Unpacking Repair: A Comparative Study of Socio-Technical Factors Influencing Consumer Decisions in the Circular Economy across Three Product Categories

Abstract This paper explores consumer motivations and barriers to repair practices across three product categories: electronics, clothing, and furniture. The circular economy seeks to address these issues through strategies that extend product lifespans, such as repair. Using social practice theory, the study examines repair practices in The Capital Region of Denmark, to analyze the motivations driving repair decisions. Our survey data reveal distinct patterns in repair behaviors and motivations across product groups, highlighting the importance of financial considerations, product attachment, and perceived repairability. Electronics, particularly mobile phones and computers, often face high discard rates due to perceived unrepairability and high repair costs. In contrast, clothing shows higher rates of product attachment, influencing repair decisions despite breakage early in the lifespan of the product compared to other product categories. The study’s findings suggest that product design significantly impact repairability and motivation. High discard rates in electronics point to underlying design and economic challenges. Personal and family repair practices demonstrate high consumer competence in clothing and furniture repairs. Financial considerations are the primary motivation for repair decisions, while environmental considerations play a minimal role. Product attachment varies across categories and is influenced by factors beyond just age, with products having a prominent place in social interactions fostering greater attachment and higher repair rates. The analyses combine social practice theory with descriptive statistics and visual analytics to lay the groundwork for future research involving more extensive statistical analysis and more qualitative research based on interviews, diaries, etc.