Introducing repair in sports' consumables: Investigation of repairability of badminton shuttles. (1st December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vandekerkhove, Robrecht; Moons, Ingrid; Du Bois, Els
• Is Part Of: Journal of cleaner production. Volume 326(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-12-01
• Subjects: Design for repair -- Design for a circular economy -- Lifetime extension -- Badminton shuttle -- Sustainable sports -- Sport consumables; Factory and trade waste -- Management -- Periodicals; Manufactures -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Déchets industriels -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Usines -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; 628.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.129229
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-6526

Abstract

Abstract: Environmental sustainability in sport management is emerging as a topic of concern. The current paper reports on a study that address the desirability and feasibility of repair solutions in the domain of sport equipment with a short lifespan. A badminton shuttle is taken as a case study. By means of video observations (n = 8), a survey among badminton players (n = 404) and an expert interview, the desirability issue was addressed. A research by design approach was used to gain insights in the feasibility of repairing feathered badminton shuttles taking into consideration three important elements: disassembly, reassembly and quality control. Feathered badminton shuttles do have an impact on the environment as they are on averaged bought and used at an amount of 133 shuttles per player per season and discarded in more than 97% of the cases after use. Users of shuttles are triggered by cost savings and by environmental consequences of repair, but still prefer recycling above repairing as a sustainable strategy. They have a slightly preference for a full service option for repairable shuttles, but consider possible alternatives to get access to repairable product as too abstract. The repair process of the feathered shuttle is technical feasible, convenient, time efficient and cost efficient and results in good quality products. Though, the research was conducted using a mix of methods and approached diverse topics of concern when considering repair of consumable sport equipment, researchers ask for further investigation as well to deepen insights in adoption processes of repairable products, to strengthen insights in design processes for repair as to conceive appropriate business models for this emerging product-service category. Highlights: Badminton shuttles have a lifetime of only 8 min during competition and are not recyclable afterwards. Repair must focus on replacement of the shuttles' feathers as these are most fragile and have a high environmental impact. Repair of badminton shuttles is technically feasible and realizes a considerable lifetime extension without loss of quality. Adoption of repaired shuttles is desirable on condition of equal quality and performance.