IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v14y2022i5p2993-d763795.html

Extending the Life Cycle of EEE—Findings from a Repair Study in Germany: Repair Challenges and Recommendations for Action

Author

Listed:
  • Sina Rudolf

    (Institute of Machine Tools and Production Technology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany)

  • Steffen Blömeke

    (Institute of Machine Tools and Production Technology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany)

  • Jan Felix Niemeyer

    (Institute of Machine Tools and Production Technology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany)

  • Sebastian Lawrenz

    (Institute for Software and Systems Engineering, Clausthal University of Technology, 38678 Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany)

  • Priyanka Sharma

    (Institute for Software and Systems Engineering, Clausthal University of Technology, 38678 Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany)

  • Sven Hemminghaus

    (Institute of Automotive Management and Industrial Production, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany)

  • Mark Mennenga

    (Institute of Machine Tools and Production Technology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany)

  • Kerstin Schmidt

    (Institute of Automotive Management and Industrial Production, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany)

  • Andreas Rausch

    (Institute for Software and Systems Engineering, Clausthal University of Technology, 38678 Clausthal-Zellerfeld, Germany)

  • Thomas S. Spengler

    (Institute of Automotive Management and Industrial Production, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany)

  • Christoph Herrmann

    (Institute of Machine Tools and Production Technology, Technische Universität Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany)

Abstract

The increasing amount of waste from electrical and electronic equipment and the resulting environmental issues are challenging, since product life cycles are too short, and companies continue to rely on linear (business) models. The Circular Economy is an approach to meet these challenges by extending the product lifetime. One way to extend the product lifetime is to repair them. However, since there has been no detailed research on the repair sector yet, this article aims at conducting a repair study in Germany to understand the repair process and get insights into typical failure patterns. Therefore, we analyze the repair sector’s current barriers from different perspectives, especially of customers and businesses. We discuss the results of the repair study, where 382 repair attempts were conducted, with a total success rate of 55%. Moreover, the participants were interviewed to understand their barriers and motivation for repair. Based on the study’s interim findings, recommendations for action are given to make the repair services more attractive for the repairer and customer. Based on the findings, an interdisciplinary approach to improve repair processes by using a digital repair portal is derived.

