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Circular economy policy at a crossroads: encouraging durable products or enabling faster cycling of short‐lived products?
Circular economy policy at a crossroads: encouraging durable products or enabling faster cycling of short‐lived products?
Whalen, Katherine; Milios, Leonidas
FG Transdisziplinäre Nachhaltigkeitsforschung in der Elektronik
Non-ownership models, where firms rather than consumers remain product owners, are
advocated as a way for firms to prolong product lifetimes and contribute to a more Circular Economy.
However, it has been suggested that such models could actually encourage ‘faster cycling’, meaning
earlier product replacement and shorter product lifetimes. Within recent policy discussions, product
durability to prolong product lifetimes has become a key focal point. This paper focuses on how policy
can encourage product durability and prolonged life for products distributed through non-ownership
models. The paper explores the relationship between policy related to product lifetimes and nonownership
models through a review of existing and proposed policy for two product categories: mobile
phones and office furniture. The results suggest there is a gap in policy regarding non-ownership
models. While existing policies may address some concerns of faster cycling, additional policy
propositions from the European Commission should be considered. In particular, while relevant
policies related to either studied product group are identified, the policies with most potential come
from outside the existing legislative framework on eco-design and resource efficiency measures.
Thus, the findings are not only useful for academics and policymakers in the field of Circular Economy
and circular business models, but also to practitioners working in firms where these policy frameworks
are relevant.
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