Keeping it Local and Circular
Understanding Electronics and Furniture Repair Activities
in the Transition to the Circular Economy
Giulia Squillace
Student number: 11315822
Supervisor: Robert Kloosterman
Second reader: Aslan Zorlu
MSc Urban Geography
August 2018
Acknowledgements
This thesis is the result of the help and advice of several people over the past year. First and
foremost, the thesis would have not taken shape without the help and support of my
supervisor, Professor Robert Kloosterman, whose enthusiasm since the very first stages of
this work kept me motivated throughout the entire research and writing process.
Secondly, I must thank my parents, for having encouraged and supported (almost) all my
decisions, and having allowed me to always follow my interests, even when this implied
moving to a different country.
Whilst conducting research, I was lucky enough to be surrounded by supportive friends
who accompanied me – sometimes literally – through the ebb and flow of writing a master’s
thesis. Without your help this work would have not taken the shape it has now.
Finally, I would like to thank all the people who have supported me during the non-obvious
decision of changing my university curriculum from Art Studies to Urban Geography. It is
only thanks to all the encouragement I received that I could make this important step. With
hindsight, the Humanities and the Social Sciences are not as different worlds as I used to
think.
Abstract
The concept of the circular economy has recently gained popularity across academic,
business, and political circles, as debates have emerged over how to promote more
sustainable economic growth. The main focus of attention has been on processes
concerning the recovery and application of materials, such as recycling, rather than on
strategies that extend the useful lifespan of products. This study switches attention to the
‘inner circles’ of the circular economy, through the study of electronics and furniture repair
activities in Amsterdam. Repair activities allow products and materials to stay inside the
supply chain for longer and therefore provide a circular service at the local level. Employing
a mixed-methodological approach that encompasses spatial analysis and qualitative
interviewing, this research explores repair activities and assesses the diffusion of repair
practices across the two sectors of study. From this research, it is evident that there are
divergent worlds of repair activities. While electronics repair is a popular, expanding sector,
with the number of businesses increasing every year, furniture repair constitutes a
up-market sector that is slowly disappearing. Moreover, while electronics repair is based
primarily on price and convenience, furniture repair is based on craft and is significantly
more circular, as it involves all the phases of the circular economy that extend products’
lifespan as well as the useful application of materials. Nevertheless, this study concludes
that electronics repair activities contribute to a circular consumption of products to a larger
extent than furniture repair activities, due to their popularity, accessibility and competitive
prices. Therefore, this paper argues that local policies should mainly target furniture repair
activities in order to make it a less niche and more accessible sector. This is especially
relevant for policymakers working towards the transition to a circular economy in the
Netherlands by 2050.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgments ………
p. 1
Abstract ………
p. 2
Chapter 1: Introduction
……… p. 5
1.1 Research background ………..p. 5
1.2 Academic relevance ……… p.6
1.3 Societal relevance ……… p. 7
1.3.1 A Circular Economy in The Netherlands by 2050 ……… p. 7
Chapter 2: Theoretical Framework ………
p. 9
2.1 The circular economy ………..p. 9
2.2 Loops in the circular economy ………p. 11
2.3 Repair ……… p. 13
2.4 Circular employment and the repair sector ……… p. 14
2.5 The circular economy in the repair of consumer goods ………. p. 15
2.5.1 Consumer electronics ……… p. 16
2.5.2 Furniture sector ………..
p. 17
Chapter 3: Research Design and Methods ……….
p. 19
3.1 Problem statement ……… p. 19
3.2 Research questions ………
p. 19
3.3 Definition of core concepts ……… p. 20
3.4 Conceptual scheme ……… p. 21
3.5 Research location ……… p. 21
3.6 Cases selection strategy ………. p. 21
3.7 Research design ……….. p. 21
3.8 Quantitative methods ……….. p. 22
3.8.1 Quantitative data ……….. p. 22
3.8.2 GIS spatial analysis ……….. p. 23
3.8.3 Limitations of the quantitative phase ……… p. 24
3.9 Qualitative methods ……….. p. 25
3.9.1 Sampling strategy ……….. p. 25
3.9.2 Semi-structured interviews ………p. 25
3.9.3 Data analysis ……… p. 26
3.9.4 Limitations of the qualitative phase ……… p. 26
3.10 Ethical considerations ……….. p 27
Chapter 4: The Spatiality of Repair Activities ………p. 28
4.1 The spatial distribution of repair activities ………p. 28
4.2 Repair activities versus socio-demographics characteristics ………p. 30
Chapter 5: Exploring Electronics Repair Activities
………p. 34
5.1 Overview ………p. 34
5.2 Two categories of electronics repair activities ……….p. 35
5.3 Changes in the sector ………p. 39
5.4 Reasons for repair ……… p. 40
5.5 Barriers and limitations ……… p. 41
Chapter 6: Exploring Furniture Repair Activities ………p. 44
6.1 Overview ………p. 44
6.2 Changes in the sector ……… p. 46
6.3 Reasons for repair ………p. 47
6.4 Barriers and limitations ……….p. 48
Chapter 7: Discussion and Conclusion
……… p. 50
7.1 Discussion ……….p. 50
7.1.1 Electronics repair: a fast-growing sector ………p. 50
7.1.2 Furniture repair: a disappearing sector ………p. 51
7.2 Answering the research questions ……… p. 52
7.3 Concluding thoughts ……….p. 57
Chapter 1: Introduction
1.1 Research background
In a rapidly urbanizing world, there is an urgent need for sustainable solutions, as humanity’s demand for earth’s resources continuously outweighs the supplies presently available. One significant reason for this is the way in which the products we consume are made. Indeed the current system in place for producing consumer products, ranging from the electronics we use to communicate with one another to the furniture in which we sit, requires a significant amount of energy to produce and leads to a significant amount of waste, both during the production process and when the product is finally used (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2012). This current system is usually referred to as a ‘Linear Economy’, whereby resources are taken to make a product and are then disposed of without being used again (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2012). However in recent years, academics, foundations, businesses and governments have increasingly begun to challenge this approach to the economy and have started to advocate what is being coined as the ‘Circular Economy’.
