Establishing Design Strategies and an Assessment Tool of Home Appliances to Promote Sustainable Behavior for the New Poor
Jui-Che Tu, Yukari Nagai, Min-Chieh Shih
2018
Sustainability
Environmental benefits related to home appliance life cycles depend on how these products are used. Designing home appliances that promote sustainable behavior is an effective way to reduce environmental impacts. This study aimed to increase relevant opportunities for promoting sustainable behavior practices on the new poor through home appliances, which is rarely discussed in the fields of design for sustainable behavior (DfSB) and product design. In particular, relevant assessment tools or
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... icators are lacking in DfSB, and people's use of home appliances is generally unsustainable. Therefore, repertory grid technology was used to understand the perceptions of the new poor, develop an assessment tool, and construct design strategies for home appliances that promote sustainable behavior. Data were collected from the new poor and from designers. Through cluster and principal component analyses, three strategy types were proposed that corresponded to different product features, suggestions, and guidance. In addition, the effectiveness and potential of an assessment tool were demonstrated using the Wilcoxon rank test. The findings could be used by designers, retailers, and green marketers to propose effective product design programs that promote sustainable behavior of the new poor during product use. factors relevant to this group. For example, the new poor have a unique view of consumption [10, 18] . The main patterns of their consumption include impulsiveness, good consumer intentions, moderate spending power, and ease in buying discounted products [10]. This is a blue ocean market that has yet to be fully exploited; while enterprises can continue to develop new business opportunities and models [8] , the relevant literature is limited. Secondly, the new poor have a good grasp of green perceptions and concepts, but consumer behavior is relatively diminished in this area due to the lack of awareness of green products [8] . Fortunately, scholars have pointed out that product design strategy can affect the purchase intent of green products by the new poor [19] , suggesting a clear direction for future research. Sustainability 2018, 10, x FOR PEER REVIEW 2 of 20 factors relevant to this group. For example, the new poor have a unique view of consumption [10,18]. The main patterns of their consumption include impulsiveness, good consumer intentions, moderate spending power, and ease in buying discounted products [10]. This is a blue ocean market that has yet to be fully exploited; while enterprises can continue to develop new business opportunities and models [8], the relevant literature is limited. Secondly, the new poor have a good grasp of green perceptions and concepts, but consumer behavior is relatively diminished in this area due to the lack of awareness of green products [8]. Fortunately, scholars have pointed out that product design strategy can affect the purchase intent of green products by the new poor [19], suggesting a clear direction for future research.
doi:10.3390/su10051507
fatcat:3djhhasn5vhvtkvuwpm763lk7i