Supplementary memorandum from the Centre
for Sustainable Consumption, Sheffield Hallam University
PRODUCT LIFE-SPAN
INFORMATION
1. Access to product information is one
of many influences upon purchasing decisions. Three-quarters of
consumers consider information about product life-spans to be
"very important" according to a survey undertaken in
2000. The same survey found that more than half of all consumers
were "dissatisfied" with the current level of information.
2. Empirical evidence to suggest that consumers
would utilise product life-span information may be unavailable,
but it is generally accepted that increased information improves
market place efficiency. It could even be argued that consumers
have a right to know the planned design life of products in order
to enable them to identify products according to their intrinsic
quality as distinct from other factors that may be considered
to add value. Increased knowledge may encourage more consumers
to choose products that last longer, thereby reducing waste from
discarded items. Clearer expectations about life-spans may also
deter people from discarding products prematurely.
3. Consumers are likely to respond positively
to the provision of product-life information if (a) it enables
them to compare products and identify which ones offer the best
value for money (ie on the basis of cost per year of anticipated
service life) or (b) they have been convinced of a need to take
greater account of product life-spans in their purchasing behaviour
in order to reduce the environmental impacts of consumption.
4. Product life-span information may be
obtained in many various ways and takes different forms, including
life-span labels, point of sale leaflets, verbal advice from retail
assistants, manufacturers' or retailers' brochures, product reviews
or personal blogs on Internet sites, specialist consumer magazines,
word of mouth and environmental labels such as the EU Eco-label.
Consumers may also use proxies and cues, such as the length of
guarantee, the look or "feel" of a product, a BSI or
ISO number, brand reputation or price.
5. If the Government accepts the case for
increased product life-span information it will need to consider
a range of options, the effectiveness of which may vary by product
type. The introduction of a life-span label could be on either
a statutory or voluntary basis. The options also include the introduction
of a life-span label or the incorporation of life-span criteria
into other environmental labelling schemes.
6. The approach taken by Lord Beaumont in
his proposed amendment to the Sale and Supply of Goods Bill in
1994 was to give authority to the Secretary of State, after due
consultation with interested parties, to require sellers "to
supply to prospective buyers information stating the normal expected
life span of the goods under reasonable conditions for use"
for any stated class of goods.
7. A voluntary approach might involve the
Government in multi-stakeholder debate within key industry sectors
to promote the use of life-span labelling, encourage longer guarantees
to signify increased durability, and develop industry standards
and codes of conduct on life-span labels and the availability
and fair pricing of spare parts. Such an approach was adopted
last year in Scotland's Household Waste Prevention Action Plan.
8. Certain technical issues with legal and
financial implications need to be resolved. Should product life-spans
be measured in periods of time or cycles of use? Would life-span
labels make manufacturers liable to pay all costs relating to
disrepair during the period in question or should allowances be
made for normal wear and tear?
9. The Government could promote the communication
of life-span information by measures other than labels, such as:
— date stamping products at the point
of manufacture;
— integrating devices on products that
monitor cycles of use/intensity of use and are visible to consumers;
— the use of longer guarantees to signify
enhanced durability;
— the supply of relevant information
from manufacturers to retailers and its communication to consumers
through point of sale information and better trained retail staff;
and
— education and information campaigns
about careful product use and disposal.
10. The Government should integrate consumption,
product durability and waste reduction more effectively in its
sustainable development strategy. Initiatives are needed to encourage
consumers to purchase higher quality, durable products and to
undertake repairs. Since an amendment in 1994 "durability"
has been among the criteria determining "satisfactory quality"
under the 1979 Sale of Goods Act (section 14[2B]), but this is
proving of little consequence in the absence of adequate life-span
information.
January 2008
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