With growing awareness of packaging waste and pollution, reusable packaging systems (RPSs) appear to be a solution to mitigate the environmental impact of single-use packaging. Nevertheless, RPSs only become less environmentally harmful than single-use after each packaging is reused a minimum number of times, which is defined as the environmental break-even point (e-BEP). A lack of knowledge regarding this critical threshold may lead consumers to be overly optimistic about their reuse behaviour, resulting in insufficient reuse. Communicating e-BEPs can motivate conscious reuse but may also have drawbacks. We used a mixed-method approach consisting of an experiment (N = 276) with four e-BEP conditions (absent, low, medium and high) followed by open-ended questions. The quantitative findings showed that regardless of the e-BEP level, consumers neglected the efforts it implied and consistently exhibited positive perceptions. Nevertheless, the qualitative findings revealed several misperceptions of e-BEPs due to limited understanding. In a subsequent post-test (N = 208), we uncovered the role of consumers’ prior experience with reusable packaging on their evaluations and behavioural intentions. Experienced consumers who have used reusable packaging seem to be more aware of specific challenges in reuse. They exhibited heightened green scepticism and reduced perceived consumer effectiveness in response to high (versus low) e-BEPs. Conversely, inexperienced consumers appeared unaffected by e-BEP conditions. Based on these results, we proposed the potential effect of e-BEPs on consumer evaluations and derived theoretical and practical implications to encourage sustained reuse behaviour in the long run.

This paper introduces the Fundamental User Needs (FUN) Scales, tailored to measure need satisfaction and frustration in design-mediated interactions. The development and initial validation process included a preparation phase and four studies. Adopting a deductive approach, we generated a pool of 780 items and distilled them into the first version of the FUN Scales: a 52-item Need Satisfaction Scale and a 52-item Need Frustration Scale. Content validity was assessed by nine experts, leading to a refined second version. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses with 502 participants examined the scales’ factorial structure, reliability, and validity, resulting in a finalized version with 39 items per scale. Finally, we proposed two scoring approaches to facilitate scale application. The FUN Scales can serve as a robust diagnostic tool for quantifying the psychological impact of design and technology through the lens of need fulfillment, offering structure and inspiration for human-centered design research and practice.

Laptops in the current economy most often fall short of their potential useful lifetimes, regularly being replaced before their true end-of-life. Increasing laptop lifetimes can play an important role in improving circularity for high-impact ICT equipment. We expand on existing literature about consumer behavior toward laptop lifetimes by examining the role of individuals who use laptops that are instead owned by their company. A total of 20 semi-structured interviews with company-owned laptop users revealed distinct differences in laptop lifetime perspectives when the user is not the owner of the laptop relating to prioritization of performance over circularity, limited feelings of attachment, ownership, and responsibility for company-owned laptops, influences of company culture on circularity, influences of personal habits and perspectives, and limited consideration of circularity without prompts from the employer. Organizations and legislators can use these results to develop tools such as digital product passports that increase organizational circularity for ICT.

This study explores the motivations and barriers influencing consumer decisions to purchase second-hand products across three key categories: fashion (sweaters, jeans, and shoes), furniture (dinner tables, armchairs, and bookcases), and electronics (smartphones, microwaves, and washing machines). While prior research has examined second-hand consumption broadly, this study identifies significant variations in consumer attitudes across product types. Using survey data from 864 participants, we analyse 18 motivations and barriers using ANOVA. Findings reveal that motivations such as economy and sustainability are prominent across all categories, while barriers vary by product type. Hygiene concerns are particularly relevant for shoes and microwaves, while issues of cluttered shopping environments primarily deter fashion purchases. Second-hand furniture emerges as the most positively perceived category, whereas electronics face the greatest scepticism due to concerns about obsolescence and warranties. This underscores the need for product-specific strategies in second-hand markets, informing policymakers, retailers, and designers seeking to promote sustainable consumption.

