I’m researching extrinsic/emotional durability in sustainable fashion, particularly regarding recent EU and French measures. The EU’s Waste Framework Directive might highlight extrinsic durability as influenced by “industrial and commercial strategies,” which lead to products being discarded “before reaching their potential lifetime.”
The Council links these strategies - such as overproduction and frequent collection renewals - to consumer habits, overconsumption, and increased textile waste. Article 22(3a) connects these practices to waste generation, emphasizing the frequency of new collections and the volume of items produced as contributing factors.
While the Council focuses on its defined concept of extrinsic durability, the 'emotional' aspect is notably absent. I’m curious about how their perspective could be expanded to view extrinsic and emotional durability as interconnected elements of sustainable fashion strategies. Additionally, I am exploring whether specific business models can be directly linked to extrinsic durability and how they influence consumer behavior and product lifespan.
Your research aligns with critical debates on sustainable fashion. Extrinsic durability, as outlined in the EU measures, emphasizes the role of industry practices in shortening product lifespans. Adding the concept of emotional durability could broaden this discussion by addressing consumer attachment and satisfaction, which are key to extending product use and reducing waste.
To explore the interplay between extrinsic and emotional durability:
Redefining Durability: Propose an integrated framework where extrinsic durability (external strategies influencing product use) and emotional durability (consumer connection to products) work synergistically to enhance sustainability.
Business Models: Examine models such as:
Slow Fashion: Focused on timeless designs and limited collections to encourage longer use.
Product-as-a-Service: Leasing and subscription models that align with circular economy principles.
Customizable Products: Offering personalization to increase emotional investment.
Repair and Resale: Services that support extended product lifespans.
Consumer Behavior Studies: Investigate how emotional durability affects willingness to repair, reuse, or retain items, and how business strategies influence these behaviors.
Policy Suggestions: Highlight how regulatory frameworks can integrate emotional durability, such as incentivizing repairability and discouraging planned obsolescence tied to trends.
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