How do we work?
The REuse Lab supports forward looking companies in the implementation and development of reusable alternatives to single-use products. In co-creation with companies and sectors, the multidisciplinary REuse Lab offers expertise to tackle the hurdles that hinder or delay the introduction of products for reuse, by means of data collection in a scientific experimental setting.
In concrete terms, the REuse Lab offers the following services from three knowledge perspectives:
Within the focus on qualitative robust circular product design:
- Technical knowledge about reusability and long-term use of products: both from the application of a theoretical perspective ((design for disassembly, design for repair, design for maintenance, design for cleaning, design for robustness) and from testing products, new insichts are generated to realize technical optimization so that even after long use and reuse, products also meet bio(chemical) requirements (contamination, pollution, bacteria, viruses), material requirements (degradation, leaching, scratches...), and structure & shape requirements (deformation (fit), air and water tightness, accuracy...).
Within the focus on quality perception during usage:
- Knowledge about user definitions and perception of quality and sustainable products: Concrete knowledge is generated on what information consumers wish to receive, where, and in what form they wish to obtain these insights.
- Knowledge about increasing the emotional quality of products: insights into what the potential positive aspects are of 'marks' or traces of use (i.e. stains, discolourations, holes...) on the emotional quality of products, in contrast to their current generally negative perception.
- Knowledge about optimization of maintenance: Concrete insights are gained into why people find something clean or dirty (unhygienic), and which interventions have a positive impact on the perception of cleanliness. This knowledge helps designers to give users a positive attitude towards reuse and longevity of products.
- Knowledge about optimization of repair: Insights are gained into how product users can be encouraged not to discard products in the event of failure, but to repair them or have them repaired. Concrete insights are generated on how the threshold for repair can be lowered. Specifically, the focus is on (i) supporting the self-recognition of the problem & preparing the repair action, and on (ii) the repair action itself by making it yourself or via a service provider.
Within the focus on quality assurance through the value chain:
- Experiments with product service system solutions: Developing the setup to explore the ideal business models, partners and organization of all supporting services such as monitoring platform, IOT tracking systems, cleaning, quality control...
- Knowledge on new services to optimize repair and maintenance and quality control.
Within these three knowledge perspective, the REuse Lab thus focuses on
- the product and objective technical quality requirements,
- both the quality perception of the user and the retention of value through maintaince and repair
- quality assurance by the system.
