Shaping sustainable consumption practices: Changing consumers’ habits through lifestyle changes and Extended Producer Responsibility schemes
Darius Corbier, Hazel Pettifor, Maureen D. Agnew, Miyuki Nagashima
Abstract
• The study assesses how increasing EPR fees might alter Japanese household sufficiency behaviors under different lifestyle change assumptions. • Charging EPR fees at acquisition incentivizes relatively more circular consumption and waste reduction than charging the fee at disposal. • Consumer lifestyles, especially strong low-carbon cognitions, significantly influence EPR effectiveness. • While EPR schemes can help slow resource loops, their effect on reducing CO2 emissions appears limited, and substitution mechanisms further constrain their overall impact on resource use and waste generation. • Rebound effects from less energy-efficient repaired goods highlight the need for measures to improve energy efficiency. This paper studies Japan's consumer-side circular economy strategies, particularly focusing on the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) systems. The current low rates of EPR fees limit their effectiveness in promoting sustainable consumption and production practices. The study investigates how increasing EPR fees might alter Japanese household sufficiency behaviors under different lifestyle change assumptions. Using a socio-economic approach, it assesses how adjusting EPR fees can influence consumer behavior and environmental outcomes, contributing to a sustainable circular economy. The findings suggest higher EPR fees on energy-using durable goods encourage circular consumption, especially on consumers with strong cognitive intentions towards circular economy behaviors. Behavioural policies promoting environmental awareness are important enablers. In addition, the timing of EPR fee imposition (at acquisition vs. disposal) significantly affects the policy outcomes. While the policy can slow resource loops for some products, its impact on CO 2 emissions may be limited.