Report says domestic appliances don’t last

A report published by Sheffield Hallam University into the use and disposal of household appliances in the UK has important implications for the way products are designed in the future.

The report, entitled Prospects for Household Appliances, provides information on product ownership, life span, use and disposal and covers all types of electrical products used in the home, from toasters and televisions to kettles and keyboards.

According to the report’s author, Tim Cooper, the scale of the activity in terms of the millions of products sold, passed on to others, and ultimately sent on for recycling or disposal, poses a major environmental challenge. “From the consumer’s perspective, many products don’t last as long as they’d like, which is giving rise to dissatisfaction,” he says.

“At the same time, some consumers would not buy products designed for life because they want the latest technology. This affects their decision even more than price,” he adds.

Longer-lasting products could reduce waste volumes significantly, he says, but the onus is on consumers as much as producers for their success.

On average, households own 25 appliances and the age of discarded appliances ranges from four to 12 years, depending on the type of product.