The concept of the circular economy is rapidly gaining momentum among scholars and practitioners as a potential solution to face the much-debated problem of sustainable development (Kirchherr et al, 2017). Publications on the topic have increased more than threefold in the last three years within governments, businesses, and scientific research, as pointed out by Geissdoerfer et al (2017). The circular economy has gained such great popularity because its ultimate goal integrates economic and environmental prosperity (Murray et al, 2017). It replaces the ‘take-make-dispose’ pattern of the linear production model with closed loops of materials flows combining processes that extend the useful lifetime of products and materials, such as reuse, repair, refurbish, remanufacture, and recycle (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2012). A central assumption of circular economy theory is that products are expected to remain inside the supply chain for a long as possible in order to consume fewer resources and materials (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2012; Ghisellini et al, 2016). From this perspective, processes that maintain products as similar as possible to their original state, such as repair and reuse, are preferred over recycling and energy recovery (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2012; Stahel, 2013).
Businesses and local governments in the world have become aware that circular economy strategies reduce waste, bring long term returns from initial investments and minimize future costs. For businesses, it has the potential of “turning waste into wealth” (Lacy and Rutqvist, 2016:xvii), and for governments it is about assuring a future-proof sustainable economy (Ministry of IenM, 2016). Consequently, many cities in the word have been implementing the circular economy in their policies through large investments for circular strategies (Potting et al, 2017).
However, the global transition to a circular economy is still at an early stage. Circular strategies implemented by governments have, so far, been primarily concerned with recycling products (Ghisellini et al, 2016). However, recycle is considered to be the least sustainable circular action (Stahel, 2013). Processes like repair and reuse have rarely been taken into account when discussing
the implementation of the circular economy in academic and governmental contexts. Yet, they constitute a far more sustainable action that extends products lifespan with a limited use of additional materials (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2012).
This research focuses the attention on the repair principle. In contrast to recycling initiatives, research domains and social science theories have not paid as much attention to this aspect of the circular economy despite it being among the most sustainable circular actions in terms of resource usage. In fact, repair is a foundational concept for circular economy theory. By extending the useful lifespan of products, it allows products and materials to remain inside the supply chain for longer without major changes to their original status.
Repair activities constitute a well-established sector of the world’s economy (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2016). Although the majority of repair activities have not emerged as a response to a sustainability agenda, they contribute to a more sustainable use of consumer goods (Riisgaard et al, 2016). They belong to localized production networks and provide circular business at the local level (Riisgaard et al, 2016). Yet, surprisingly, their contribution to the circular economy has been completely underestimated by academic and non-academic commentators.
The aim of this exploratory study is to explore repair activities in Amsterdam in order to assess the diffusion of repair practices and evaluate their relationship with the circular economy. Monitoring existing repair activities constitutes an important, necessary step for implementing repair practices in the future in a context of transition to the circular economy, as argued by Potting et al (2017). This thesis focuses on two sectors of repair practice, namely repair of consumer electronics and repair of furniture. Research shows that the repair of electronics indirectly reduces the environmental impact from the production of new products and prevents waste generation (Riisgaard et al, 2016). An Italian study shows that the reuse of old furniture reduces the environmental impact by 100% in comparison to the purchase of new furniture (Castellani et al, 2015). The research analyzes the two sectors and compares them in terms of their diffusion and popularity, their supply chain, their relationship with the circular economy, and the different policy actions they require.
1.2 Academic relevance
This research contributes to the existing body of literature on the circular economy in two ways. First, by switching the attention from recycle to repair practices. Previous studies have primarily focused on the application of the circular economy and have concentrated on the recycle principle (see Huysman et al, 2017; Moreau et al, 2017; Singh and Ordoñez, 2016). However, Ghisellini et al (2016:16) argue that “although Circular Economy is often identified with the recycling principle, it must be underlined that this may be the least sustainable solution compared to the other CE's principles in terms of resource efficiency and profitability”. Indeed, repair constitutes a far more sustainable alternative to recycle, as it allows products to remain in the supply chain for longer (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2012: Ghisellini et al, 2016). Nevertheless, it has not been focused on by academic commentators in this field as much as recycling activities.
Second, this study contributes to the existing debate on the circular economy by approaching the topic from a social scientific perspective. As argued by Murray et al (2017:377), “of the three pillars of sustainability (social, economic, and environmental) it is the former that is least expanded in most of the conceptualizations and applications of the circular economy”. Indeed circular economy theory (and practice) often lacks the inclusion of a social dimension, as noted by a number of scholars (Blomsma and Brennan, 2017; Moreau et al, 2017; Murray et al, 2017; Hobson, 2016). The reason for this is that the majority of academic contributions to the circular economy developed from the natural sciences and economic theory. Therefore, the scientific and economic dimensions of the circular economy have received far more attention than the social dimension. However, as pointed out by Hobson (2015:89), “human geographers are well placed to make critical contributions to debates about the CE”. Indeed a human geographical approach to the circular economy could provide an original contribution to the academic debate and broaden horizons as to how to integrate it more into society.
1.3 Societal relevance
The societal relevance of the circular economy relates to the broader discourse on how to make cities more sustainable. Today, 55% of the world population lives in cities, and this is projected to increase to nearly 70% by 2050 (UN, 2018). The fast pace of urbanization in the world has increased social, economic and environmental problems in urban areas, both in the developed world and in emerging economies. Cities consume 78% of the world’s energy and produce over 60% of CO2 emissions (UN Habitat, 2018). Cities also produce 50% of the global waste and consume 75% of natural resources (UNEP, 2012). In this scenario circular economy principles could reduce environmental impacts and maximize resource efficiency, thus allowing for a more sustainable urbanization.
1.3.1 A Circular Economy in The Netherlands by 2050
The societal relevance of this research also relates to the Dutch context. In the Netherlands, a government-wide programme entitled ‘A Circular Economy in the Netherlands by 2050’ was launched in 2016, aimed at accelerating the transition to a circular economy in the country. The main ambition of the programme is to realize a 50% reduction in the use of raw materials:
By 2050 raw materials will be used and reused efficiently without any harmful emissions into the environment. In case new raw materials are needed, they will be obtained in a sustainable manner and further damage to social and physical living environments and public health will be prevented. Products and materials will be designed in such a way that they can be reused with a minimum loss of value and without harmful emissions entering the environment (Ministry of IenM, 2016:5).
In order to reduce the consumption of raw materials following the circular economy principles, products need to be kept inside the supply chain for as long as possible, and waste should be converted into an input (Ministry of IenM, 2016).
The programme individuates five economic sectors and value chains that constitute priority areas for accelerating the transition to the circular economy. The five priorities are biomass and food, plastics, manufacturing industry, construction sector, and consumer goods (Ministry of IenM, 2016).
