ESR 6

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ESR 6
Consumer Practices in a Circular Society

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• TITLE: Consumer Practices in a Circular Society

• HOST: Technische Universität Berlin (Germany)

• MAIN SUPERVISOR: Prof. dr. M. Jaeger-Erben (TUB)

• CO-SUPERVISOR: Prof. dr. T. Astrup (DTU)

• START DATE: 01.05.2020

• DURATION: 36 months

• REQUIRED DEGREE: Master in Psychology or Social Sciences

• REQUIRED SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS: 

  • Experiences in conducting qualitative and quantitative research and mixed methods

  • Experiences in consumer research and research in sustainable consumption and (social) innovation

  • Experiences in designing and conducting interactive and/ or participatory workshops

  • Experiences in inter- and transdisciplinary research

  • Interest in Circular Economy strategies and practices, interest in research on consumption of plastics and acceptance of product innovation, interest in user-centric design and user integration

  • Verifiable writing and communication skills

  • Good German language skills are advantageous

• DESCRIPTION: The PhD comprises the following activities:

  • Literature review on consumers in the Circular Economy, acceptance of product innovation, plastics consumption, etc.

  • Development of a methodology

  • Empirical research (e.g. focus groups/ participatory workshops, interviews, surveys) combining qualitative and quantitative research

  • Writing of scientific articles as well as joint strategy and dissemination papers, presentation of PhD on conferences and in workshops

  • Participation in interdisciplinary group meetings at hosting institution

  • Participation in C-Planet activities

• OBJECTIVES: The ESR will explore the perception and life-worlds of target consumer groups. Consumer perception and appropriation to the different CE consumption models for electronic devices will be investigated, including barriers and trade-offs consumers face when deciding whether or not to engage in the CE. Based on that, recommendations for design and co/creation processes and to business will be proposed aiming to enable and encourage consumers to engage in CE consumption practices. Moreover, current bottom-up innovations in the context of circular economy (like Prosuming, Hacking, Making, Repairing, 3-D-printing, Hacker Spaces and Repair-Cafés) will be analysed for their potential to support Circular Economy strategies and a transformation of current unsustainable Systems of Production and Consumption. Recommendations for design, co/creation and bottom-up innovations will be evaluated with respect to effects on material consumption, flows and product end-of-life phases.

• PLANNED SECONDMENTS: At the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) to investigate how new CE business models and consumer practices will affect material flows, in particular during the end-of-life phase; At the Imagination Factory in London to test human-centric design and synergies to CE consumption practices

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