Designing for repair and extended lifespan : consumer expectations and economic constraints

Čok, Vanja (author), Rihtaršič, Janez (author), Warell, Anders (author), Tavčar, Jože (author)

Despite increasing policy and industry focus on repairability, consumer repair behavior remains limited. This study examines this contradiction by analyzing user perceptions of repairable products through a survey-based approach (N = 68), focusing on behavioral, economic, and functional drivers of repair decisions. The results reveal a pronounced repairability paradox: while over two-thirds of respondents are willing to pay more for repairable products and strongly support extended product lifecycles, actual repair decisions are constrained by cost, time, and perceived difficulty. Durability concerns significantly reduce acceptance of recycled materials, highlighting the importance of performance trust in sustainable consumption. Additionally, while informational awareness strengthens long-term repair intentions, it does not significantly influence immediate purchasing behavior. This challenges the current focus on Design for Repair as a standalone strategy and underscores the need to integrate repairability with durability, cost-efficiency, and ease of use. By linking empirical data with behavioral and economic theory, this study provides actionable insights for designers, manufacturers, and policymakers seeking to promote more effective and realistic circular economy solutions.

• Language: English
• Keywords: design for repair, sustainability, extended product lifetime, consumer perception, repair behavior, life cycle environmental impact, circular economy
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FS - Faculty of Mechanical Engineering
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2026
• Number of pages: 24 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 18, issue 12, art. 6270
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-183981
• UDC: 502.131.1
• ISSN on article: 2071-1050
• DOI: 10.3390/su18126270
• COBISS.SI-ID: 282266115
• Publication date in RUL: 23.06.2026

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Sustainability
• Shortened title: Sustainability
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 2071-1050
• COBISS.SI-ID: 5324897

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: oblikovanje za popravljivost, trajnostnost, podaljšana življenjska doba izdelka, zaznavanje potrošnikov, okoljski vpliv življenjskega cikla, krožno gospodarstvo

Projects

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Project number: P2-0425
• Name: Decentralizirane rešitve za digitalizacijo industrije ter pametnih mest in skupnosti

• Funder: Other - Other funder or multiple funders
• Project number: P2024-00773
• Name: -