Measuring product lifetime extension potential by increasing the expected product lifetime: Methodology and case study

Abstract

Understanding the factors affecting consumer replacement behavior is important in extending the product lifetime in a circular economy. Although such factors have been widely investigated, methodologies to quantitatively measure the potential of changes in these aspects are scarce. They help to consider effective strategies for product lifetime extension. This study focused on the expected product lifetime and constructed a framework to analyze this potential, using air conditioners in Japan as a case study. When the expected product lifetime increased by 1, 2, and 3 years, the mean actual product lifetime rose by 0.9, 1.8, and 2.72 years, respectively, whose values can be sufficiently recognized as potentials for product lifetime extension. The results indicate that products and services for product lifetime extension can actually be used by consumers. Therefore, business strategies for product lifetime extension can increase resource efficiency and potentially strengthen competitiveness in future resource constraint economies.circular economy, consumer behavior, expected product lifetime, product lifetime extensionCurrent production and consumption systems, referred to as linear economies, have caused significant extraction of natural resources and have severe environmental impacts. The present economic system must be redirected to a more sustainable system to address this problem. As a sustainable system, the concept of a circular economy has recently received more attention. Although it is argued that the circular economy does not define sustainability but is a condition of sustainability (Geissdoerfer et al., 2017), policy frameworks to establish a circular economy, such as the New Circular Economy Action Plan by the European Commission (EC) (European Commission, 2020), are being developed with increasing frequency. In a circular economy, "resource input and waste, emission, and energy leakage are minimized by slowing, closing, and narrowing the material and energy loops. This can