Suggested Citation

  • Sina Rudolf & Steffen Blömeke & Jan Felix Niemeyer & Sebastian Lawrenz & Priyanka Sharma & Sven Hemminghaus & Mark Mennenga & Kerstin Schmidt & Andreas Rausch & Thomas S. Spengler & Christoph Herrmann, 2022. "Extending the Life Cycle of EEE—Findings from a Repair Study in Germany: Repair Challenges and Recommendations for Action," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-21, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:5:p:2993-:d:763795
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/5/2993/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/14/5/2993/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Atalay Atasu & Miklos Sarvary & Luk N. Van Wassenhove, 2008. "Remanufacturing as a Marketing Strategy," Management Science, INFORMS, vol. 54(10), pages 1731-1746, October.
    2. Chun-Che Huang & Wen-Yau Liang & Shan-Ru Yi, 2017. "Cloud-based design for disassembly to create environmentally friendly products," Journal of Intelligent Manufacturing, Springer, vol. 28(5), pages 1203-1218, June.
    3. Ana de Jesus & Sandro Mendonça, 2017. "Lost in Transition? Drivers and Barriers in the Eco-Innovation Road to the Circular Economy," SPRU Working Paper Series 2017-18, SPRU - Science Policy Research Unit, University of Sussex Business School.
    4. Kirchherr, Julian & Reike, Denise & Hekkert, Marko, 2017. "Conceptualizing the circular economy: An analysis of 114 definitions," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 221-232.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Marlon Copara & Angel Pilamunga & Fernando Ibarra & Silvia-Melinda Oyaque-Mora & Diana Morales-Urrutia & Patricio Córdova, 2025. "A Systematic Review and Bibliometric Analysis for the Design of a Traceable and Sustainable Model for WEEE Information Management in Ecuador Based on the Circular Economy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-36, July.
    2. Werner-Lewandowska, Karolina & Golinska-Dawson, Paulina & Mierzwiak, Rafał, 2025. "Enablers and barriers in building the circular supply chain through remanufacturing - Grey DEMATEL approach," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 284(C).
    3. Hilal Shams & Altaf Hossain Molla & Mohd Nizam Ab Rahman & Hawa Hishamuddin & Zambri Harun & Nallapaneni Manoj Kumar, 2023. "Exploring Industry-Specific Research Themes on E-Waste: A Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-22, August.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Pina Puntillo, 2023. "Circular economy business models: Towards achieving sustainable development goals in the waste management sector—Empirical evidence and theoretical implications," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 30(2), pages 941-954, March.
    2. Tina Wiegand & Martin Wynn, 2023. "Sustainability, the Circular Economy and Digitalisation in the German Textile and Clothing Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-30, June.
    3. German Arana‐Landin & Waleska Sigüenza & Beñat Landeta‐Manzano & Iker Laskurain‐Iturbe, 2024. "Circular economy: On the road to ISO 59000 family of standards," Corporate Social Responsibility and Environmental Management, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 31(3), pages 1977-2009, May.
    4. Huihui Liu & Xiaohang Yue & Hui Ding & G. Keong Leong, 2017. "Optimal Remanufacturing Certification Contracts in the Electrical and Electronic Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(4), pages 1-17, March.
    5. Abdulmajeed Almadhi & Abdelhakim Abdelhadi & Rakan Alyamani, 2023. "Moving from Linear to Circular Economy in Saudi Arabia: Life-Cycle Assessment on Plastic Waste Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-22, July.
    6. Hu, Xueyue & Wang, Chunying & Elshkaki, Ayman, 2024. "Material-energy Nexus: A systematic literature review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 192(C).
    7. Sergio Cappucci & Serena Nappi & Andrea Cappelli, 2022. "Green Public Areas and Urban Open Spaces Management: New GreenCAL Tool Algorithms and Circular Economy Implications," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-25, June.
    8. Sanjay Chaudhary & Amit Jain, 2023. "Organizational Sustainability: Extended Producer Responsibility Implementation in India," International Journal of Global Business and Competitiveness, Springer, vol. 18(1), pages 19-27, December.
    9. Monia Niero & Charlotte L. Jensen & Chiara Farné Fratini & Jens Dorland & Michael S. Jørgensen & Susse Georg, 2021. "Is life cycle assessment enough to address unintended side effects from Circular Economy initiatives?," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 25(5), pages 1111-1120, October.
    10. Flavio Eduardo Fava & Lucílio Rogério Aparecido Alves & Thiago Libório Romanelli, 2025. "Economic Feasibility and Decarbonization Incentives of Sugarcane Biogas Production Pathways," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-17, February.
    11. Thomas Dobbelstein & Carina Lochner, 2023. "Factors influencing purchase intention for recycled products: A comparative analysis of Germany and South Africa," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(4), pages 2256-2277, August.
    12. Ahmed Ashraf Zaidi & Rahul Chandra, 2025. "A Study on Indian Consumers’ Willingness to Participate in Circular Fashion Through Intercriteria Correlation (CRITIC) Approach of Multi-criteria Decision Making and Binomial Logistics Regression," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 5(4), pages 3401-3429, August.
    13. Erzurumlu, S. Sinan, 2013. "The compatibility of durable goods with contingent generic consumables," Omega, Elsevier, vol. 41(3), pages 574-585.
    14. Ying Wu & Youwei Li, 2022. "Competition or Authorization—Manufacturers’ Choice of Remanufacturing Strategies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-29, October.
    15. Jaroslaw Golebiewski & Josu Takala & Oskar Juszczyk & Nina Drejerska, 2019. "Local contribution to circular economy. A case study of a Polish rural municipality," Economia agro-alimentare, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 21(3), pages 771-791.
    16. E. Ertugrul Karsak & Ece Ucar, 2025. "Circular economy performance assessment of countries using a common-weight DEA-based approach," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 27(12), pages 30995-31013, December.
    17. Letícia Salazar Serra & Solange Alfinito, 2025. "Consumer Behavior in the Circular Economy: A Systematic Review of High-impact Studies," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 5(6), pages 5315-5349, November.
    18. Risa Arai & Martin Calisto Friant & Walter J. V. Vermeulen, 2024. "The Japanese Circular Economy and Sound Material-Cycle Society Policies: Discourse and Policy Analysis," Circular Economy and Sustainability, Springer, vol. 4(1), pages 619-650, March.
    19. Naila Erum & Kazi Musa & Saira Tufail & Jamaliah Said & Nor Balkish Zakaria, 2025. "Impact of the circular economy on human development: evidence from Germany," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 27(12), pages 30385-30410, December.
    20. Yenipazarli, Arda, 2016. "Managing new and remanufactured products to mitigate environmental damage under emissions regulation," European Journal of Operational Research, Elsevier, vol. 249(1), pages 117-130.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:5:p:2993-:d:763795. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.