Investigating Business Potential and Users’ Acceptance of Circular Economy: A Survey and an Evaluation Model

Circular economy is gaining attention in business and society to advance sustainability. This paradigm is particularly relevant for energy-consuming products such as washing machines, where alternatives to linear economy such as pay-per-use and refurbishment are gaining ground. To succeed, these business models should achieve consensus and acceptance among users. However, little attention has been paid to customers’ interest for circular economy business models so far. This paper aims to compare the economic and environmental impacts of pay-per wash and refurbishment business models, while investigating the degree of users’ acceptance and factors influencing it. A survey has been designed to collect users’ data regarding washing machine consumption patterns and acceptance rates of the circular business models. An evaluation model was developed to assess the economic and environmental impacts of pay-per-wash and refurbishment against a traditional linear model, fed with data from 279 Italian households collected through the survey. Finally, logistic regressions were carried out to investigate the influence of different customer, product, and usage factors on the acceptance rates of the two circular business models. Results show that, on average, pay-per-wash business models and washing machine refurbishment can guarantee environmental savings. However, only refurbishment generates economic savings for users. Moreover, only around half of the users’ sample shows a positive degree of acceptance of such alternatives. Respondent age has been found as a significant factor influencing the interest towards a refurbishment model, while the washing machine failures experienced by users and the relevance of the environmental gains achievable influence the acceptance rate of pay-per-wash models. Thus, when offering pay-per-wash schemes, suppliers should emphasize the information on the environmental benefits of this alternative, and that with such models they take over the responsibility and costs for maintenance and repair. On the other hand, providers of refurbished products should target younger consumers, who are less affected by a bias against second-hand goods.

CLEANING THE BRAIN THROUGH TURBULENT GLYMPHATIC FLOW: THE WASHING MACHINE HYPOTHESIS

LYMPHSPIRATION: In a thought experiment, a "washing machine" model is proposed based on turbulent flow from complex multi-dimensional forces to characterize fluid dynamics in the brain. The glymphatic system's hypothetical role in this system is illustrated in a series of diagrams. Implications of this model are discussed in terms of normal physiology and a variety of pathologic conditions such as brain atrophy and Alzheimer disease.

Influence of Hydrogen Peroxide on Disinfection and Soil Removal during Low-Temperature Household Laundry

In the Water, Energy and Waste Directive, the European Commission provides for the use of household washing programmes with lower temperatures (30–40 °C) and lower water consumption. However, low washing temperatures and the absence of oxidising agents in the liquid detergents, and their reduced content in powder detergents, allow biofilm formation in washing machines and the development of an unpleasant odour, while the washed laundry can become a carrier of pathogenic bacteria, posing a risk to human health. The aim of the study was to determine whether the addition of hydrogen peroxide (HP) to liquid detergents in low-temperature household washing allows disinfection of the laundry without affecting the properties of the washed textiles even after several consecutive washes. Fabrics of different colours and of different raw material compositions were repeatedly washed in a household washing machine using a liquid detergent with the addition of 3% stabilised HP solution in the main wash, prewash or rinse. The results of the antimicrobial activity, soil removal activity, colour change and tensile strength confirmed the excellent disinfection activity of the 3% HP, but only if added in the main wash. Its presence did not discolour nor affect the tensile strength of the laundry, thus maintaining its overall appearance.

Control system software design of tunnel automatic car washing Machine

This paper focuses on the control system of tunnel automatic car washing machine and puts forward a control scheme of automatic car washing system based on PLC control. This design uses domestic Hexin PLC as the core for control and man-machine interaction through touch screen, so as to control and monitor the work of the system. Each switch button, infrared sensor, ultrasonic sensor and limit switch are input to PLC as output signal, and then PLC controls the operation of each working part. This PLC based control system is more reliable, and easy to implement, in the actual use of simple operation, and easy to maintain, and have a good market prospects.

Washing Machine Filters Reduce Microfiber Emissions: Evidence From a Community-Scale Pilot in Parry Sound, Ontario

Washing clothing is a known pathway for microfibers to reach the environment. Previous research has investigated microfiber capture close to the source (i.e., the washing machine), and demonstrated washing machine filters as a potential mitigation strategy. Widespread deployment into homes may be an effective solution to prevent microfiber emissions. Here, we investigated the effectiveness of washing machine filters at the level of a community. We installed filters in 97 homes in a small town, representing approximately 10% of households connected to the municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). We evaluated treated final effluent and found a significant reduction in microfibers after filter installation. Furthermore, lint samples from filters revealed an average weekly lint capture of 6.4 g, equivalent to 179,200–2,707,200 microfibers. This research shows that microfiber filters on washing machines are effective at scale, and this result can help inform policy decisions to reduce microfiber emissions from laundering textiles.

Dynamic Modeling of a Front-Loading Type Washing Machine and Model Reliability Investigation

A linear dynamic model of a front-loading type washing machine was developed in this study. The machine was conceptualized with three moving rigid bodies, revolute joints, springs, and dampers along with prescribed rotational drum motion. Kane’s method was employed for deriving the equations of motion of the idealized washing machine. Since the modal and transient characteristics can be conveniently investigated with a linear dynamic model, the linear model can be effectively used for the design of an FL type washing machine. Despite the convenience, however, the reliability of the linear dynamic model is often restricted to a certain range of system parameters. Parameters relevant to the reliability of the linear dynamic model were identified and the parameters’ ranges that could guarantee the reliability of the proposed linear dynamic model were numerically investigated in this study.