For all priority sectors, a number of planned actions was drafted that would help to achieve circular goals. Concerning the consumer goods sector, among the visions for how to do so is the following:
Promoting sharing, reuse, and repair among residents: together with manufacturers and municipalities, the Cabinet aims to encourage reuse by updating second-hand and give-away shops, and reinforcing the repair and restoration culture … The Cabinet will also examine which products are most frequently offered for repair (Ministry of IenM, 2016:67).
Indeed monitoring existing repair activities constitutes the first step for reinforcing repair culture as aimed by the programme. Therefore, this thesis is particularly relevant when considering the goals of the Dutch government for a circular economy in the Netherlands by 2050.
Figure 1.1 Action plans for the government-wide programme A Circular Economy in The Netherlands by
2050
Chapter 2: Theoretical Framework
2.1 The Circular Economy
A number of scholars such as Andersen (2007) and Ghisellini et al (2016) agree upon the fact that the concept of the circular economy was introduced in 1989 by British environmental economists Pearce and Turner. Pearce and Turner (1989) described the possibility of switching from a linear, open economic system to a closed, circular system driven by the laws of thermodynamics.
The first wave of systematic academic studies on the circular economy originated from China in the late 2000s. China was the first country in the world to adopt the circular economy model at a national level, via an ambitious political strategy, starting in 2008, that aimed at increasing economic growth whilst minimizing environmental impact (Geng and Doberstein, 2008; Yuan and Moriguichi, 2006; Liu et al, 2009). This provided the basis for academic research on the topic. The first theoretical conceptualizations of the circular economy developed from the Chinese context, as a result of the work of authors such as Yuan and Moriguichi (2006) and Geng and Doberstein (2008).
The circular economy was later influenced by a number of scientific and semi-scientific disciplines. Indeed, the most influential school of thought for the circular economy is that of industrial ecology (Ghisellini et al, 2016). Industrial ecology is the study of material and energy flows through industrial systems (Murray et al, 2017; Saavedra et al, 2017). As with the circular economy, it aims to create closed-loop processes in which waste functions as an input (Saavedra et al, 2017). Roots of the circular economy are also to be found in the performance economy (Stahel, 2010), cradle to cradle (McDonough and Braungart, 2010), biomimicry (Benyus, 2002) and the blue economy (Pauli, 2010). All these disciplines have similarly contributed to the contemporary concept of the circular economy.
The notion of the circular economy is based on a fragmented collection of ideas from different academic influences, and, as such, it has been considered problematic to draw a univocal theoretical definition of it (Yuan and Moriguichi, 2006). Korhonen et al (2018:548) consider it “an essentially contested concept”. Essentially contested concepts are those for which there is agreement on their means and goals, but disagreements on how to define and analyze them (Galllie, 1956). Having emerged in the academic debate only in recent years, there remains doubt over how to analyze the circular economy and with which scientific methods (Korhonen et al, 2018). This becomes evident when looking at the academic publications on the topic. In the last two years, a large number of comprehensive literature reviews have been published in academic journals (inter alia, Blomsma and Brennan, 2017; Geissdoerfer et al, 2017; Ghisellini et al, 2016; Kirchherr et al, 2017; Korhonen et al, 2018). Such peer-reviewed articles analyze the notion from a variety of perspectives and schools of thought, but rarely provide a univocal definition of the term nor take into account concrete applications of the concept. For example, Blomsma and Brennan (2017:604) interpret the circular economy as an “umbrella concept” that covers all activities that seek to extend resource life by reducing, reusing and recycling materials.
An agreement about the definition of the circular economy was partially reached in the early 2010s, as a result of the work of the UK-based Ellen MacArthur Foundation, which was established in 2010. Ellen MacArthur is a former, round the world sailor, who now works with business, government and academia on projects to accelerate the global transition to the circular economy. The Foundation funds projects to research the concept and explore possible applications of the theory in business and policy domains (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2012). By publishing a number of reports, the Foundation formulated the most prominent definition of the circular economy, that has since been adopted by almost all researchers, policymakers and practitioners:
[The circular economy is] an economy that is restorative and regenerative by design and aims to keep products, components, and materials at their highest utility and value at all times, distinguishing between technical and biological cycles. It is conceived as a continuous positive development cycle that preserves and enhances natural capital, optimizes resource yields, and minimizes system risk by managing finite stock and renewable flows. (Ellen Macarthur Foundation, 2012:7)
Figure 2.1 Circular economy diagram. In blue is the technical cycle, in green the biological cycle.
The majority of academic and non-academic contributions have adopted the definition of circular economy as formulated by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation (see Geissdoerfer et al, 2017; Ghisellini et al, 2016; Moreau et al., 2017). Nevertheless, some authors have deviated away from this definition based on their own focus of interest. For example, Haas et al (2015) describes the circular economy as a strategy that aims to reduce the input of raw materials and the output of waste by closing economic and ecological loops of resource flows. Murray et al (2017:377) make a claim for the inclusion of a more social perspective into the topic, and define it as “an economic model wherein planning, resourcing, procurement, production and reprocessing are designed and managed, as both process and output, to maximize ecosystem functioning and human well-being”. Overall, as pointed out by Korhonen et al (2018:548), the circular economy “has a multitude of different definitions … A single universal definition borders the impossible and should not be attempted, because it will always exclude some interests and because it is dynamic and evolving”.
2.2 Loops in the Circular Economy
A number of contributions to the academic debate on the topic share the outline of R frameworks, or imperatives, usually interpreted as the ‘how-to’ of the circular economy (Kirchher et al, 2017; Reike et al, 2017). Such R frameworks correspond to the phases, or loop, belonging to the technical circle of the circular economy, represented in blue in figure 1. Low R-numbers correspond to inner circles of circularity diagrams, whereas high R-numbers correspond to outer circles (Potting et al, 2016). For example, one of the most adopted R-framework is the 3R principle: 1 Reduction, 2 Reuse, 3 Recycle (Ghisellini et al, 2016). Reduction aims to minimize the use of primary resources by improving production and consumption processes; reuse refers to the reuse of products that are not considered waste for the same purpose they were conceived; recycle refers to the repercussion of waste materials into products to be used for the original or other purposes (Ghisellini et al, 2016:15-16). Alternative R-lists range from 4R frameworks to a 9R framework proposed by the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL) (Potting et al, 2016). Due to its application within Dutch policymaking, the 9-R framework (represented in figure 2.2) will be employed in this thesis.
