Consumer Information for SCP Programme
Product Lifetime Extension
Welcome to the Product Lifetime Extension Hub!
Explore resources that address the extension of the lifetime of products for a more circular economy
This webpage collects resources and tools on product lifetime extension, aiming at building a critical mass of engagement within and across different sectors (private, public and civil society) to raise awareness and engage consumers on the topic.
Product lifetime extension is the postponement or reversal of the obsolescence of a product through deliberate intervention, thus contributing to circular economy.
Reports, case studies and other relevant materials on measures and processes taken to accelerate the circular economy by extending the useful life of products are available here.
The Long View: Exploring Product Lifetime Extension
The Long View report aims to provide recommendations on the opportunities available to consumers, private sector and especially governments from developed and developing economies to fight against planned obsolescence and address product lifetime extension. Product-specific policy measures and opportunities for product lifetime extension are presented.
Full report available in English and Portuguese, executive summary available in French, Russian and Chinese.
Report on Policy Instruments on Product Lifetime Extension (PLE)
Relevant policies that countries have in place, or aspire to, for addressing product lifetime extension.
The report aims to provide an overview of diverse policies and regulatory approaches for product lifetime extension across the globe. The current review may provide a useful illustration of the main instruments and initiatives through which some countries have promoted the topic of product lifetime extension. This mapping focuses exclusively on policies and regulatory measures that aim to extend product lifetimes by designing more durable products, by extending their desirability or their use through maintenance, upgrades and repurpose, and by recovering broken products through repair, refurbishment or remanufacturing.
Case Studies
Various case studies were collected to illustrate product lifetime extension strategies and to showcase how consumer information tools can be used to enhance communication to consumers. The objective of these case studies is to inspire and encourage organisations to shift to more circular models, to improve their business models towards prolonging or extending a product’s lifetime, and to better communicate it to consumers.
Video
This video explains what product lifetime extension is and what it means for everyone on the planet. It highlights how businesses can apply product lifetime extension and circularity concepts to their corporate strategies and how consumers can help too by making little shifts in their daily routines.
Infographics
These two infographics summarize business strategies on how to extend products lifetime. and highlights elements from the case studies listed above. This is by no means an exhaustive list of strategies.
Events and webinars
Did you miss any of our public events or webinars? Here you can find the recording!
Watch the launch webinar of the report The Long View (12 October 2017): here
Watch the webinar ‘Product Lifetime Extension: Which business models work?’ (30 January 2019): here
Watch the webinar 'Longer Lifetime for Products: A Compelling Case Towards Circularity' (5 September 2019): here
Watch the webinar 'Vers une consommation plus durable : l’allongement de la durée de vie des produits' (24 February 2021): here
Watch the webinar 'Longer lifetime for products. The role of policy instruments and consumer information tools' (29 July 2021): here
Watch the webinar 'The role of consumers in product repairability' (13 October 2021): here
Training on product lifetime extension
UNEP currently offers a training course which guides companies, policy makers and civil society on strategies to implement product lifetime extension whithin the scope of circular economy. The main objective of the training is to strengthen the technical capacity of stakeholders in support of the implementation of product lifetime extension strategies and initiatives. The training introduces the concept of product lifetime extension within the scope of circular economy and discusses measures that can be taken by policy makers, businesses, consumers and NGOs related to the topic. If you are interested in receiveing more information on this training, please reach out to us!
Are you interested in joining our Working Group on 'Using Product Lifetime Extension to Advance Circular Economy'?
Led by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Akatu institute, this newly created working group aims to build a critical mass of engagement within and across different sectors (private, public and civil society) to raise awareness and engage consumers on product lifetime extension. The working group intends to push progress towards product lifetime extension policies and practices worldwide, bring together a network of organisations, facilitate the dialogue between them and better engage and communicate with consumers on PLE practices. To join this Working Group or get more information contact ciscp@un.org
Want to know more about product lifetime extension?
Please check below other guidance materials recommended by us:
A Longer Lifetime for Products: Benefits for Consumers and Companies (European Parliament, 2016)
Ecodesign Requirements for Textiles and Furniture (Nordic Council of Ministers, 2018)
Business models for the circular economy: Opportunities and challenges for policy (OECD, 2019)
Promoting Product Longevity (European Parliament, 2020)
Impacts and Insights: Circular IT Management in Practice (TCO Development, 2020)
Durable, repairable and mainstream: How ecodesign can make our textiles circular (ECOS, 2020)
Collaboration
The product lifetime work of the Consumer Information Programme is led by UN Environment and Akatu Institute and funded by the French Ministry for Ecological and Solidary Transition.
