What makes users circulate stuff? User incentives and barriers in circular consumption
Typ
Examensarbete för masterexamen
Program
Industrial design engineering (MPDES), MSc
Publicerad
2021
Författare
Ljungberg, Elin
Sköld, Sandra
Modellbyggare
Tidskriftstitel
ISSN
Volymtitel
Utgivare
Sammanfattning
Responsible consumption and production is one of the UN Sustainable development goals.
It is an important area and an inspiration for working with circular consumption. The
project aimed to investigate the three phases of circular consumption; Obtainment, Use,
and Clearance. It also aimed to gain knowledge about, and understand user incentives and
barriers regarding consumption. The project further aimed to analyze the found data to
make it valuable for a designer or other agent. The analysis was the foundation of creating
a toolkit that supports the development of circular solutions.
The project was divided into three parts, starting with a literature review, which aimed to
investigate consumption behavior and how to influence behavior. The findings from the
literature review was analyzed to identify both incentives, barriers, and potential knowledge
gaps.
The second part of the project covered a user study, which aimed to gain knowledge regarding
circular consumption and complement the potential gap discovered in the literature review.
The user study also aimed to strengthen the literature information and to create a deeper
understanding of consumption.
The first result from the first two parts of the project was that all factors that affect circular
consumption could be grouped into three themes; the consumer, the offer and external
influence. The literature review also indicated that clearance had not been as thoroughly
researched as obtainment and use. Therefore, the user study and the third part of the project
had a clearance focus.
Lastly, the final part of the project included converting the findings to support a designer or
other agent. The four areas to consider while designing for clearance are; circular consumer
characteristics, activities, product state, and clearance options. The four areas were the
foundation of creating a toolkit that aims to aid designers and other agents while developing
circular products and services. The toolkit helps to explore the target group and learn about
characteristics that form consumption choices. It educates about the term ’product states’
and is about understanding the product’s journey towards clearance. Finally, it helps to
identify and overcome obstacles in circular consumption and develop new business ideas
and perspectives.
Beskrivning
Ämne/nyckelord
circular consumption, circular design toolkit, circular economy, clearance , consumption model, product development, sustainable development