R frameworks share the concept of waste hierarchy (Kirchher et al, 2017), namely a ranking of circularity levels, whereby low R numbers correspond to high circularity strategies and have to be prioritized over low circularity strategies (Potting et al, 2016). This concept is illustrated in figure 2. Inner loops are considered more profitable and sustainable than outer loops because they maintain products as similar as possible to their original state (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2012; Stahel, 2013). Since the ultimate goal of the circular economy is to consume fewer natural resources and materials, inner circles have to be prioritized in order to keep products in the product chain for a long as possible (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2012; Ghisellini et al, 2016; Potting et al, 2016). Stahel called this concept ‘Inertia Principle’: “Don’t repair what is not broken, don’t remanufacture what can be repaired, don’t recycle what can be remanufactured” (Stahel, 2013:4). According to the inertia principle, recycling constitutes the least sustainable choice and the most closely related to the linear economy (Stahel, 2013).
Figure 2.2. 9-R framework of circularity strategies. Despite being part of the diagram, R0, refuse, is not
considered an active strategy
Source: adapted from Potting et al (2016:5)
Most of the circular economy literature and initiatives have concentrated on the recycle principle (see Huysman et al, 2017; Moreau et al, 2017; Singh and Ordoñez, 2016). Some academic contributions recognize the limits of recycle and problematize the concept. For example, Gregson et al (2015) highlight the challenges of turning waste into resource by analyzing two case studies of resource recovery in the UK. Similarly, Allwood (2014) and Potting et al (2016) point out that many products cannot be recycled, and that low-grade recycle is, for some materials, more energy-intensive than new production. Thus, a number of authors aim for a switch of attention, in both research and action, towards higher circularity strategies:
A more ambitious CE transition towards substantially lower resource and material consumption and less generation of waste will preferably be based on high-circularity strategies, such as smarter manufacturing and use of products, and extending the lifetime of products and product components. Recycling alone, and low-grade recycling in particular, is still closely related to a linear economy (Potting et al, 2016:7).
Only a limited number of scholars have researched circular practices beyond recycle. The main reason for this is that circular Economy theory is still at an early stage (Ghisellini et al, 2016). Nevertheless, the economic and environmental benefits of inner circular strategies are evident when looking at the existing body of literature. For example, Castellani et al (2015) analyzed the
environmental benefits of second-hand shops in Italy, showing that in the case of large furniture, the second-hand market would reduce the environmental impact by 100%. Ongondo et al (2013) demonstrate that the repair and reuse of electronics have the potential to contribute to a closed-loop economy. Therefore, switching attention to circular practices which deviate away from recycling strategies would be beneficial for further research on the circular economy.
2.3 Repair
Of the aforementioned circularity strategies, repair is among those that has received the least attention in academic and policy contexts (Ghisellini et al., 2015). Yet, repair and maintenance constitutes a fundamental practice for circular economy theory (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2012, 2018). According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, “repair is needed to extend product life spans” (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2016:5). Indeed after being repaired a defective product can be used without changing its original function. This has large environmental benefits and constitutes a circular strategies to be preferred over common practices such as refurbish and recycle (Potting et al, 2016).
Repair also lacks attention in social science theory, and other academic commentators rarely take account of repair activities. Yet, despite being an under-researched topic, repair has the potential to connect the interests of very different disciplines, from sociology and human geography to architecture and the natural sciences, as pointed out by Jackson (2013). Indeed, repair activities play a pivotal role in urban dynamics. In a pioneering article addressing repair and maintenance, Graham and Thrift (2007) argue that processes of repair and maintenance keep modern societies going. According to the scholars, repair and maintenance constitute the constant work that sustains urban infrastructure (Graham and Thrift, 2007). As such, though, they are invisible and taken for granted: “infrastructure systems are often physically and metaphorically veiled beneath the surface of urban life. They only tend to become manifest when they cease to function” (Graham and Thrift, 2007:8). Jackson (2013) takes a similar perspective by arguing that repair activities have always sustained – yet often invisibly – humans through history.
In this context, the social and environmental benefits of repair have, occasionally, been discussed by academics, especially concerning localized, ‘hands on’ production networks and their role for sustainability (Carr and Gibson, 2016; Graham and Thrift, 2007; Graziano and Trogalb, 2017; 1
Jackson, 2013). The first contribution comes from Graham and Thrift (2007:18), who argue that “a multiscaled environmental politics also surrounds repair”. The authors distinguish two important issues with regard to this. First, the fact that many modern commodities are designed so that the possibilities of repair and maintenance are precluded. Second, many modern commodities are made to be replaced and disposed through quick circles of acquisition and (almost) immediate disposal. In
There is also a recent wave of studies that links repair with sustainability and interprets repair as a form of 1
resistance to consumerist society (Graziano and Trogalb, 2017). In this context, collective and do-it-yourself repair practices have been emerging worldwide as an opposition to the contemporary ‘throwaway’ society (Graziano and Trogalb, 2017). Notorious examples are Repair Cafes, that promote community repair practices, and the website iFixit, large online repair community that provides open source repair manuals of common products, thus teaching people how to repair themselves.
this scenario, the authors argue that the expansion of repair and maintenance activities could lead to the minimization of commodity and waste production (Graham and Thrift, 2007). Indeed, manual skills and the repair and reuse of materials is considered a productive response to environmental pressures, as pointed out by Carr and Gibson (2015). Also according to Jackson (2013:234), “attention to repair may help to redirect our gaze from moments of production to moments of sustainability”. Indeed, as Moreau et al (2017) argue, reconsidering local labour is also essential for a more socially embedded understanding of the circular economy in the future. Nevertheless, to date, not many studies about the connection between local repair activities and sustainability have been carried out. Among the few examples is Danish research showing that smartphone repair shops contribute to a more sustainable electronic consumption by indirectly reducing the production of e-waste (Riisgaard et al, 2016).
2.4 Circular employment and the repair sector
People researching the circular economy are aware of the importance of repair activities for the circular economy. Amsterdam-based research consultancy Circle Economy has published two reports that analyze define guidelines for defining circular jobs in urban areas. In the reports, a circular job is defined as “any full or part-time occupation that directly involves one of the elements of the circular economy or indirectly supports such activities” (Circle Economy and Ehero, 2017:4). The elements of the circular economy that circular jobs have to meet are outlined below:
1. Prioritize regenerative resources: ensure renewable, reusable, non-toxic resources are utilised as materials and energy in an efficient way.
