Mobile Phone Consumption Behavior and the Need for Sustainability Innovations

Mobile phones have the shortest product lifetime of any U.S. electronic consumer product. Two studies with college students explored phone disposition behavior and replacement motives, with the objective of identifying business strategies that could mitigate the environmental and social impacts associated with their disposal. The findings indicate that phone replacement is primarily driven by industry marketing strategies that encourage individuals to replace their phones more frequently than they need or prefer to. Discussion focuses on how sustainability innovations in phone design and marketing, and changes to industry practices are needed if lifetime extension strategies are to be effective.

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