A framework for understanding the role of product attachment in enabling sustainable consumption of household furniture

摘要: The study presented in here focuses on sofas to investigate the role of emotional product attachment with a view to reducing premature replacement of furniture products. A framework of four distinct product attachment and detachment factors in relation to the stages of ownership was devised for this research. The framework was applied to an online questionnaire and two sets of interviews among Australian householders, with the aim of determining behaviours in relation to furniture usage, maintenance and disposal. Questionnaire results suggest that furniture owners’ purchase and maintenance behaviours regarding their current sofa are influenced by self-identity, lifestyle, affordability and social factors. The interviews indicated that product attachment can be fostered through more satisfying interaction between owners and their possessions. Long-term emotional attachment has implications for product lifetimes and is an issue that product designers can potentially. address.