2. Preserve and extend what’s already made: while resources are in-use, maintain, repair and upgrade them to maximise their lifetime and give them a second life through take back strategies when applicable.
3. Use waste as a resource: utilise waste streams as a source of secondary resources and recover waste for reuse and recycling.
4. Rethink the business model: consider opportunities to create greater value and align incentives through business models that build on the interaction between products and services.
5. Design for the future: account for the systems perspective during the design process, to use the right materials, to design for appropriate lifetime and to design for extended future use.
6. Incorporate digital technology: track and optimise resource use and strengthen connections between supply chain actors through digital, online platforms and technologies that provide insights.
7. Collaborate to create joint value: work together throughout the supply chain, internally within organisations and with the public sector to increase transparency and create joint value (Circle Economy and Ehero, 2017:3).
Figure 2.3 shows the results of a study on circular jobs conducted in the Netherlands in 2015. From the graph it emerges that the majority of current circular jobs is involved with preserving and extending products, and repair activities clearly belong to this category (Circle Economy and Ehero, 2018).
Figure 2.3 Breakdown if circular jobs in the Netherlands according to the 7 key elements (2015)
Source: Circle Economy and Ehero, 2017
The Ellen MacArthur Foundation distinguishes some major barriers that prevent the repair sector from operating more circularly. First, the lack of repair information. Manufacturers often do not give repair information nor share the fact that products are repairable (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2016). Therefore, people are often unaware that they can take many products for repair. Second, lack of spare parts at a competitive price. Some manufacturers do not make spare parts available to the public nor to third-party shops (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2016). Third, product design. As pointed out by the Foundation, “the design of a product determines to what extent and how easily it can be repaired, and there is substantial room for improvement in this area for many product categories” (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2016:11). Fourth, the fact that many manufacturers have been historically resistant to endorse repair activities that take place outside of their authorized networks (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2016).
2.5 The Circular Economy in the Repair of Consumer Goods
Among the numerous items that can be repaired, consumer goods constitute a crucial category for circular economy implementation. Consumer goods are defined as products used for utility purposes and are discarded after their lifecycle (Transitieteam Consumptiegoederen, 2018). The
whole sector is far from being sustainable. It absorbs more than 90% of agricultural output and accounts for 75 per cent of municipal waste (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2013). Moreover, consumer goods have the highest environmental impact within average annual consumption (Ministry of IenM, 2016). The Ellen MacArthur Foundation considers ‘fast moving’ consumer goods to be especially critical, namely “products that typically have a lower unit cost, are bought more often, and have a much shorter service life than durable goods” (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2013:5). Currently, only 20% of fast moving consumer goods are recovered, primarily through decomposition and partly through reuse (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2013).
According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, the adoption of circular approaches to the consumer goods sector is complicated due to four factors (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2013). First, they are characterized by broad distributions in large volumes. Indeed they come at relatively low prices and are bought frequently, and a large amount ends up widely dispersed which makes it difficult to recover them physically and economically. Second, they have a very short lifespan. Many categories of consumer goods are used only one or a few times and are often not subject to repair and recondition. Third, consumer goods usually contain a packaging component, which is usually discarded immediately after the product is used. Fourth, consumer goods belong to a multi-staged value chain, that includes ram materials input, manufacturing process, distribution, use and waste collection. In order to be efficient, circular strategies need to be applied to all stages of the value chain (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2013).
Consumer goods constitute one of the five priorities on which the governmental programme
Netherlands Circular by 2050 focuses (Ministry of IenM, 2016). The sector is considered not only
fundamental for the Dutch economy, but it is also believed to have a large environmental impact that needs to be tackled via circular economy policies (Ministry of IenM, 2016). In this context, a report outlining the transition agenda for a circular economy of consumer goods was published in January 2018. The report distinguishes three sectors that require immediate analysis and action, namely furniture, textiles and electronics (Transitieteam Consumptiegoederen, 2018). Furniture repair and electronics repair constitute the case study of this research, for reasons explained in chapter X. Therefore, the next section will briefly outline the state of the art of electronics and furniture sector in relation to the circular economy.
2.5.1 Consumer electronics
Electronic waste constitutes a serious problem. In 2016, 44.7 million tonnes of e-waste were produced worldwide, of which 12.3 tonnes was produced in Europe, that equals 16.6 kg of e-waste per inhabitant (Baldé et al, 2017). The European Union has the highest regional e-waste collection rate: 35% of e-waste was collected to be recycled in 2016 (Baldé et al, 2017). The remaining waste is either thrown into the residual waste stream or kept by consumer in their homes, or dumped or treated in substandard conditions (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2018).
In the last few years, there have been slight improvements in relation to consumer electronics upgrade rates (Watson et al, 2017). For example, according to Watson et al, due to the fast pace of the release of new models and to increasingly expensive prices, there has been a decrease in smartphone upgrade rates, and consequent growth in the smartphone repair and second-hand
market (Watson et al, 2017). Nevertheless, the sector is still very much characterized by a take-use-dispose pattern (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2012).
Different strategies can be taken to make a change in the consumer electronics sector from a linear to a circular production model. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation recently published a report entitled Circular Consumer Electronics: an Initial Exploration (2018) that lays the foundation for further research on the subject matter. The vision is the following:
In our vision of a circular economy, consumer electronic products are loved for longer. They are kept in use for as long as possible, either by the original user, or flowing to new users who will find new value and utility in them. Eventually, devices end up in the hands of specialists, who will professionally refurbish products, reuse or remanufacture the valuable components inside, and separate and recycle materials (EMF, 2018).
Therefore, keeping products in use for longer is among the main focuses for a circular economy of consumer electronics. In order to keep products and components on the market, at their maximum utility, for as long as possible, “a degree of repairability and ease of disassembly are necessary” (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2018:8). According to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation: “reuse strategies like repair, conserve embodied energy, materials, and water. Moreover, reusing electronics makes more efficient use of scarce materials, it reduces the transportation required to put a product back into use, and it can provide jobs and opportunities within local communities” (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2016:6). Therefore, the repair, and consequent reuse, of consumer electronics constitutes a great way of incrementing the circular economy in the electronics repair sector. The Ellen MacArthur Foundation has suggested some draft policy recommendations for the sector, namely: 1) make repair information more available, 2) make spare parts and accessories more available, 3) design repairable products (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2018).
