scholarly journals Consumer Demand for Circular Products: Identifying Customer Segments in the Circular Economy

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (22) ◽  
pp. 12348
Author(s):  
Robert H. W. Boyer ◽  
Agnieszka D. Hunka ◽  
Katherine A. Whalen
Keyword(s):  
Product Design ◽  
Mobile Phones ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Choice Experiment ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Consumer Demand ◽  
Consumer Preferences ◽  
Consumer Electronics ◽  
Battery Life ◽  
Different Levels

Understanding consumer preferences in the circular economy can help producers develop profitable strategies, lowering the risk involved in transitioning to circular business models and circular product design. This study uses a choice experiment to identify customer segments for mobile phones and robot vacuum cleaners at different levels of circularity. The experiment observes how a product’s theoretical Circular Economy Score (ranging from 0 to 100) influences consumer preferences as compared to other product attributes like price, appearance, warranty, battery life, reseller type, or ease of repair. Drawing from 800 UK respondents, the results indicate the presence of three customer segments that are sensitive to a product’s Circular Economy Score, including two that appear willing to purchase recirculated items and one that expresses a preference against them. The results offer initial evidence that a market for recirculated consumer electronics exists and that circularity labeling is a marketable option. The results also present a strong rationale for further research that probes a greater variety of products and contexts.

scholarly journals State-Branded Programs and Consumer Preference for Locally Grown Produce

2011 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
William E. Nganje ◽  
Renée Shaw Hughner ◽  
Nicholas E. Lee
Keyword(s):  
Food Safety ◽  
Food Supply ◽  
Choice Experiment ◽  
Consumer Preferences ◽  
Stated Preference ◽  
Consumer Preference ◽  
Consumer Value ◽  
Locally Grown ◽  
Full Factorial ◽  
Different Levels

Revitalization of state brands is deemed important to several constituencies. Stated preference with choice experiment methods were used to elicit consumer preferences for two locally grown products: spinach, which has had a well-publicized food safety incidence, and carrots, which have had no such incidence in recent history. A full factorial design was used to implement the choice experiment, with each commodity having four identical attributes varying at different levels. Findings reveal that consumers are willing to pay a premium for locally grown spinach marked with the Arizona Grown label over locally grown spinach that was not labeled. This premium was higher than the premium that would be paid for state-branded carrots. This difference highlights consumers’ perceptions of “locally grown” as an indicator of safety in their food supply. Findings have important implications with respect to providing consumer value and point to differentiated positioning strategies for state-branded produce.

scholarly journals Towards Circular Economy in the Household Appliance Industry: An Overview of Cases

Resources ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 128
Author(s):  
Gianmarco Bressanelli ◽  
Nicola Saccani ◽  
Marco Perona ◽  
Irene Baccanelli
Keyword(s):  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chain Management ◽  
Product Design ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Manufacturing Companies ◽  
Chain Management ◽  
Household Appliance ◽  
Design Practices ◽  
Management Actions

Circular Economy is a means to ensure sustainable production and consumption patterns. However, it is still at an embryonic stage of implementation in manufacturing companies. Given its potential, the household appliance industry is a promising arena for the adoption of Circular Economy. Thus, this study aims to investigate and systematize how Circular Economy has been adopted in the household appliance industry, through a multiple case study research. Twenty cases are analyzed following a Research Framework, to map: (i) the Circular Economy 4R strategies of reduce, reuse, remanufacture and recycle; (ii) the Circular Economy levers, i.e., whether circular product design practices, servitized business models or supply chain management actions are undertaken; (iii) the role of digital 4.0 technologies as enablers; (iv) the benefits achieved. The analysis showed that servitized business models and supply chain management actions are widely used levers, while little attention is devoted to circular product design practices. Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data and Cloud emerged as powerful enablers of servitized business models. Two main patterns of Circular Economy adoption in the household appliance industry emerged from cases: incremental and radical adoption patterns. Incremental adoption patterns are based on design strategies focused on reduce and recycle, mainly led by manufacturers. Radical adoption patterns are instead focused on disruptive practices based on reuse, remanufacture, servitization and sharing, where digital 4.0 technologies serve as enablers. Overall, this exploratory research lays the foundation for a stronger and more systemic understanding of the adoption of Circular Economy in the household appliance industry.

The Impact of Circular Economy on the Fashion Industry

2020 ◽  
pp. 142-160
Author(s):  
Tugce Aslan ◽  
Adem Akbiyik
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Sustainability ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Consumer Preferences ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Sharing Economy ◽  
Fashion Industry ◽  
Commercial Markets ◽  
New Business ◽  
Consumer Perspective

The fundamental changes in technology and globalization have changed consumer preferences along with the way people buy and consume. This change has profoundly affected new business models and consumption systems in all commercial markets, including the fashion industry in particular. Moreover, fashion businesses have begun to shift from traditional proprietary access business models to the sharing economy. The effect of the sharing economy or circular economy on the fashion industry is increasing day by day. Clothing sharing services, recycling, and re-use of used garments contribute to environmental sustainability and contribute to economic and social sustainability through sales revenue and employment. However, there is limited academic research on clothing sharing models. This research focuses on Dolap application, a clothing sharing service. It examines the role of trust in clothing sharing services from a consumer perspective. As a result of the analysis, it was found that trust in the platform positively and significantly affected the trust given to the service provider.

