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The durability of consumer durables

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  • Tim Cooper

Abstract

The life span of a product is a key component in assessing its environmental impact. Until very recently, however, product durability was far from prominent in the environmental debate. This has begun to change due to mounting concern about waste, the prospect of producer ‘take back’ schemes and the importance of quality in highly competitive international markets. This has led to product durability emerging on the business and environment agenda. This paper explores the significance of product life spans and identifies currently available data on the life‐span of consumer durables. It defines product life and argues that, from an environmental perspective, optimum product life, rather than maximum product life should be the goal. It suggests that potential advantages to businesses of manufacturing and retailing products with longer life spans include improved environmental foresight (i.e. a greater responsiveness to new social trends, changes in consumer behaviour and tighter government regulations), an enhanced reputation for quality, greater potential market share and increased customer loyalty. Addressing claims that manufacturers deliberately make products with the intention that they should have life spans below the known technical potential, the paper identifies some of the influences upon manufacturers which encourage shorter product life spans. Finally, some means by which longer life products might be encouraged are proposed.

Suggested Citation

  • Tim Cooper, 1994. "The durability of consumer durables," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 3(1), pages 23-30.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:bstrat:v:3:y:1994:i:1:p:23-30
    DOI: 10.1002/bse.3280030103
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Peter Groenewegen & Frank Den Hond, 1993. "Product waste in the automotive industry: Technology and environmental management," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 2(1), pages 1-12, March.
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    Cited by:

    1. Taco C. R. van Someren, 1995. "Sustainable development and the firm: Organizational innovations and environmental strategy," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 4(1), pages 23-33, January.
    2. Safarzadeh, Soroush & Rasti-Barzoki, Morteza, 2019. "A game theoretic approach for assessing residential energy-efficiency program considering rebound, consumer behavior, and government policies," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 233, pages 44-61.
    3. Nicole van Nes & Jacqueline Cramer, 2005. "Influencing product lifetime through product design," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 14(5), pages 286-299, September.
    4. Kyungeun Sung & Tim Cooper & Sarah Kettley, 2019. "Developing Interventions for Scaling Up UK Upcycling," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-31, July.
    5. Hanna Krings, 2015. "International Trade in Second-hand Electronic Goods and the Resulting Global Rebound Effect," MAGKS Papers on Economics 201538, Philipps-Universität Marburg, Faculty of Business Administration and Economics, Department of Economics (Volkswirtschaftliche Abteilung).

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