2.5.2 Furniture Sector
The European Union produces over one quarter of the furniture sold worldwide (Forrest et al, 2017). The sector employs approximately 1 million workers and predominantly consists of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) (European Commission, 2018). Only in the European Union, 10 million tonnes of furniture are discarded each year, the majority of which is destined for either landfill or incineration (Forrest et al, 2017).
Indeed circular economy strategies such as repair, reuse, refurbish and remanufacture have the potential to counter this scenario (EFIC, 2017; Forrest et al, 2017). At the present time, only 10% of household furniture is recycled, and reuse and repair activities in the sector are also low due to the non-significant price differential with the new product (Forrest et al, 2017). The few existing studies on the sector confirm this. For example, in a research of second-hand shops in Italy, Castellani et al found out that the reusing of furniture brings the highest avoided environmental impact than all other second-had products (Castellani et al, 2015).
A report by the European Furniture Industries Confederation (EFIC) predicts that “the furniture industry expects a gradual and realistic transition to the circular economy ” (EFIC, 2017:1). The
Dutch Circular Economy Transition Agenda for Consumer Goods addresses two major challenges for the furniture sector:
1. Old furniture and interiors. Key question: what to do with the old, non-circular furniture stock? In this respect, the focus is on extending its useful life, the second-hand market, and high-grade reuse.
2. New furniture and interiors. Key question: how can we guarantee that new furniture and interiors remain reusable? In this respect, the focus is mainly on circular design (design for reuse) and circular production (Transitieteam Consumptiegoederen, 2018:52).
In a report for the European Environmental Bureau, UK-based consultancy Eunomia drafted a number of policy recommendations for the transition to a circular economy in the furniture sector. Among these, there is “Incentives for Consumers, Repairers and Recyclers”, aiming for “instruments offering the potential to encourage consumers to return for reuse and recycling and to support repairers and recyclers” (Forrest et al, 2017:31) that must include:
• Incentives for consumers to return furniture for reuse and recycling, e.g. a deposit-refund scheme or a modulated ‘bulky waste’ collection charge.
• Tax incentives, grants and low interest loans for CE furniture companies e.g. lower business rates and corporation tax.
• Lower rates of VAT applied to furniture repair.
Chapter 3: Research Design and Methods
3.1 Problem statement
Repair activities provide a service that is central for the transition to a circular economy. By extending the lifespan of products that are already on the market, they allow products and materials to remain inside the supply chain for longer. Although repair practice constitutes an important concept for circular economy theory, existing studies do not analyze repair activities from a circular economy lens.
As stated in the introduction of this paper, in the Netherlands, a government-wide programme was presented in 2016 entitled A Circular Economy in The Netherlands by 2050. The programme aims to accelerate the transition to a circular economy in the country, with the main goal of realizing a 50% reduction in the use of raw materials (Ministry of IenM, 2016). Among the means for how to do so, is reinforcing repair practices and culture (Ministry of IenM, 2016). However, no study has been carried so far on the existing status of repair practices in the Netherlands.
Since this research is a pioneering study, it is of exploratory nature. The aim of this thesis is to monitor existing repair activities in order to assess the current diffusion of repair practices of two different product groups, electronics and furniture, and their relationship with the circular economy, and to discuss the policy implications of the findings. This is a fundamental, necessary step for implementing repair practices in the future, within the framework of the transition to a circular economy, as argued by Potting et al (2017).
3.2 Research Questions
The aim of this research is not to provide a unique answer to one question. Rather, it is to explore and understand a situation by answering a number of sub-questions.
Descriptive questions
The first step to monitor the status of repair activities is to determine how many there are in Amsterdam, where they are located and if their location relates with socio-demographic characteristics. Therefore, I formulated the following sub-question:
1. Where do repair activities locate in Amsterdam and how does their spatial location relate to socio-demographic characteristics?
The second step is to look at the actors involved in their supply chain, namely retailers, producers and consumers. I will look at the type of retailers, assess where they source products and materials from, and who their clients are. A special attention will also be given to clients’ reasons for repairing. Furthermore, I will look at the services they offer and at their prices. Overall, I aim to answer the following question:
2. Who are the main actors involved in the supply chain (retailers, producers, and consumers) and what services do they offer?
Analytical question
After data analysis, I will try to assess if they employ other circular economy strategies beyond repair, providing an answer to the question:
3. What circular economy strategies do they employ?
Synthetic question
Finally, I will examine the barriers of repair activities, discussing how policymakers could address these in order to accelerate the transition to the circular economy, by answering the following question:
4. How can the barriers they face be addressed by policymakers working towards the implementation of the circular economy?
Altogether, the answers of these sub-questions will answer to this main research question:
How can we understand repair activities in relation to the transition to the circular economy?
3.3 Definition of core concepts
The core concepts that are mentioned in the main research question are formulated as follows:
Repair activities
Repair activities are businesses that provide repair service of consumer goods. I chose to use the term ‘activity’, rather than ‘shop’ or ‘business’, due to the nature of some of the visited places that prefer not to be considered shops but rather workshops or ateliers.
Circular Economy
For the purpose of this research, I will use the following definition of circular economy as defined by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation:
The [circular economy is] an economy that is restorative and regenerative by design and aims to keep products, components, and materials at their highest utility and value at all times, distinguishing between technical and biological cycles. It is conceived as a continuous positive development cycle that preserves and enhances natural capital, optimizes resource yields, and minimizes system risk by managing finite stock and renewable flows (Ellen MacArthur Foundation, 2012:7).
Circular economy strategies
Circular economy strategies are the circularity strategies that constitute a circular supply chain. For the purpose of this thesis, a 9-strategy framework developed by the Dutch Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL) is used, previously illustrated in figure 2.2.
3.4. Conceptual scheme
3.5 Research Location
The research area for this thesis is the city of Amsterdam in the Netherlands. The city has often been viewed at the forefront of sustainable practices in urban environments, ranking 5th in the
Economists’ Green City Index in 2012 (The Economist, 2012). Indeed due to the small size and high population density of the city, the efficient use of space, energy and resources has always been high on the political agenda of the municipality and has encouraged a number of sustainability-minded companies to be based in the city working towards sustainable solutions to metropolitan issues, including the circular economy (Prendeville et al, 2018).
