Long product lifetime as part of business strategy for circular economy

Long product lifetime has a bigger climate potential as circular economy strategy than recycling of discarded products that demands energy and implies loss of resources.

If extended product life is to play a role in a company's circular economy strategy, it is necessary to take an interest in the dynamics of the linear economy, including not least the experiences of consumers or professional users with the company's products and services. Projects within the circular economy show that by working forward with knowledge and experience from usage practices, customer complaints, service and repair, companies can create the basis for longer product lifetimes.

If manufacturing and retail companies themselves systematically collect user experiences and experiences from service, customer complaints and repairs, this kind of knowledge can be used proactively in developing a strategy for circular economy based on:
• More durable products
• Better interface between product and user
• Better instructions for use
• Better possibilities for repair
• Value-adding services such as upgrading the product
• Take-back systems for "end-of-life" products