User Perspectives on Circular Value Propositions for Kitchen Furniture and Appliances

The urgent need to transition to a circular economy is widely acknowledged, but little attention has been given to how circular consumption affects and is shaped by people’s needs, aspirations, and everyday practices. This study explores user perspectives on circular value propositions for kitchen furniture and appliances through scenario workshops with 39 Swedish participants. The findings reveal that scenarios focusing on consumption of pre-used products were associated with economic and environmental motivations. The main barriers were contamination, quality and performance-related issues, and desire for new products. Scenarios focusing on access-based consumption were associated with motivations concerning flexibility, convenience, quality, and environmental reasons. The main barriers to these scenarios were financial concern, unfamiliarity with the concept and uncertainty about terms, desire to own, and practical feasibility. Furthermore, the findings highlight the importance of considering the additional efforts that are associated with circular consumption, the ability to meet users’ needs and expectations, and the actual potential for lowering environmental impacts. The relevance of the different scenarios seemed to depend strongly on life situation, financial conditions, and housing situation, with access-based consumption generally seen as a short-term solution. To achieve a circular economy for kitchens, taking a holistic approach to the development of kitchen designs and business models as part of future housing will be needed.