A systematic change towards a circular economy can alleviate some of the problems associated with today’s linear economy, such as pollution. In a circular economy products are recycled, repurposed, re-manufactured, re-used, repaired, and upcycled, thereby minimizing
the use of materials, devaluation of products, and output of waste. This requires that producers change manufacturing and design, whilst consumers become ‘prosumers’, more actively involved in prolonging the life cycle of products through applying methods like repair and re-use.The
consumer to prosumer change is urgently needed, given the current climate and pollution problems. To explore this wicked problem and identify how such a change in behavior can be accelerated a transdisciplinary approach is needed. Therefore, a team of students from different disciplines joined
forces, engaging stakeholders with various domains of expertise in and outside the context of the city of Leuven. The need arose for more knowledge about prosumer behavior within the diverse population groups in Leuven, and the team focused on the possible relationship between socioeconomic
status and certain reasons for prosuming. It felt that the growth model of the linear economy, aiming at increasing consumption, in the context of a growing world population that strives for welfare, is also indirectly related to social inequality. A questionnaire was created together with
several stakeholders asking about socioeconomic status, drivers for prosumption - more specifically necessity, information, and awareness - and perceived downsides to prosumption, aimed at the clients of a second-hand store in Leuven. A similar <target target-type="page-num" id="p-199"/>questionnaire
can be used at other circular economy hot spots in the city, to collect a broad database of responses.The key to facilitating a transition is to change the behavior, mindset, and attitudes of consumers. The questionnaire was intended to generate a better understanding of why people prosume
in certain conditions, and the team assumed this will allow to develop strategies to encourage people to act as prosumers.