Editorial: Product lifetimes and the environment:
Retaining product value in a circular economy
R. Mugge (TU Delft - Industrial Design Engineering)
L.M. Haase (Aarhus University)
Melanie Jaeger-Erben (Brandenburgische Technische Universität )
Linda Nhu Laursen (Aalborg University)
K.M. Niinimaki (Aalto University)
Jessika Luth Richter (Lund University)
Benjamin Sprecher (TU Delft - Industrial Design Engineering)
Matthew Watkins (Loughborough University)
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Abstract
Extending product lifetimes is central to advancing the Circular Economy (CE), as it enables the retention of value for both first and successive users (Geissdoerfer et al. (2017). Yet in many consumer markets, products are still prematurely replaced—whether due to loss of functional value or other, often subjective, perceptions of diminished worth (Magnier and Mugge, 2022). Many of these discarded products fail to enter reuse markets, leading to significant value loss and exacerbating environmental pressures such as CO2 emissions, material depletion, and e-waste (Bakker et al., 2014).
The fifth Product Lifetimes and the Environment Conference (PLATE 2023) brought together researchers and practitioners to deepen understanding of how extending product lifetimes can contribute to a CE . This special issue, a direct outcome of PLATE 2023, compiles new insights and empirical research that underscore the importance of retaining product value throughout the product life cycle. A key theme across the contributions is the shift away from merely improving recycling systems toward prioritizing inner-loop strategies—reuse, repair, refurbishment—and systemic lifetime extension.
This special issue covers diverse product categories—ranging from ICT and fashion to children’s goods and electric vehicle batteries—and examines value retention from multiple disciplinary and stakeholder perspectives, including design, business, policy, and environmental assessment. The 24 included articles are organized under six thematic sections: 1) Organisational perspective to circular value retention; 2) Longevity in fashion; 3) Changing consumer behaviors for longevity; 4) Design for longevity tools; 5) Policies and eco-systems for longevity; and 6) Environmental impact assessment of longevity. Together, these contributions reflect the state of the art in product lifetime research and provide valuable guidance for academia and practice in navigating the transition to a more circular economy.