Circularity-conscious management of information and communications technology (ICT) owned by organizations is important to achieving a circular economy. However, changes in organizational management toward circularity has been met with multiple challenges. This study uses 11 semi-structured interviews with on-the-ground ICT decision-makers in organizations to determine what barriers prevent the development and implementation of circularity-related changes in organizational ICT management. We identified 13 barriers relating to information and knowledge transfer, access to circular equipment, finances and contracts, and prioritization over circularity. Barrier-based interventions were further structured by Lewin's 3-step change management model – unfreeze, change, refreeze – highlighting the role of information access, relationships with contracted partners, and internal accountability and priority structures. These results bridge a currently underdeveloped link between circularity and management research as well as provide policy makers, researchers, and ICT managers insight on facilitating ICT's impactful role in society's transition to circularity.

Value preservation is key for the transition from a linear economy to a sufficiency-based circular economy. However, to keep the value of products and materials at the highest level possible over time, different actors such as businesses, designers, consumers, and policymakers must know when value is reduced during a product's lifetime, and how to capture and preserve this value. This study results in a comprehensive mapping of factors with a negative impact on the perceived value of products from a consumer's perspective and suggests new routes to value preservation, as a way of turning the negative factors into positive changes. Next, the paper presents a conceptual model for value preservation. The model identifies new key actors: value transformers (product developers), value co-operators (consumers), value gatekeepers (businesses), and value accountants (policymakers) and suggests important changes to their linear practices, which are needed for the sufficiency-based circular economy paradigm to flourish.

Writer of one of the future vision essays on a Circular Economy, implemented in the Nationaal Programma Circulaire Economie 2023-2030 of the Ministery of Infrastructure and Watermanagement

Despite their environmental benefits, products made from recycled materials are not readily adopted. Prior studies focused on improving consumer adoption via product attributes and marketing elements, but the impact of product appearance remains a gap in the literature. This research contributes by investigating how observability of the recycled content, as a product appearance intervention, influences consumer adoption of products made from recycled materials. Building on the integrated conceptual framework for consumer response to the visual domain in product design, the findings from three experiments (n1=162, n2=219, n3=320) demonstrate that observability of the recycled content leads to higher purchase intentions (Studies 1, 2 and 3). The underlying process for this effect is that these observable appearance cues trigger identity signaling (Studies 2 and 3). This effect is stronger when the consumption context is public (Study 3). These findings enable practitioners to enhance adoption of these products through altering their appearance.

Refurbishment can extend the lifetime of an electronic product and reduce its environmental footprint. However, consumers often perceive refurbished electronics as less attractive than new ones, resulting in lower purchase intentions. While prior research has identified several factors that influence consumer choices regarding refurbished electronics, we lack understanding of the interrelations between the different factors related to the consumer, product and context. To model the complex interplay of the factors involved in the intention to purchase refurbished speakers and earbuds, we conducted a survey with 1801 participants. A network encompassing both product categories revealed that the most central factors influencing the intention to purchase refurbished electronics were the product category, the perceived risk and the perception that refurbished electronics are uncomfortable to use because they remind the consumer of their prior user (territorial contamination). For refurbished earbuds, participants' concerns about territorial and hygienic contamination had the strongest negative relations to purchase intentions. For refurbished speakers, the purchase intentions were most negatively related to their perceived risk and positively related to their financial attractiveness. Hence, strategies aiming to enhance the consumer acceptance of refurbished electronics should aim at reducing risks and contamination concerns. Potential strategies to reduce the risks associated with refurbished electronics are discussed.

This research investigates consumers’ perception of two main types of reusable packaging systems: refillable and returnable packaging systems. An online experiment was conducted with Dutch consumers (n=250) in which attitudinal and behavioural responses to two reusable packaging systems were compared to the responses to disposable packaging. We created three types of packaging (disposable, refillable and returnable) for either food (ketchup) and non-food (shampoo) products. Results showed that consumers evaluate refillable and returnable packaging positively. Three benefits (environmental benefits, anticipated conscience and enjoyment) and three risks (contamination, complexity and performance risks) of reusable packaging are measured in this study. This research contributes to theunderstanding of consumers’ perception of reusable packaging systems, which can help future designers and companies to design their systems more effectively.

Reusable packaging systems are emerging as a promising solution to combat the growing issue of packaging waste. While consumers generally recognise the environmental advantages of reuse, their actual reuse behaviours may result in insufficient reuse and an unintentional undermining of sustainability efforts. We conducted two creative workshops, created a large number of potential design interventions and further developed them into 16 design strategies for consumers' continued usage of RPSs through thematic analysis. These findings can inspire future research and the development of RPSs.

