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Development of sustainability evaluation model for implementing product service systems

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Abstract

A new business model, product service systems, is proposed to promote a shift in focus from selling purely products to selling functions. This is achieved through a mix of products and services that fulfill the same consumer demands, while eliciting less environmental impact. Development of product service systems has become an increasingly important strategy in achieving social, economic, and environmental sustainability because product service systems advocates reducing resource consumption, while delivering better and more widely available goods and services. This paper proposes an evaluation framework of sustainable performance to implement product service systems. A literature review discusses 32 criteria categorized into two aspects: product and organization. The fuzzy Delphi method is then applied to identify the consistency of criteria. The relative weights of the selected criteria are determined using Fuzzy analytic hierarchy process. Results indicate that the top three criteria in product aspect are maintenance system (weight = 0.172), use time or frequency (weight = 0.145), and price of the product (weight = 0.132). For the organization aspect, the top three criteria are integrated service plan (weight = 0.197), product development and design (weight = 0.144) and optimized transportation network (weight = 0.089). The demand for implementing product service systems is completely different from selling traditional goods because product service systems must consider the issue of sustainability. The proposed evaluation framework can help companies identify the potential products suitable in implementing product service systems.

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Acknowledgments

This paper is a partial result of the project NSC96-2621-Z-027-001-MY3, supported by the National Science Council of Taiwan. The constructive comments of the editor and the reviewers are gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Environmental Engineering and Management, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China

    H. Allen Hu, S. H. Chen, C. Wang & C. L. Wu

  2. Department of Environmental Management, Tungnan University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China

    C. W. Hsu

Authors
  1. H. Allen Hu
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  2. S. H. Chen
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  3. C. W. Hsu
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  4. C. Wang
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  5. C. L. Wu
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Correspondence to C. W. Hsu.

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Allen Hu, H., Chen, S.H., Hsu, C.W. et al. Development of sustainability evaluation model for implementing product service systems. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 9, 343–354 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-012-0037-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-012-0037-7

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