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A comparative and exploratory study of toy products in the circular economy

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conference contribution
posted on 2024-01-17, 13:47 authored by Matthew WatkinsMatthew Watkins, Ana MestreAna Mestre
This paper concerns relatively unexplored research concerning the environmental impact of children’s toys. This segment represents a challenge in the circular economy, a priority area concerned with the EU´s ambition of drastically reducing the use of petroleum-based plastics in Europe, along with the optimisation of waste as valuable resources for design. The paper discusses the methodological approaches used in an ongoing explorative study analysis of sixteen toy product cases through empirical research concerning the life cycle impact, and specifically, the end of life implications of children’s toys, focusing on eight distinct toy categories spanning an age range of six months to eight years old. A mixed methods approach was used, with three distinct stages: Individual component level life cycle analysis, the use of Circular Product Design assessment and improvement tools, and semistructured interviews of three key stakeholders to evaluate the toys, complemented by the analysis of the economic depreciation of the toy’s value. Following this analysis, designers sought to improve the circularity of the products using one of four circular product design approaches, designing for: “slowing the loop”, “closing the loop”, “bio-based loop” or “bio-inspired loop” (Mestre & Cooper, 2017). The preliminary findings of the research show that higher value branded items significantly outperformed their less expensive counterparts in both the LCA and stakeholder research, due to higher value and their recognition in the second hand market leading to 2nd or 3rd lives, slowing the loop. Opportunities for improvement were identified to further improve toy circularity and close the loops through enhanced product attachment and circular business opportunities. Opportunities for bio-based solutions were also identified for lower value products, linking lower cost and shorter intended life to bio-based solutions, particularly in the craft and outdoor toys examples.

Funding

End Use Energy Demand Centre titled "Centre for Industrial Energy, Materials, Energy and Products (CIE-MAP)

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council

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History

School

  • Loughborough University London
  • Mechanical, Electrical and Manufacturing Engineering

Published in

PLATE: Product Lifetimes And The Environment 2019, Proceedings

Pages

835 - 842

Source

Product Lifetimes and the Environment (PLATE) 2019 Conference

Publisher

Universitätsverlag der TU Berlin

Version

  • VoR (Version of Record)

Publisher statement

This work – except for quotes, figures and where otherwise noted – is licensed under the Creative Commons Licence CC BY 4.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Publication date

2021-03-26

ISBN

9783798331259

Language

  • en

Editor(s)

Nils F. Nissen; Melanie Jaeger-Erben

Location

Berlin, Germany

Event dates

18th September 2019 - 20th September 2019

Depositor

Dr Matthew Watkins. Deposit date: 16 January 2024

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