Project Video
The Problem
E-Waste
E-Waste is a mounting problem that is getting much worse. Landfills around the globe are overflowing with appliances that have minor failures. Many toasters, kettles and irons sit buried in tonnes of products who’s only failure is their inability to sustain an emotional attachment with their users. Waste electrical & electronic equipment (WEEE) is one of the fastest growing waste streams in the EU, expected to grow to 12 million tonnes per year by 2020. Globally we produced 41.8 million tonnes of it in 2014 and only 6.5 million of that was taken in for recycling! Traditionally, designers would create better, longer lasting products. This is a symptomatic solution rather than a fundamental change in the way we interact with our products. If people don’t want their product anymore, nothing can stop it’s inevitable journey to landfill, no matter how robust it is. The mountain of waste this generates is costing the earth, while manufacturers are struggling to meet the legislative demands of the European WEEE directive.
Economic Challenges
The Circular Economy means a stronger British economy and a better planet. Britain faces huge economic challenges in its use of labour. Although unemployment is falling, the risk of being out of work is rising particularly in the North East and West Midlands. A report by WRAP and the Green Alliance found that significant economic benefits can be gained if Britain can move towards a Circular Economy. This involves keeping products and materials in use for as long as possible. This is done through repair, reuse re-manufacturing and recycling. The study found that if we stay on the current development path for the circular economy in Britain, then by 2030 the sector could:
• • •
Require an extra 205,000 jobs; Reduce unemployment by around 54,000; and Offset 11% of future losses in skilled employment.
Repairability
We live in a disposable society. It’s easier to throw things out than to fix them. Many electrical products are built with little concern for the end of their lives. This practice closes off potential long term connections with products and manufacturers as well as resulting in massive amounts of E-waste. Built in obsolescence is an industry practice that more and more people are becoming aware of.
Warranties
Confusing and never where you left them. Warranty information and the extended warranty market is wrought with confusion. Many consumers feel disillusioned with the process of buying extended warranties, while many people tend to misplace their warranty documentation when it is most needed. Not being allowed a repair due to a missing warranty results in further waste, as many people would rather throw away their product and buy a new one. Self repair is usually out of the question as many electrical appliances are built to be difficult disassemble.
The Solution Lifecycle is a service concept that helps people keep their electrical products away from landfill.
Lifecycle App The smart phone App is a product library for Lifecycle products. It gives users automatically synced purchase and warranty info while giving them options for repair, reuse and recycling.
How It Works Lifecycle is a certification for products that are part of the circular economy, helping consumers make an informed decision about what appliances to buy. Lifecycle’s corporate partners, who are retailers and manufacturers, share their detailed product information, how they’ve been made and ensure they are supported for repairs for a minimum number of years. Data is then authenticated by Lifecycle who award a trusted label of sustainability. The Lifecycle app delivers tailored information to the users area and product library to enable them to maximise the value of their purchase and avoid the landfill. Users are encouraged to join the service by being offered one year extra free warranty on top of the minimum 1 year manufacturers warranty. Lifecycle empowers users to make simple, unrestricted decisions about the life of their electrical products without resulting in e-waste. Disclosed helps manufacturers and retailers understand their consumers and maintain a meaningful connection, helping industry move towards a circular economy.
Lifetag (NFC Hallmark) The Lifetag is made from sustainably sourced wood and aluminium from recycled cans. Inside is an NFC chip, programmed to link anyone to information about the product it is attached to. In a product’s life, the plug is the first and last touch point.
Certification Easy as 1, 2, 3.
1) Product must adhere to BS 8887: design for Manufacture, Assembly, Disassembly and End of Life. (MADE)
2) The product must be made from at least 50% recycled material or reused parts.
3) Spare parts are supplied for a minimum of 10 years at a non discriminatory price.
Compliance Label Certification Compliance labelling is necessary on all electrical products. This makes it a perfect place to apply the certification graphics. Placing them here means people notice it when they have to, rather than it affecting the aesthetics of the product.
Consumers Quality Product
Doing Good
Value for Money
Lifecycle certified products are built to last. The logo is synonymous with longevity and sustainability.
Consumers can make a simple choice to lower their own carbon footprint while encouraging companies to be more responsible in manufacturing.
Users will maximise the value of their product and receive an extra year’s warranty.
Manufacturers Engagement
Sustainability
Trust
Lifecycle helps keep a connection with their product, and the manufacturers. This makes users associate their brand with good things.
Sustainability doesn’t have to be an added extra. Lifecycle lets manufacturers reduce landfill waste and CO2 emissions by retrofitting sustainability into their products from the design phase.
The lifecycle platform helps bring users back to the same retailers and manufacturers
Partners
Real change requires working together.
Lifecycle works by getting companies to work together for their mutual benefit as well as caring for the earth.
Philips is a company who is already making moves towards the circular economy. By using Lifecycle to certify their products, they will strengthen their brand image in a more progressive and environmentally conscious world.
John Lewis support the WEEE regulations and are members of the Distributor Take-Back (DTS) scheme - which is helping to maintain a UK recycling network for waste electrical products. They already offer 2 years standard warranty (one year more than the one year manufacturers warranty).
eBay is one of the largest facilitators of the circular economy. eBay listings display Lifecycle certification, offering transparency and trust when buying second hand.
iFixit is a wiki style platform that contains hundreds of self help repair guides and tear downs for a range of products. 95% of iFixit users say a successful repair makes them more likely to buy another product from the same manufacturer.
Packaging Most people already know what they are going to buy. Lifecycle products are packaged in 100% biodegradable materials. Removing excessive graphics means less inks, which means a smaller carbon footprint.
Why? Consumer interviews found that many people decide what they are going to buy based on internet reviews or point of sale displays.
The App
Everything you need to keep your product in the loop.
The Lifecycle app is automatically updated with product purchase information, warranty data, repair and reselling options. It can even tell you how to recycle your stuff at the end of it’s life.
My Products LIFECYCLE
My Kettle
Products For Life.
Philips Brushed Energy Efficient Kettle Warranty 532 days left
Toasty Philips 4 Slice Toaster
My Products
Warranty 532 days left
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A
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R
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My Kettle
tions!
irthday!
etal Aluminium Kettle is e’s to many more!
iFixit is a global community of people helping each other repair things. Let's fix the world, one device at a time.
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LIFECYCLE
This is an official LifeCycle product. It was built to last, is made of at least 50% recycled material and is designed to be recycled at the end of it’s life.
th LifeCycle, you just ranty. Celebrate by product!
My Kettle
Certificate
123 Business Park Newcastle NE 12 1AB
Product Specification Model Brushed Energy Efficient Kettle
description Info Repair Reuse Recycle 1.7-litres. 3kW. One cup indicator to avoid boiling
Info
Repair
Reuse
Recycle
Information
My Kettle
My Kettle Sell
Average:
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Find Parts
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Repair
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Take Back
Info
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Recycle
My Kettle Take Back
Local
Reuse
Local
£4.98
VALETS DO THE SELLING. YOU GET PAID. Send in your stuff Bring your items to a drop-off center or mail them in. (Shipping is prepaid)
Freecycle is a non-profit grassroots movement of people who are giving (and getting) stuff for free in their own towns and keeping good stuff out of landfills.
Create Listing
Sit back and relax Valets take care of selling your items on eBay. Get Paid You get up to 80% of the sale price of the things you sell.
Create Listing
Mon - Fri 09:00 - 17:00 Sat 10:00 - 16:00 Sun Closed Info
My Kettle
Sell
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Partsmaster stocks over 1 million parts and accessories.
Service Hours
76%
Serial Number Serial Number 569823796 569823796
Locate
Return your product in any condition to claim an eVoucher to be used on other Philips products!
Perfect
£8.18
Good
£4.68
Working
£2.80
Working product in mint cosmetic condition with all accessories.
Working product in good cosmetic condition with all essential accessories.
Are pioneers in research, aiming to bring forward the day when all cancers are cured. Your donation could make that day sooner.
Working product in poor cosmetic condition, with charger/power intact.
Find your nearest recycle point that will accept your product.
Start A Repair
year extended warranty. Celebrate by naming your new product!
Recycled Content
t Later
Service Centre
User Manual
Give It A Name
123 Business Park Newcastle NE 12 1AB
Product Specification Model Brushed Energy Efficient Kettle
description Info Repair Reuse Recycle 1.7-litres. 3kW. One cup indicator to avoid boiling
Kettle
Info
Sell
Recycle
Mon - Fri 09:00 - 17:00 Sat 10:00 - 16:00 Sun Closed Info
Donate Donate
Repair
Reuse
Recycle
My Kettle Take Back
Local
Find your nearest recycle point that will accept your product.
Perfect
£8.18
Good
£4.68
Working
£2.80
Not Working
£1.94
Working product in good cosmetic condition with all essential accessories.
Are pioneers in research, aiming to bring forward the day when all cancers are cured. Your donation could make that day sooner.
Create Listing
Working product in poor cosmetic condition, with charger/power intact.
Nearest Store
OK Reuse
Info
Local
Working product in mint cosmetic condition with all accessories.
Create Listing
Get Paid You get up to 80% of the sale price of the things you sell.
Repair
Recycle
Return your product in any condition to claim an eVoucher to be used on other Philips products!
Sit back and relax Valets take care of selling your items on eBay.
Info
Reuse
Take Back
Freecycle is a non-profit grassroots movement of people who are giving (and getting) stuff for free in their own towns and keeping good stuff out of landfills.
Send in your stuff Bring your items to a drop-off center or mail them in. (Shipping is prepaid)
Philips Brushed Metal Aluminium Kettle is now 1 year old. Here’s to many more!
Repair
£4.98
VALETS DO THE SELLING. YOU GET PAID.
Happy Birthday!
Find Parts
Contact
My Kettle
Sell
Donate
Average:
1 Year Old
Reuse
My Kettle
My Kettle
My Kettle
Repair
Partsmaster stocks over 1 million parts and accessories.
Service Hours
76%
Serial Number Serial Number 569823796 569823796
Locate
Recycle
Info
Reuse
Repair
Reuse
Working product in poor cosmetic condition, with charger/power intact.
Recycle
Info
Repair
Reuse
Recycle
Recycle
Info
Repair
Reuse
Recycle