scholarly journals Design Guidelines to Develop Circular Products: Action Research on Nordic Industry

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 3679 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sasha Shahbazi ◽  
Anna Karin Jönbrink
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Product Design ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Design Guidelines ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Design And Development ◽  
Action Research Approach ◽  
Materials Recycling

Product design and development are key to moving towards a circular economy; however, the majority of products and components that are currently recirculated have not been designed for circulation of any sort. Circular economy business models and closing the loop can be functional only if the products and services are designed for circularity. This paper presents a set of generic design guidelines for different circular strategies. The guidelines are then used to map companies’ circular product design initiatives in the early stages of product design and development. The guidelines have proved to support decision-making and enhance the circularity of products. The guidelines were developed, validated, and tested at four companies within the Nordic countries through an action research approach. Sourcing raw materials, recycling, and ensuring the robustness of products for the use phase are the most common strategies used by the studied companies. There is an ongoing transition towards other recirculation strategies, such as repair, remanufacture, and reuse.

Analysis of consumer demand for traceable pork in China based on a real choice experiment

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 303-321 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linhai Wu ◽  
Hongsha Wang ◽  
Dian Zhu
Keyword(s):  
Choice Experiment ◽  
Consumer Demand ◽  
Consumer Preferences ◽  
Chinese Government ◽  
Significant Heterogeneity ◽  
Chinese Consumers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
The Government ◽  
Safe Food

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to reveal the actual consumer demand for traceable pork by investigating consumer preferences for pork with combined levels of traceability information based on differences in individual consumer preferences, in order to support the government in decision making regarding the gradual construction of safe food markets. Design/methodology/approach – Combinations of four types of traceability information, including farming, slaughter and processing, distribution and sales, and government certification, with price were randomly designed. To identify consumer preferences for these attribute combinations of traceable pork, 215 consumers in Wuxi, Jiangsu Province were investigated using a real choice experiment and the mixed logit model. Findings – Significant heterogeneity was observed in consumer preferences for traceable pork. The information of farming, slaughter and processing, distribution and marketing, and government certification could significantly improve consumer utility. Moreover, consumers had the highest preference for government certification information. Originality/value – Although numerous studies have been performed on consumer preferences for food safety attributes using a real choice experiment, almost none of them focus on Chinese consumers. Therefore, this study is an attempt to fill this gap. The conclusions of this study can serve as a reference for the Chinese government in developing safe food consumption policies. Although Chinese consumers have cried out for improvement of pork safety, they have different preferences for traceability information; thus, the government must promote traceable food step-by-step, using consumer preferences as a starting point.

scholarly journals Policies as Drivers for Circular Economy in the Construction Sector in the Nordics

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 9350
Author(s):  
Malin zu Castell-Rüdenhausen ◽  
Margareta Wahlström ◽  
Thilde Fruergaard Astrup ◽  
Carl Jensen ◽  
Anke Oberender ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Literature Review ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Public Procurement ◽  
Construction Sector ◽  
Policy Frameworks ◽  
Key Concepts ◽  
Business Opportunities ◽  
Different Levels

A circular economy (CE) represents the key alternative to the linear ‘take-make-consume-dispose’ economic model, that still predominates in the construction sector. This study investigates how policies support CE-focused businesses in the construction sector in the Nordics. A literature review, the creation of a database, a review of Nordic actors with a CE focus, and targeted interviews with actors across the value chain of the construction sector in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden enabled us to benchmark the CE policy landscape and assess how CE policies at different levels support CE business models in the construction sector. The results show that the construction sector is well represented in the CE policy frameworks and that many business opportunities are created when national and local policies are put into practice. The implementation of policies is mainly done via three key concepts, i.e., planning, requirements for sustainable constructions, and requirements for public procurement. It can be concluded that policies are drivers for the implementation of a CE and support CE business models in the Nordics.

Emerging Industrial Revolution: Symbiosis of Industry 4.0 and Circular Economy: The Role of Universities

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 505-525 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seeram Ramakrishna ◽  
Alfred Ngowi ◽  
Henk De Jager ◽  
Bankole O. Awuzie
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Industry 4.0 ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Production Systems ◽  
Fourth Industrial Revolution ◽  
New Jobs

Growing consumerism and population worldwide raises concerns about society’s sustainability aspirations. This has led to calls for concerted efforts to shift from the linear economy to a circular economy (CE), which are gaining momentum globally. CE approaches lead to a zero-waste scenario of economic growth and sustainable development. These approaches are based on semi-scientific and empirical concepts with technologies enabling 3Rs (reduce, reuse, recycle) and 6Rs (reuse, recycle, redesign, remanufacture, reduce, recover). Studies estimate that the transition to a CE would save the world in excess of a trillion dollars annually while creating new jobs, business opportunities and economic growth. The emerging industrial revolution will enhance the symbiotic pursuit of new technologies and CE to transform extant production systems and business models for sustainability. This article examines the trends, availability and readiness of fourth industrial revolution (4IR or industry 4.0) technologies (for example, Internet of Things [IoT], artificial intelligence [AI] and nanotechnology) to support and promote CE transitions within the higher education institutional context. Furthermore, it elucidates the role of universities as living laboratories for experimenting the utility of industry 4.0 technologies in driving the shift towards CE futures. The article concludes that universities should play a pivotal role in engendering CE transitions.

