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Cited by 33Sustainable Supply Chain ManagementEnvironmental Sustainability in BusinessSustainable Design and Development

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

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van den Berge, Renske, Magnier, Lise, Mugge, Ruth·2023·Journal of Industrial Ecology
DOI 10.1111/jiec.13372
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Abstract

Long‐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.

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  • Failing to meet evolving expectations for performance, features and user experience creates significant barriers, such as a loss of consumer trust and a stigma against aging devices, ultimately hindering the widespread adoption of circular business models.

    “Failing to meet evolving expectations for performance, features and user experience creates significant barriers, such as a loss of consumer trust and a stigma against aging devices, ultimately hindering the widespread adoption of CBMs (Magnier and Mugge 2022;van den Berge et al. 2023).”

    From Integrating Life Cycle Assessment, Monetised Externalities and Value Alignment for Strategic Reconfiguration of Circular Business Models: The Case of Smartphones (2026) · cites this paper as van den Berge et al. 2023

    Section 4.2.4 reports that improved TV performance and new features prompted replacement, while software incompatibility prompted early smartphone replacement. Section 4.1.2 also links early replacement to interest in features adopted by peers. The paper does not establish the claimed loss of consumer trust, stigma against aging devices, or resulting barrier to widespread adoption of circular business models. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Although extending the product life cycle promotes sufficiency, it can simultaneously erode the perceived consumer value proposition if products are perceived as outdated.

    “Although extending the PLC promotes sufficiency, it can simultaneously erode the perceived consumer value proposition if products are perceived as outdated.”

    From Integrating Life Cycle Assessment, Monetised Externalities and Value Alignment for Strategic Reconfiguration of Circular Business Models: The Case of Smartphones (2026) · cites this paper as van den Berge et al. 2023

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Cited by

Sorted by citations

Authors
van den Berge, R., Magnier, L., & Mugge, R.
Affiliations
  • Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering Delft University of Technology Delft The Netherlands
  • Delft University of Technology (NL)
  • University of Amsterdam (NL)
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Industrial Ecology
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2023-01-05
Volume
27
Issue
3
Pages
908-922
ISSN
  • 1088-1980 (ISSN-L)
  • 1530-9290
DOI
10.1111/jiec.13372
OpenAlex
W4313647285
Cited by
33
References
8
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 12 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 1
FWCI
6.89
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Journal of Industrial Ecology (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • UvA-DARE (University of Amsterdam) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Research Repository (Delft University of Technology) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
European Commission (820331, HORIZON2020)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Strategy and Management › Sustainable Supply Chain Management
  • Social Sciences › Business, Management and Accounting › Marketing › Environmental Sustainability in Business
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Building and Construction › Sustainable Design and Development
Keywords
product lifetime, service life extension, electronic devices, consumer perception, product repair, repairability, extended warranty, usage intensity, sustainable consumption, Dutch consumers

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