Furthermore, the concept of the circular economy is also gaining attention more broadly across the country, due to the government-wide programme A Circular Economy in The Netherlands by 2050. As the country’s largest city by population, promoting repair practices in Amsterdam would be of paramount importance for subsequent Dutch governments, as well as the most challenging, if they are to achieve their aim of a circular economy by 2050. Therefore, this makes the location an ideal for researching how this transition is taking place in the electronics and furniture repair sectors. The location was also chosen for feasibility issues. As a resident in the city, finding interviewees made it easier in terms of travel as well as minimising the costs of the research. Moreover being familiar with the city and its processes made it easier to obtain information and official data from the relevant government agencies, as the next section will outline in more detail.
3.6 Cases selection strategy
The electronics and furniture repair sectors were chosen for feasibility reasons. Indeed they constitute the two most numerous categories of repair activities as it clearly emerged from the given dataset. Moreover, in the Transition Agenda for Consumer Goods, they are considered sectors that require immediate action for circular economy implementation(Transitieteam Consumptiegoederen, 2018).
3.7 Research Design
In this research, I employed a mixed methods research design. Mixed methods involve combining or integrating qualitative and quantitative research and data (Creswell, 2014). Mixed methods research developed from the idea that each form of data has bias and weaknesses, and that
REPAIR ACTIVITIES
spatial location and relation with socio-demographics actors in the supply chain
and offered service
circularity strategies policy implications CIRCULAR ECONOMY
combining quantitative and qualitative data neutralizes the weaknesses of each method (Bryman, 2012; Creswell, 2014).
Within the possible mixed methods designs, I followed an embedded design whereby quantitative data was embedded in a qualitative design. Indeed the Embedded Design includes the collection of both quantitative and qualitative data, with one of the data types playing a supplemental role within the overall design, as explained by Creswell and Plano Clark:
The Embedded Design is a mixed methods design in which one data set provides a supportive, secondary role in a study based primarily on the other data type ... The premises of this design are that a single data set is not sufficient, that different questions need to be answered, and that each type of question requires different types of data. Researchers use this design when they need to include qualitative or quantitative data to answer a research question within a largely quantitative or qualitative study (Creswell and Plano Clark, 2006:67).
Figure 3.1 Embedded design
Source: (Creswell and Plano Clark, 2006:68)
This research is largely qualitative, however quantitative data is needed to answer the first sub-question, i.e. to assess the spatial distribution of repair activities and their relation with socio-demographic characteristics. Therefore, the first phase of this research is quantitative and is based on GIS spatial analysis. The second phase is qualitative and is based on semi-structured interviews and qualitative coding. This structured was chosen because GIS mapping would have allowed to locate repair activities, assess what sectors are dominant, and assess their relation with socio-demographic characteristics, whereas qualitative data can put “meat on the bones” of quantitative findings and allow to create a narrative (Bryman, 2012:634). Even though quantitative data constitute the first phase of this research, it only plays a secondary, supportive role within the overall qualitative design (Creswell and Plano Clark, 2006). Therefore, the final interpretation of both quantitative and qualitative findings is largely based on the qualitative results of this study, as illustrated in figure 3.1.
3.8 Quantitative methods
3.8.1 Quantitative data
Each business registered in the Netherlands is classified, based on the sector of activity, within a coded system called Standard Business Indicator (SBI). A list of SBI codes of customer-faced repair activities was obtained from the statistical office of the municipality of Amsterdam, Onderzoek, Informatie en Statistiek. The data refers to information collected in the first half of 2018.
When looking at the data, it immediately emerged to be an overlapping between three SBI codes concerning the repair of electronics, namely 1) repair of computers and peripheral equipment, 2) repair of communication equipment, and 3) repair of consumer electronics (no computers). For this reason, and in order to facilitate the GIS analysis, the three sub-sectors were merged into one category that I called ‘repair of consumer electronics’, using the software excel. The resulting SBI codes are illustrated in figure 3.2.
Figure 3.2 Number of repair activities in Amsterdam per SBI code (2018)
Source: O+S Amsterdam (2018)
Socio-demographic data was later obtained from the open data portal of CBS. The socio-demographic characteristics taken into account are population density, percentage of non-western migrants, average income, average housing value, and percentage of rental housing.
3.8.2 GIS Spatial Analysis
The SBI codes were imported into the spatial analysis software ArcMap in order to create maps of repair activities in Amsterdam. SBI codes already contained X and Y coordinate information, thus the Excel spreadsheet was given spatial information via geocoding and transformed into point data. Among the mapping techniques that can be used to for exploring the spatial distribution of data, I chose the techniques of point mapping, grid thematic mapping and thematic mapping of administrative units (Chainey et al, 2008). The first produced map is a type-based grid map of all repair activities in Amsterdam. Unique colors were manually given to different types of repair activities in order to visualize the different SBI codes. A basemap and a ward map were added in the background for a better orientation.
In order to have a more precise account of the concentration of repair activities, I created a number of grid thematic maps through the aggregation of point data to a continuous field (raster layer). According to the ESRI definition, “a raster consists of a matrix of cells (or pixels) organized into
rows and columns (or a grid) where each cell contains a value representing information” (ESRI, 2018). Grid cells are of consistent dimension and allow for a quick identification of hotspots (Chainey et al, 2008). Within the existing GIS literature, there is little information on which grid cell size to select. Yet, an appropriate cell size is of fundamental importance for avoiding spatial information loss or data redundancy (Dong et al, 2017). Chaney et al (2008) suggest choosing a grid cell size that is approximately the distance of the longest extent of the study area divided by 50. In the case of Amsterdam, the longest study area is approximately 25km, thus I chose a grid cell size of 500m.
The last step has been to compare the distribution of furniture and electronics repair activities with socio-demographic characteristics. In order to visualize socio-demographic characteristics, I created thematic maps of administrative zones. According to Chainey et al, thematic maps of geography boundary areas are quick to produce and extremely easy to interpret (Chainey et al, 2008). For each variable, I decided to show three categories based on natural breaks. Next I added, as a separate layer, the point data that visualizes electronics and furniture repair activities, in order to visually compare their location with the variables concerning socio-demographic characteristics.
3.8.3 Limitations of the quantitative phase
An important limitation of the GIS spatial analysis concerns the reliability of the data. In a second phase of the research, after GIS mapping was conducted, it emerged that many repair activities included in the SBI codes list actually did not exist at their registered address. This was especially extreme in the case of furniture repair activities, where at least half of the names on the list did not correspond to existing locations. Indeed this has implications concerning the reliability of the spatial analysis findings.