scholarly journals Circular Bioeconomy Business Models to Overcome the Valley of Death. A Systematic Statistical Analysis of Studies and Projects in Emerging Bio-Based Technologies and Trends Linked to the SME Instrument Support

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 1899
Author(s):  
Fabiana Gatto ◽  
Ilaria Re
Keyword(s):  
Circular Economy ◽  
Success Factors ◽  
Business Models ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Future Perspective ◽  
The European Union ◽  
Strategic Orientations ◽  
Start Ups ◽  
Valley Of Death

Reducing the environmental pressure along the products life cycle, increasing efficiency in the consumption of resources and use of renewable raw materials, and shifting the economic system toward a circular and a climate-neutral model represent the heart of the current macro-trends of the European Union (EU) policy agendas. The circular economy and bioeconomy concepts introduced in the EU’s Circular Economy Action Plan and the Bioeconomy Strategy support innovation in rethinking economic systems focusing on market uptaking of greener solutions based on less-intensive resource consumption. In recent decades, industrial research has devoted enormous investments to demonstrate sustainable circular bio-based business models capable of overcoming the “Valley of Death” through alternative strategic orientations of “technological-push” and “market-pull”. The study highlights industrial research’s evolution on bio-based circular business model validation, trends, and topics with particular attention to the empowering capacity of start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to close the loops in renewable biological use and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. The research methodology involves a bibliographic search based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) approach and the European Innovation Council (EIC) Accelerator Data Hub investigation to understand SMEs’ key success factors and start-ups of the circular bioeconomy sector. Eco and bio-based materials, nutraceuticals, and microalgae represent the most sustainable industry applications, leading to circular bioeconomy business models’ future perspective.

scholarly journals Circular economy in the construction sector: advancing environmental performance through systemic and holistic thinking

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Magnus Sparrevik ◽  
Luitzen de Boer ◽  
Ottar Michelsen ◽  
Christofer Skaar ◽  
Haley Knudson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Circular Economy ◽  
Building Materials ◽  
Construction Sector ◽  
Recursive Structure ◽  
Effective Implementation ◽  
Environmental Effectiveness ◽  
Standards And Regulations ◽  
Management Schemes ◽  
Different Levels

AbstractThe construction sector is progressively becoming more circular by reducing waste, re-using building materials and adopting regenerative solutions for energy production and biodiversity protection. The implications of circularity on construction activities are complex and require the careful evaluation of impacts to select the appropriate path forward. Evaluations of circular solutions and their environmental effectiveness are often performed based on various types of life cycle-based impact assessments. This paper uses systemic thinking to map and evaluate different impact assessment methodologies and their implications for a shift to more circular solutions. The following systemic levels are used to group the methodologies: product (material life cycle declarations and building assessments), organisation (certification and management schemes) and system (policies, standards and regulations). The results confirm that circular economy is integrated at all levels. However, development and structure are not coordinated or governed unidirectionally, but rather occur simultaneously at different levels. This recursive structure is positive if the methods are applied in the correct context, thus providing both autonomy and cohesion in decision making. Methods at lower systemic levels may then improve production processes and stimulate the market to create circular and innovative building solutions, whereas methods at higher systemic levels can be used, for example, by real estate builders, trade organisations and governments to create incentives for circular development and innovation in a broader perspective. Use of the performance methods correctly within an actor network is therefore crucial for successful and effective implementation of circular economy in the construction sector.

scholarly journals Which Bag? Predicting Consumer Preferences for a Luxury Product With a Discrete Choice Experiment

2021 ◽  
pp. 183933492199950
Author(s):  
Canie K.Y. Chu Lo ◽  
Suzan Burton ◽  
Regan Lam ◽  
Paul Nesbit
Keyword(s):  
Discrete Choice Experiment ◽  
Discrete Choice ◽  
Choice Experiment ◽  
Consumer Preferences ◽  
Conspicuous Consumption ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Luxury Brands ◽  
Chinese Consumers ◽  
Enormous Amount ◽  
Luxury Products

Limited research has described a segment of consumers who prefer subtly branded luxury products, rather than conspicuous consumption. However, in comparison with the enormous amount of research mentioning conspicuous consumption, there has been only very limited research into “inconspicuous consumption,” leading to calls for more research in the area. In this article, we describe a discrete choice experiment examining the luxury product preferences of Chinese consumers, the largest market segment for luxury products. We describe and test a theoretical model investigating how product characteristics (logo prominence, price, and brand), peers’ attitudes and behaviors, and other individual characteristics influence consumers’ choice of a luxury bag. For each brand, a prominent logo was preferred, but a very large minority preferred a subtle logo. However, the effect of price, attitudinal and social factors varied across luxury brands. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

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