Designing for repair and extended lifespan: consumer expectations and economic constraints
Čok, Vanja ; Rihtaršič, Janez ; Warell, Anders LU
and Tavčar, Jože
LU
(2026)
In Sustainability (Switzerland)
18(12).
- Abstract
Despite increasing policy and industry focus on repairability, consumer repair behavior remains limited. This study examines this contradiction by analyzing user perceptions of repairable products through a survey-based approach (N = 68), focusing on behavioral, economic, and functional drivers of repair decisions. The results reveal a pronounced repairability paradox: while over two-thirds of respondents are willing to pay more for repairable products and strongly support extended product lifecycles, actual repair decisions are constrained by cost, time, and perceived difficulty. Durability concerns significantly reduce acceptance of recycled materials, highlighting the importance of performance trust in sustainable consumption.... (More)
Despite increasing policy and industry focus on repairability, consumer repair behavior remains limited. This study examines this contradiction by analyzing user perceptions of repairable products through a survey-based approach (N = 68), focusing on behavioral, economic, and functional drivers of repair decisions. The results reveal a pronounced repairability paradox: while over two-thirds of respondents are willing to pay more for repairable products and strongly support extended product lifecycles, actual repair decisions are constrained by cost, time, and perceived difficulty. Durability concerns significantly reduce acceptance of recycled materials, highlighting the importance of performance trust in sustainable consumption. Additionally, while informational awareness strengthens long-term repair intentions, it does not significantly influence immediate purchasing behavior. This challenges the current focus on Design for Repair as a standalone strategy and underscores the need to integrate repairability with durability, cost-efficiency, and ease of use. By linking empirical data with behavioral and economic theory, this study provides actionable insights for designers, manufacturers, and policymakers seeking to promote more effective and realistic circular economy solutions.
(Less)
- author
- Čok, Vanja
; Rihtaršič, Janez
; Warell, Anders
LU
and Tavčar, Jože
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026-06
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Circular economy, Consumer perception, Design for repair, Extended product lifetime, Life cycle environmental impact, Repair behavior, Sustainability
- in
- Sustainability (Switzerland)
- volume
- 18
- issue
- 12
- article number
- 6270
- pages
- 24 pages
- publisher
- MDPI AG
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105043097261
- ISSN
- 2071-1050
- DOI
- 10.3390/su18126270
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 9591393e-11c7-4ec0-91bb-10d376a68678
- date added to LUP
- 2026-07-11 10:05:41
- date last changed
- 2026-08-26 14:05:43
@article{9591393e-11c7-4ec0-91bb-10d376a68678,
abstract = {{<p>Despite increasing policy and industry focus on repairability, consumer repair behavior remains limited. This study examines this contradiction by analyzing user perceptions of repairable products through a survey-based approach (N = 68), focusing on behavioral, economic, and functional drivers of repair decisions. The results reveal a pronounced repairability paradox: while over two-thirds of respondents are willing to pay more for repairable products and strongly support extended product lifecycles, actual repair decisions are constrained by cost, time, and perceived difficulty. Durability concerns significantly reduce acceptance of recycled materials, highlighting the importance of performance trust in sustainable consumption. Additionally, while informational awareness strengthens long-term repair intentions, it does not significantly influence immediate purchasing behavior. This challenges the current focus on Design for Repair as a standalone strategy and underscores the need to integrate repairability with durability, cost-efficiency, and ease of use. By linking empirical data with behavioral and economic theory, this study provides actionable insights for designers, manufacturers, and policymakers seeking to promote more effective and realistic circular economy solutions.</p>}},
author = {{Čok, Vanja and Rihtaršič, Janez and Warell, Anders and Tavčar, Jože}},
issn = {{2071-1050}},
keywords = {{Circular economy; Consumer perception; Design for repair; Extended product lifetime; Life cycle environmental impact; Repair behavior; Sustainability}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{12}},
publisher = {{MDPI AG}},
series = {{Sustainability (Switzerland)}},
title = {{Designing for repair and extended lifespan: consumer expectations and economic constraints}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/su18126270}},
doi = {{10.3390/su18126270}},
volume = {{18}},
year = {{2026}},
}