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PRemature Obsolescence Multi-Stakeholder Product Testing Program

Project description

DEENESFRITPL

A novel testing programme examining the longevity of consumer products

Resource use and the generation of waste from electrical and electronic equipment has rapidly increased over the years. Extending the useful lifetime of devices is a promising way to keep precious resources within the economy and to reduce waste. The EU-funded PROMPT project aims to develop an independent testing programme for premature obsolescence which will support the assessment of the longevity of consumer products when they are put on the market. It will help extend the useful lifetime of products and contribute to the transition to a circular economy. The project will provide designers and policymakers with recommendations on improving the durability of products, empower consumers to make informed choices, and create awareness of market conditions.

Objective

Waste production and resource use is increasing for electric and electronic consumer products. At the same time many critical materials cannot be recovered in recycling processes. Therefore a promising strategy would be to lengthen the lifetimes of these products in order to get closer to a Circular Economy.

The project PROMPT is going to support the development of more durable and longer lasting products by lowering the asymmetry of information between consumer and manufacturer and thereby to allow consumers to make better choices. This is achieved by the development of an integral testing programme for electric and electronic consumer products that takes into account the main key issues of product failures and premature obsolescence:
• Product durability and reliability
• Adaptability, upgradability, and reparability
• User behaviour and market

PROMPT takes a multi-stakeholder approach by including different consumer, test, repair and research organisations in the consortium who will carry out the work. Consequently, results will be achieved that are viable for different stakeholders and independent from manufacturers. With the help of an Advisory Board, additional stakeholder input will be gathered. The board will consist of experts from industry, retail, design, environmental, science and consumer sectors.

A baseline of research will be established by collecting empirical data on technical issues, design shortcomings, market obstacles and replacement causes for premature obsolescence. These results will give input to the development of a range of specific testing methods addressing the three fields of issues outlined above. The results will be synthesized in an integral testing programme for premature obsolescence that will be validated and benchmarked through test cases. Results will be analysed and prepared to give validated input to standardisation, product design, consumer communication and policy recommendations.

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Call for proposal

H2020-SC5-2018-2019-2020

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Sub call

H2020-SC5-2018-2

Funding Scheme

RIA - Research and Innovation action

Coordinator

FRAUNHOFER GESELLSCHAFT ZUR FORDERUNG DER ANGEWANDTEN FORSCHUNG EV
Net EU contribution
€ 796 882,50
Address
HANSASTRASSE 27C
80686 Munchen
Germany

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Region
Bayern Oberbayern München, Kreisfreie Stadt
Activity type
Research Organisations
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Total cost
€ 796 882,50

Participants (12)

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Last update: 2 April 2024

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Permalink: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/820331

European Union, 2024