Making products live longer

Journal Article · Sat Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1977 · Technol. Rev.; (United States)

OSTI ID:7326766

Lund, R T

A policy to close product value-added gaps could either seek ways of prolonging product life or develop refurbishing techniques. Strategies could include tax deductions for repairs, prepaid taxes for social cost and waste disposal, technical assistance, extended service contracts, and improved consumer knowledge. Value-added is manufacturing and distributing cost that is lost when products are discarded. Reduced solid wastes and a slowdown in production are secondary effects of longer-lived products. Calculation of life-cycle costs is a recent development, but the consumer cannot determine either pre-purchase cost or exactly how long a product will last. Life-cycle costs of home appliances now under study to pinpoint diseconomies indicate there has not been much change in the service life of a new product since 1957. Manufacturers agree that it is possible to produce longer-lasting appliances by making each component of the most durable materials, by making each component easily and economically repaired, or by reprocessing. Indications are that other factors may influence premature replacement of appliances, e.g., consumer affluence, a weak used-appliance market, consumer mobility, appearance, and hard-to-find parts. Changing consumer buying habits to accompany changes in product durability will require research into the economics of buying habits, manufacturing, and the consequences of longer product life. 14 references. (DCK)

• Research Organization: Massachusetts Inst. of Tech., Cambridge
• OSTI ID: 7326766
• Journal Information: Technol. Rev.; (United States), Journal Name: Technol. Rev.; (United States) Vol. 79:3; ISSN TEREA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

29 ENERGY PLANNING, POLICY, AND ECONOMY
290200* -- Energy Planning & Policy-- Economics & Sociology
42 ENGINEERING
420900 -- Engineering-- Waste Processing Plants & Equipment-- (-1989)
APPLIANCES
BEHAVIOR
COST
ECONOMICS
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY CONSERVATION
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
MANAGEMENT
MANUFACTURING
MUNICIPAL WASTES
PERFORMANCE
PRODUCTIVITY
RECYCLING
RELIABILITY
REPAIR
SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTES