Exploring the acquisition, usage, repair, and end-of-life management practices of electrical self-care appliances: Insights from domestic and professional users

Abstract

The new Circular Economy Action Plan promotes extending product lifespans through design strategies focused on repairability. Additionally, the European Commission, through the “Right to Repair”, aims to ensure that consumers have access to the necessary parts and tools to repair their devices. However, the success of these policies depends on consumer decisions, both at the time of purchasing products and when managing their end-of-life. In this context, this study aims to identify current habits and practices related to the acquisition, usage, maintenance, repair, replacement, and end-of-life management of small electrical appliances within the personal care category — specifically, hairdryers. To this end, two comprehensive surveys targeting domestic and professional users were designed and implemented, with representative samples of 384 and 50 participants, respectively. The results revealed notable differences between domestic and professional users regarding acquisition, failure behaviour, and repair practices. Additionally, the study identified socioeconomic variables influencing repair and disposal behaviours: gender, age, and educational level for domestic users; and business age for professional users. Significant relationships were observed between maintenance, repair, and disposal practices among domestic users. These results offer valuable insights for future awareness-raising campaigns aimed at promoting more sustainable practices in the use of hairdryers, both at domestic and professional levels.