Product-Service Systems

Life cycle environmental problems have been addressedby a number of strategies, but with unsatisfactoryresults, since solutions are searched for within thesame paradigms that give rise to the problems. Thiswork questions the vision of linear material growthand searches for ways to sustain economic growthwithout putting the natural environment under stress.The research explores the concept of product-servicesystems as a strategy for reducing life cycleenvironmental impacts. It shows how the concept hasevolved, defines a product-service system withsustainability criteria and presents a framework forevaluating and developing product-service systems.The research also explores drivers, barriers andopportunities for companies to shift towardsproviding use value through product-service systems.The importance of public policy and normativeinstitutions in promoting more sustainableconsumption and production patterns is investigated.It is concluded that the PSS concept has a certainenvironmental potential dependant not only on how thesystem is organised, but also on the institutionaland socio-cultural context.