Durability: a first step toward a sustainable society
Excerpts from Repairs, Reuse, Recycling-First Steps Toward a Sustainable Society, published by the Worldwatch Institute are presented. There is no question that most consumer durables could be built to last much longer, but planned obsolence is common in most industries. Two basic strategies toward this end include designing products for longer wear, and designing them for easy and economical repair or remanufacture. When something is used up, it is generally thought of as waste and thrown away. Sometimes it is recognized to contain materials and embodied energy, and it is recycled. But even when an item is recycled, a great part of its value is lost. The difference is between the value of the component materials and the price of the item when new is the value added-the labor and overhead costs of manufacturing and selling the product. In order to retain this value added for as long as possible as part of the national wealth, society must design its products for durability. (MCW)
- Research Organization:
- Solar Energy Research Inst., Golden, CO
- OSTI ID:
- 5813183
- Journal Information:
- Living Alternatives; (United States), Journal Name: Living Alternatives; (United States) Vol. 1:9; ISSN LIALD
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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COMMERCIAL SECTOR
CONSUMER PRODUCTS
ECONOMICS
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MARKETERS
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REPAIR
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WASTES