Thesis research: Ideas of Sustainable Consumption

Some Thoughts and Ideas…
Now I have immersed my self quite a bit in reading and researching the topic of consumption and sustainability. I have come u with a few ideas as a response to what I have been finding out.

Product Repair System.
1. Weak components are identified through rigorous testing before the product goes on the market. The components are prioritized in terms of their rate of failure, considering a series of pre-determined scenarios of use.
2. Users/ buyers choose a pre-determined scenario which best suits them. This chosen scenario and each of the others will be connected with it’s own programme of repair.
3. Each programme will specify a time within the products lifespan for the user to return the item to the manufacturer for a checkup. Cost included in retail price, and the consumer has the knowledge that what they bought will last its full-predicted lifespan.
When built in to the retail price, the buyer may treat he purchase as more of a commitment, and care for the item more/ less likely become sick of the aesthetic after a time. I’m also exploring ways to bring a closer connection between the consumer and the product. Purchase as a commitment.

Externalising costs of Repair, not disposal.
Out landfills are expensive to run, and who dumps there externalises the costs to taxpayers. This makes disposing of old appliances affordable, to the point where there isn’t enough competition from repair services (UK findings, Cooper, Slower Consumption). So could we externalise the cost of repair services over disposal? People will often consider an affordable and competitive option.