Webinar by Dr. Renske van den Berge: Product lifetime extension through design: Encouraging consumers to repair electronic products in a circular economy.

Product lifetime extension through design: Encouraging consumers to repair electronic products in a circular economy.

Topic:

To transition to a more sustainable society, we should realize that reduced production and consumption of (electronic) products is required to decrease our energy consumption. For the energy transition, repair is an impactful circular strategy as it lengthens product lifetimes and, consequently, reduces their demand. However, a technically repairable product design may not automatically result in repair behavior, as most discarded products are never repaired during their lifetime. Consumers and their behavior thus play a key role in prolonging the lifetimes of our daily used products.

Literature proposed several repair strategies, however, predominantly from a technical (engineering) perspective. In my research, I explore the role of design in stimulating consumers to adopt repair behavior. However, one should realize that  creating a repairing society is not solely a consumer’s responsibility. Product lifetime extension requires a shift in current industry practice and businesses organization, as well as the design of appropriate policies. A systemic approach and cooperation between stakeholders is required. In this talk, I will share some guidance for designers, researchers and policymakers to encourage repair practices of (electronic) products within a circular economy.

About the Speaker

After graduating her master’s Strategic Product Design at Industrial Design Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Renske van den Berge worked for 1,5 years at the FMCG sector. This is where she was confronted with our daily consumption patterns of products, and became eager to change this. She went back to Delft where she obtained her Ph.D. degree and joined the PROMPT project. In this role, she wrote several academic papers and project reports as a work package leader. She presented at multiple international academic conferences. In addition, she disseminated her work via multiple channels, such as an UNEP webinar, a video in NEMO science children’s museum, and an exhibition at Dutch Design Week 2022.

It is Renske’s both professional and personal mission to contribute to the transition to a more sustainable and circular society. She currently works at the Energy Transition Studies (ETS) department at TNO, where she aspires to apply her knowledge and research skills in the Social Innovation team.