Let It Go: Designing the Divestment of Mobile Phones in a Circular Economy from a User Perspective

In a circular economy, the collection of devices is essential to enable reuse, refurbishment, remanufacturing and/or recycling at a system level. Yet, even though collection programmes are in place, users often store their mobile phones after use. This dissertation provides a better understanding of closing the loop from a user perspective in both access-based consumption and ownership-based consumption. It studies how to potentially enhance collection rates. The research first results in a conceptual model conceptualizing the user behaviour regarding the return of mobile phones in these two consumption modes. As the return of phones is contractual in access-based consumption, influencing factors and design interventions were identified to improve the user acceptance and support practitioners in the development of access services. To increase the collection rates in ownership-based consumption (i.e., where the return is voluntary), the lack of attention for the last phase of the consumption cycle – called divestment – is addressed. This dissertation explores the new research field of design for divestment. It defines the concept of divestment in design, structures this phase in six stages, offers design insights on smartphone divestment experiences, and proposes design for divestment principles.Circular Product Desig

Design for divestment in a circular economy: Stimulating voluntary return of smartphones through design

For the transition toward a circular economy, it is essential that products are returned for reuse, refurbishing or recycling. In order to address the lack of literature on the topic from a user perspective, this paper explores how users can be stimulated to return used smartphones. Taking a Research through Design approach, we developed a novel set of "design for divestment" principles. Divestment is the process users experience when separating from a product. After introducing a conceptual model of divestment based on an extension of the Consumer Decision Process model by Blackwell, Engel, and Miniard, we describe seven empirical studies (i.e., design projects) into smartphone divestment. The studies explore factors that influence a successful divestment process. We report on a highly complex process with interrelated factors changing over time. While it is impossible to define a blueprint for an ideal divestment process, several patterns emerged such as the need to emotionally support users, to give them confidence regarding data security, and to provide information at the right moment. These unique insights contribute to consumer research (i.e., circular consumption); and by translating the insights to ten design principles for divestment, a novel contribution is made to the field of design research.Industrial Design EngineeringCircular Product DesignDesign for Sustainabilit

Does Access Trump Ownership?: Exploring Consumer Acceptance of Access-Based Consumption in the Case of Smartphones

Value creation in a circular economy is based on products being returned after use. In the case of smartphones, most are never returned and tend to be kept in drawers. Smartphone access services (e.g., leasing or upgrade) have been experimented with in the Netherlands but have been largely unsuccessful. This study explores the reasons why consumers rejected these access-based smartphone services and is one of the very few to address this topic. The findings are compared with the case of car access services, which are socially better accepted, to identify potential areas for improvement. The qualitative study consists of in-depth interviews with consumers (n = 18) who either adopted and used a smartphone or car access service, or had considered a new smartphone or car but did not choose access-based consumption. The findings of this small-scale study suggest that the main reasons for the rejection of smartphone access services are a lack of awareness, misunderstanding of terms and conditions, and unsatisfactory compensation for their sacrifice of not owning. Smartphone access providers could thus clearly communicate customers’ rights and responsibilities, offer an excellent service experience (especially during repair) by taking over the burdens of ownership, and stimulate the societal logic shift from ownership to access.Circular Product DesignDesign for Sustainabilit