Towards an extended value model for circular products
Kristav, Per LU
and Pugh, Rhiannon
LU
(2026)
In Journal of Cleaner Production
572.
- Abstract
- The adoption of circular products remains limited despite strong consumer support for sustainability. A key explanation is the persistent gap between consumers’ stated intentions and their actual purchasing behaviour. Existing research in the circular economy has largely focused on improving the tangible characteristics of products, while paying less attention to how consumers perceive value. This conceptual article argues that the intention–behaviour gap is partly rooted in how circular products are experienced and valued. It examines the role of intangible value dimensions, particularly trust, authenticity, and symbolic meaning, in shaping consumer decisions. To do this, it develops a synthesis of three complementary frameworks: the... (More)
- The adoption of circular products remains limited despite strong consumer support for sustainability. A key explanation is the persistent gap between consumers’ stated intentions and their actual purchasing behaviour. Existing research in the circular economy has largely focused on improving the tangible characteristics of products, while paying less attention to how consumers perceive value. This conceptual article argues that the intention–behaviour gap is partly rooted in how circular products are experienced and valued. It examines the role of intangible value dimensions, particularly trust, authenticity, and symbolic meaning, in shaping consumer decisions. To do this, it develops a synthesis of three complementary frameworks: the Golden Circle from strategy and leadership, the multidimensional framework of product value and authenticity, and the marketing mix. The resulting extended product value model shows how organisational purpose, operational practices, and product attributes interact to shape perceived value. The analysis suggests that circular products are more likely to be adopted when they are experienced as trustworthy, meaningful, and relevant, not only environmentally beneficial. The article therefore argues that firms need to move beyond a narrow focus on material sustainability and engage more directly with how value is constructed and communicated. By highlighting the role of intangible value in enabling sustainable consumption, the paper contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of persistent barriers to the adoption of circular products. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/4fcb4f1e-c3b5-47f0-9aa1-b660ad24ae58
- author
- Kristav, Per
LU
and Pugh, Rhiannon
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026-07-07
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- Journal of Cleaner Production
- volume
- 572
- article number
- 148938
- pages
- 11 pages
- publisher
- Elsevier
- ISSN
- 0959-6526
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.jclepro.2026.148938
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 4fcb4f1e-c3b5-47f0-9aa1-b660ad24ae58
- date added to LUP
- 2026-08-02 12:26:34
- date last changed
- 2026-09-02 09:28:53
@article{4fcb4f1e-c3b5-47f0-9aa1-b660ad24ae58,
abstract = {{The adoption of circular products remains limited despite strong consumer support for sustainability. A key explanation is the persistent gap between consumers’ stated intentions and their actual purchasing behaviour. Existing research in the circular economy has largely focused on improving the tangible characteristics of products, while paying less attention to how consumers perceive value. This conceptual article argues that the intention–behaviour gap is partly rooted in how circular products are experienced and valued. It examines the role of intangible value dimensions, particularly trust, authenticity, and symbolic meaning, in shaping consumer decisions. To do this, it develops a synthesis of three complementary frameworks: the Golden Circle from strategy and leadership, the multidimensional framework of product value and authenticity, and the marketing mix. The resulting extended product value model shows how organisational purpose, operational practices, and product attributes interact to shape perceived value. The analysis suggests that circular products are more likely to be adopted when they are experienced as trustworthy, meaningful, and relevant, not only environmentally beneficial. The article therefore argues that firms need to move beyond a narrow focus on material sustainability and engage more directly with how value is constructed and communicated. By highlighting the role of intangible value in enabling sustainable consumption, the paper contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of persistent barriers to the adoption of circular products.}},
author = {{Kristav, Per and Pugh, Rhiannon}},
issn = {{0959-6526}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{07}},
publisher = {{Elsevier}},
series = {{Journal of Cleaner Production}},
title = {{Towards an extended value model for circular products}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2026.148938}},
doi = {{10.1016/j.jclepro.2026.148938}},
volume = {{572}},
year = {{2026}},
}