay for mobile phones and robot vacuum cleaners at different levels of circularity alongside other product attribute combinations. Results indicate that the average customer almost always prefers a more “circular” product when compared to products with otherwise identical attributes, and that customers are consistently willing to pay more for products with low or moderate levels of circular content. However, analysis suggests that willingness to pay more for products disappears, and in some cases declines, as the proportion of recirculated content increases. Results offer evidence that applying a numerical circular economy label at low levels of recirculated content could be a profitable strategy for producers of mobile phones and robot vacuum cleaners. Such a strategy is less certain for heavily refurbished products, fully reused products, or other product types. © 2020 The Authors
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| 3. |
- Boyer, Robert, et al.
(författare)
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Three-dimensional product circularity
- 2021
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Ingår i: Journal of Industrial Ecology. - : John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. - 1088-1980 .- 1530-9290. ; 25:4, s. 824-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Abstract Understanding product circularity as ?three-dimensional? could anchor the Circular Economy to common principles while affording its followers flexibility about how to measure it in their specific sectors and disciplines and within their organization's means. Inspired by a heuristic developed for the urban planning profession to cope with the inherent conflicts of Sustainable Development, this article argues that measuring product-level circularity should consider ways to achieve (1) high material recirculation, (2) high utilization, and (3) high endurance in products and service offerings. Achieving all three dimensions ensures that material flowing through the economy is recovered from prior use phases, that it is used intensely, and that it retains its value in spite of exogenous changes. The article argues further that these three dimensions ought to be measured and reported separately rather than as a composite metric and that certain applications will have opportunities to improve circularity through certain dimensions better than others. The article also explains how researchers at RISE (Research Institutes of Sweden AB) are working with industry and government partners to measure the three dimensions and how diverse actors interested in the Circular Economy can use the three dimensions to take the first steps in their transition to circularity.
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| 4. |
- Kioupi, Vasiliki, et al.
(författare)
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Active learning as enabler of sustainability learning outcomes : Capturing the perceptions of learners during a materials education workshop
- 2021
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Ingår i: MRS Energy & Sustainability. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2329-2237 .- 2329-2229. ; 9:1, s. 64-78
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Active learning is a promising teaching approach that can develop sustainability competences in learners. In this paper, we investigate the potential of active-learning pedagogies such as serious games and active-learning toolkits to deliver sustainability knowledge and skills in materials education. We organised a workshop for 20 participants from UK Universities where they played the serious game In the Loop around critical materials and circular economy and engaged in the Active-Learning ToolKit Sustainable Development (Granta Design/now Ansys UK Ltd.) to assess the sustainability of a proposed policy intervention around the use of electric cars. We used a self-assessment questionnaire and reflection sessions to deduce the level of sustainability skill developed by the participants as well as importance and performance analysis (IPA) to help the educators understand crucial components they should concentrate their teaching and learning efforts on in the future. Finally, we provide recommendations for educators on how to implement active learning in materials education in order to empower students with skills for sustainability.
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| 5. |
- Nyström, Thomas, et al.
(författare)
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Managing Circular Business Model Uncertainties with Future Adaptive Design
- 2021
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Ingår i: Sustainability. - : MDPI AG. - 2071-1050. ; 13:18
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Designing products that can adapt to changes over time is crucial for managing product-related business risks in circular business models. However, there is limited circular economy research on how product adaptivity can contribute to more circular products and business models, especially in the early phases of business development and design. To address this research gap, this conceptual paper builds on the adaptable design concept and incorporates ideas from research on circular business models and circular design literature. It proposes a framework we collectively term “Future Adaptive Design” to help manage product-related business risks in circular business models and investigates related design strategies for product-based companies aiming to adopt circular business models.
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