A study has been launched by Nottingham Trent University to examine the product life of vacuum cleaners and find out whether they have become part of a ‘throwaway culture’.
The project, being led by Professor Tim Cooper, a specialist in sustainable consumption at the School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment, aims to increase the lifespan of vacuums to help save raw materials and reduce landfill costs.
The research will explore how perceptions of dirt, damage and poor maintenance may lead to consumers disposing of their vacuums when they are still repairable.
Up to 100 members of the public will be interviewed in Greater Nottingham to find out people’s attitudes towards maintenance, repair and sustainability, while a further 500 people will take part in an online survey so that national trends and consumer attitudes can be analysed.
Product design students at the university will then design sustainable vacuums and the ‘strongest’ design will be trialled with members of the public to gague attitudes.
The research findings will then be applied to other electrical items - such as computer keyboards - and recommendations will be made as to how they can be more sustainable.
‘Repairing a vacuum cleaner should be the easiest and cheapest thing to do’
Speaking of the study, Cooper noted: “After televisions, the manufacture of vacuum cleaners accounts for the largest amount of greenhouse gas emissions in electrical products… Poor maintenance, loss of suction and even things like smells and scratches can make people think they’re worn out long before they’re broken beyond repair.
“So we’re keen to see how close to reality people’s perceptions of ‘broken’ are and whether this can be changed to save resources.
“Repairing a vacuum cleaner, rather than replacing it, should be the easiest and cheapest thing to do,” commented Cooper.
“We need to find out why people throw away their vacuum cleaners prematurely and remove any of the perceived barriers to repair work.”
He added that manufacturers could “profit considerably from making machines which are reliable and repairable, as this can make people more loyal to their brand”.
Find out more about Nottingham Trent University.
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