System Perspective on Service Provision: A case of community-based washing centres for households

Abstract

Life cycle management has often paid more attention to environmental impacts of products than services.In this paper, we devote more attention to evaluating environmental impacts of product-services by investigating community-based services (CBS).Since they are provided close to the end-consumer, CBS have a strong role in shaping consumption patterns and a certain potential in reducing associated environmental impacts.The study aims at investigating the institutional framework and the potential for reducing life cycle impacts through development and provision of community-based services that substitute function delivery by a single product.In order to fulfil this goal, a case of community-based washing centres in Sweden is studied from historical, institutional and business perspectives and environmental outcomes of CBS are qualitatively and quantitatively evaluated.The design of the services is discussed following the product service systems framework.The results show that assuming the same behaviour in both cases, community-based washing centres have lower resource consumption, which stems from high performance characteristics of the installed equipment.The study also estimates the total saving on national level from using shared washing facilities.However, it is demonstrated that behavioural aspects are very important in determining the environmental soundness of service solutions.The paper proposes that energy savings could be even larger if the laundry services would be provided by businesses and/or the users would be better informed about optimisation possibilities of their washing operations.A number of recommendations are also provided on how energy consumption of washing activity can be reduced.Finally, the paper discussed the importance of specific policy interventions in developing more sustainable services.

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