Another limitation concerns the correlation between the location of repair activities and socio-demographic characteristics. In this research, the correlation was inferred by means of visual comparison. This strategy was chosen because I could not find any spatial correlation tool to correlate two separate variables on ArcMap . An alternative solution would have been to import the 2
data in a statistical software and calculate the correlation. However this transcended the scope of this thesis, which is primarily of qualitative nature. Therefore, the quantitative results must be interpreted carefully, as a first initial exploration and not as scientific truth.
Moreover the most recent (and complete) dataset from CBS with socio-demographic information involves data from 2015. This data was compared with the location of repair activities in 2018. Nevertheless, I believe the comparison maps still provide reliable results as socio-demographic data are likely not to be subject to major changes in three years.
Another limitation common to most GIS mapping analyses is the Modifiable Aerial Unit Problem (MAUP) theorized by Openshaw in 1984. In spatial analysis, data are collected for non-modified and non-aggregated entities such as people and households; however, they are mapped by aggregation to modifiable and arbitrary spatial units (Openshaw,1984). The MAUP occurs when the
There is, instead, a spatial autocorrelation tool (Global Moran’s I) that calculates the autocorrelation 2
visual representation of data is affected by the choice of an arbitrary spatial unit (Openshaw,1984). In this study, the choices made concerning the spatial unit and the scale have influenced the representation. Yet, the use of small sized grid cells has allowed displaying concentrations within and across boundary areas, thus partially overcoming the MAUP (Chainey et al, 2008).
3.9 Qualitative methods
3.9.1 Sampling Strategy
The sampling frame of this research was the SBI codes list of repair activities provided by Onderzoek, Informatie en Statistiek. In mixed methods research, it is common that the findings from quantitative data analysis are used as the basis for selecting a purposive sampling (Bryman, 2012). A purposive sampling is a non-probability form of sampling whereby the researcher selects participants in a strategic way, often to ensure that there is a good degree of variety in the sampling (Bryman, 2012). At an initial stage, I selected my sample based on the location of repair activities, in order to reflect the variance of their spatial distribution in Amsterdam. However, this strategy appeared soon not to be an ideal choice due to the difficulty in finding respondents. In fact, some repair activities belonging to the initial sampling did not correspond to real shops, and a large number of the people within the sampling did not agree to be interviewed.
In a second stage of the research, I employed a snowball sampling strategy. Snowball sampling occurs when one respondent suggests the names of other individuals in a similar position (Bryman, 2012). This sampling strategy resulted to be effective for furniture repair activities, but not for electronics repair activities.
Due to these limitations, in the final stage of fieldwork, I employed a convenience sampling for recruiting respondents from electronics repair activities. A convenience sample is one that is available to the researcher by virtue of its accessibility (Bryman, 2012). In this research, participants were selected simply based on their willingness to be interviewed.
As Bryman (2012) points out, both snowball and convenience samplings are not ideal because it is likely that they are not representative of the population. I am aware that my sample might be biased, however these sampling strategy ended up being the only option when recruiting respondents. Overall, I visited and contacted nearly 70 existing repair activities, and I tried to contact at least 20 more with no results. Yet, I managed to conduct interviews only at 15 locations.
3.9.2 Semi-structured interviews
The primary means of collecting qualitative data was through semi-structured interviews with people working at repair activities. Indeed Boeije (2010:63) argues that “the goal of an interview is to see a slice of the social world from the informant’s perspective and the interviewer is mainly facilitating the process”. For this reason, I opted for semi-structured interviewing, as I wanted to determine the direction of the interviews only to a limited extent in order to allow some openness and flexibility with the respondents (Boeije, 2010).
I conducted a total of 15 interviews, 9 of which at electronics repair shops and 6 at furniture repair activities which lasted between 10 and 60 minutes. All the interviews took place inside the repair shops with either store employees or, more frequently, managers. The majority of the interviews were done in English, and two interviews were done in Dutch with the help of a Dutch-speaking friend who acted as my interpreter. The interviews followed an interview plan that I had prepared beforehand. I made sure to allow space for probing questions and not to ask leading questions (Boeije, 2010; Bryman, 2012).
3.9.3 Data Analysis
Boeije (2010:76) defines data analysis as the process of “segmenting the data into parts and reassembling the parts again into a coherent whole”. During data analysis phase, I made sure to follow this definition. I segmented the data into parts via qualitative coding, and reassembled the parts based on affinity of themes. The coding process was conducted in the software Atlas ti. When coding, I looked for similarities, such as common quotes being repeated through the data, as well as dissimilarities (Bernard and Ryan, 2010). I followed Boeije’s (2010) distinction between three cycles of coding, namely open coding, axial coding, and selective coding. In the first phase, open coding, I read the data several times and I assigned a total of over 400 unique codes to interviews fragments. In the second cycle, axial coding, codes were ordered by theme and merged when overlapping. In the final cycle, selective coding, I combined my codes into the final code groups that constitute the paragraphs of chapter 5 and 6.
3.9.4 Limitations of the qualitative phase
A serious limitation I encountered during the qualitative data collection phase was finding respondents. As mentioned, numerous repair activities (especially furniture) included in the SBI codes list did not match their registered address. Moreover, in a number of cases, the right location of furniture repair activities was found, but nobody was in nor was answering the phone number. This made it extremely difficult to recruit respondents, with a final number of only 6 respondents working in the furniture repair sector. Concerning electronics repair activities, it was indeed easier to find the shops. However, a large number of potential respondents refused to be interviewed. Out of nearly 40 electronics repair locations I visited, and over 20 I contacted by phone, only 9 people accepted to be interviewed. Initially I thought it was due to the language barrier, but the situation improved only a little after a Dutch-speaking friend started accompanying me to conduct interviews. Three interviewees also refused to be recorded.
Consequently, another area where there is a limitation within the research involves the extent of the information the respondents were willing to give during interviews. Indeed the questions I asked primarily concerned the operations of the business, such as supply chains, type of customers and general practices. This type of information, particularly with regard to where they source materials from, is not something the respondents would discuss openly with many people, in particular a foreign student whose background they know little about. Despite the respondents being assured before each interview that this information would remain confidential and was only for a university thesis, I believe that respondents refrained from giving too much information about their business
