Ellie Gabel highlights how making products last longer can cut waste, reduce emissions, save money, and help both businesses and consumers embrace a circular economy.
Replacing parts and equipment is costly and disruptive. Consumers feel it too, as products wear out and budgets stretch to replace essentials. Extending product lifespans offers a more sustainable solution and supports the circular economy.
Reducing Resource Consumption
Producing one product or machine consumes massive resources, from extracting raw materials to transporting them to high-temperature processing facilities.
Manufacturing faces particular pressure. Facilities often store replacement parts for large equipment, many of which use scarce metals with high environmental costs. Longer-lasting parts mean fewer replacements and lower resource demand.
Sectors like renewable energy and electric vehicles face supply challenges. Demand for critical materials such as nickel and cobalt may double by 2040. Extending product lifecycles can ease these pressures.
Cutting Emissions and Energy Use
Longer-lasting products also reduce emissions. Manufacturing new items requires energy-intensive processes, often using fossil fuels. Doubling a product’s lifespan can cut production energy in half.
This is especially important in transportation. Engineers use coatings to prevent corrosion and 3D-print components with low-carbon materials. Lightweight, durable engines reduce the need for frequent replacement, making vehicles and aircraft more sustainable.
Reducing Product Waste
Less than 9% of manufactured products are fully recycled. Extending lifespans lowers the amount that ends up in landfills.
Electronics are a major concern. Broken devices leak toxins and contain rare metals that are running out. Many products are incinerated, increasing greenhouse gas emissions.
Removing planned obsolescence and expanding the right to repair helps reduce waste and emissions. Modular designs allow users to replace parts without discarding the entire product. In 2022, 62 million tonnes of electronics were produced, highlighting the need for durable devices.
Increasing Economic Savings
Cheap, disposable products may boost short-term profits for companies but strain consumers and eventually cost manufacturers more.
Infrastructure provides a clear example. Poorly built bridges and roads impose financial burdens on communities. Preventive maintenance, resilient design, and self-healing materials can extend infrastructure lifespan. Annual bridge and road maintenance costs are estimated at $8.6 billion, costs that could be reduced with smarter design and materials.
Supporting a Circular Economy
Durable products empower communities to adopt circular practices: repair, refurbish, disassemble, or compost items instead of discarding them.
The fashion industry demonstrates the need. Fast fashion creates massive waste, while the secondhand market is growing. By 2027, it could reach $370 billion, especially in the U.S. Secondhand clothing slows production cycles and encourages retailers to make longer-lasting garments.
A Shift Toward Durability
Planned obsolescence has long driven low-quality, disposable goods. These items often end up in landfills.
Extending product lifecycles reduces carbon emissions, provides higher-quality options, and supports circular economy principles. Over time, more durable products can significantly lower waste and help businesses and consumers adopt sustainable practices.
