Archetypical consumer roles in closing the loops of resource flows for Fast-Moving Consumer Goods
File(s)
Author(s)
Zeeuw Van Der Laan, Anouk
Aurisicchio, Marco
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
After the depletion of their consumable components, Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCGs) become obsolete. In an attempt to close the loop of resources (i.e. products, components or materials) FMCGs can be designed with revalorisation services. In these product-service systems (PSSs) consumers are assigned a key role in closing the loops of resource flows. To understand and define this role, we dissected eighteen examples of PSSs. From this analysis, four dimensions emerged that characterise distinct aspects of the PSSs: the form of obsolescence; the change of resources from obsolete to operative or recoverable; the prerequisite activities required of consumers for revalorisation; and the facilitators of activities (i.e. investments and incentives). These dimensions were used to model four data-driven archetypical roles of consumers named after the interaction between consumers and the resource in the obsolete state, namely keep, bring, consign or abandon obsolete components. The research concluded that revalorisation always takes place in designated locations. The roles that consumers fulfil in closed-loop PSSs involve carrying out activities to position resources in such locations. The roles always come at a cost, but PSSs can be designed to reduce it. PSSs can also be designed to induce a perceivable value of obsolete resources, which can be used to increase role fulfilment. This research presents a comprehensive understanding of the roles of consumers in the specific context of closed-loop FMCGs, identifies tactics to increase the fulfilment of these roles and suggests further research on behaviours and PSSs to understand the roles of other stakeholders in various type of PSSs.
Date Issued
2019-11-01
Date Acceptance
2019-06-27
Citation
Journal of Cleaner Production, 2019, 236 (1), pp.1-16
ISSN
0959-6526
Publisher
Elsevier
Start Page
1
End Page
16
Journal / Book Title
Journal of Cleaner Production
Volume
236
Issue
1
Copyright Statement
© 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. This manuscript is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International Licence http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Identifier
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0959652619322838
Subjects
Science & Technology
Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Engineering, Environmental
Environmental Sciences
Science & Technology - Other Topics
Engineering
Environmental Sciences & Ecology
Revalorisation
Product-service systems
Consumer behaviour
Circular economy
Packaging
Obsolescence
PRODUCT-SERVICE SYSTEMS
CIRCULAR ECONOMY
CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE
DESIGN
BEHAVIOR
DETERMINANTS
PERSPECTIVE
BARRIER
POINT
REUSE
Environmental Sciences
0907 Environmental Engineering
0910 Manufacturing Engineering
0915 Interdisciplinary Engineering
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
117475
Date Publish Online
2019-07-01