Skip to main content
Knowledge4Policy
Knowledge4Policy (K4P)

Supporting policy with scientific evidence

We mobilise people and resources to create, curate, make sense of and use knowledge to inform policymaking across Europe.

Behavioural study on consumers’ engagement in the circular economy

This study provides policy-relevant insights for the EU circular economy action plan. It identifies barriers faced by consumers when deciding whether to engage in the circular economy, factors that influence this decision. Finally, it provides policy tools to encourage consumers to engage in circular economy practices related to durability and reparability

  • Publication | 2018

This study provides policy-relevant insights for the EU circular economy action plan. The study aims to:

  • Identify barriers and trade-offs faced by consumers when deciding whether to engage in the circular economy. In particular, whether to buy a more or a less durable good, and whether to have a good repaired or to discard it and buy a replacement.
  • Establish the relative importance of economic, social and psychological factors that govern how consumers engage in the circular economy.
  • Propose policy tools to enable and encourage consumers to engage in circular economy practices related to durability and reparability.

The study focusses on 5 products: vacuum cleaners, televisions, dishwashers, smartphones and clothes.

Related reading
PAGE | 11 Sep 2026
CCBI seminar series
The CCBI seminar series features monthly presentations by leaders in their respective research fields. The series covers issues concerning both behavioural insights as a policy tool...
PAGE | 10 Sep 2026
Key resources
Find out about KCB science for policy briefs, selected publications, visualisations and newsletters.
Privacy statements, terms and conditions.
You will be directed to the EU Login website where you can login/register as a user. Once connected, your credentials (First name, last name, username, email) will be registered in Knowledge4policy as part of your profile, which will allow you to get involved in all Knowledge4policy communities (help is available).

You are about to navigate to an external website. Please note that we are not responsible for its content.