Consumption is often considered important for achieving and maintaining well-being, particularly in current market societies. However, overconsumption is a significant driver of climate issues as it results in material scarcity and carbon emissions. Reduced consumption is one possible solution to environmental problems associated with climate change, as it lowers resource use and prevents waste creation. However, reductions in consumption may be perceived as a threat to human well-being. In this paper, we systematically review the literature to provide an overview of empirical studies that investigate the relationship between reduced consumption and well-being at the individual level. The majority of selected studies suggest that reduced consumption is associated with higher levels of well-being or that there is not a significant relationship. Others indicate potential negative effects. The results suggest that reducing consumption does not typically have a negative association with the well-being of consumers in wealthy nations. Reported increases in well-being may be due to supporting consumers' autonomy, environmental mastery, and social relationships. Societal norms and the consumption behavior of our peers likely influence the relationship. By conducting the first systematic literature review on the relationship between reduced consumption and well-being, we provide a more integrated understanding of consumption's role in well-being and in what contexts reduced consumption can be beneficial. Reduced consumption seems achievable from a well-being perspective, but more research is needed regarding practical implications for marketers, government, and consumers.

Modularity represents a promising design strategy for product lifetime extension. Yet, the fact that products are physically designed to be repaired via such a modular design, does not mean consumers will act accordingly. Past research demonstrated promising results with current modular smartphone users. However, these users may not necessarily reflect the average consumer because modular products are not (yet) the norm. Two experiments were set up to test the effect of modularity on consumers’ likeliness to repair and to investigate which specific design cues can encourage consumers to execute DIY (‘do-it-yourself’) repair. The first study shows that a modular design increased the general likeliness to repair and decreased the task difficulty compared to a conventional design. Interestingly, the likeliness to use professional repair increased for modular smartphones, while the likeliness to DIY repair remained low. For DIY repair, consumers thus may need more support. The second study shows that facilitating design cues on the inside of a modular smartphone increased consumers' likeliness to consider DIY repair. Our results are relevant for practitioners aiming to increase electronic product DIY repair.

Current production and consumption patterns of consumer electronics have a negative impact on our environment. Designers can contribute to changing these patterns with more sustainable product design. Prolonging product lifetimes can have a positive impact, for which repair is a promising solution. However, the fact that a product can be physically repaired does not mean that users will act accordingly. Users generally have a low ability to repair consumer electronics. We suggest that design interventions may increase users’ can-do repair mentality, leading to a higher intention to repair. In three experiments, we tested the effect of a design intervention, namely the presence of a fault indication, on users’ willingness to repair. Our results showed a significantly higher willingness to repair in the presence of a fault indication, which is explained by a higher level of perceived self-efficacy (i.e., a can-do attitude). However, this result only holds true for products that are relatively less likely to be professionally repaired, such as coffee makers and (handstick cordless) vacuum cleaners, and not for washing machines, which are more likely to be professionally repaired. We end with practical design implications, limitations, and future research directions.

Reusable packaging systems (RPSs) show promise in replacing single-use packages by extending the packaging lifetime and significantly reducing waste. Yet, knowledge about consumer behaviour in the adoption of RPSs is scarce. We present in-depth insights into how consumers perceive RPSs as a new shopping pattern for fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs). Our findings reveal that consumers’ high willingness to adopt RPSs stems from their awareness of waste and their desire to reduce it. Nevertheless, various reasons can complicate the process of adoption. First, consumers perceive reduced behavioural control in this new shopping pattern and are reluctant to invest extra effort or alter routines. Next, consumers weigh economic benefits to compare alternatives at the point of purchase and are generally unwilling to pay a premium for RPSs. In addition, even though consumers trust the hygienic standard of the RPS, they raise contamination concerns when they notice spillage, other consumers’ improper use and signs of usage generated on the packaging. In terms of environmental impact, consumers experience positive feelings about reducing packaging waste but also perceive the environmental impact as vague and doubt the effectiveness of their reuse behaviour. To encourage the adoption of RPSs, these barriers need to be addressed via design and marketing interventions.