@phdthesis{Li2013, author = {Li, Juan}, title = {Development and pilot application of a measurement and benchmarking method for the sustainable consumption of household information and communication technology appliances}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:kobv:co1-opus4-31745}, school = {BTU Cottbus - Senftenberg}, year = {2013}, abstract = {The rapidly developed Information and Communication Technology (ICT) products have made great contributions in various application areas. However, the related problems in the consumption of household ICT appliances are crucial to economy, environment and society. As concluded from literature review of practice, assessment and legislation, there is obvious lack of information and understanding of the household consumption pattern of the ICT appliance in a more systematic "life-cycle thinking" approach - from purchase, usage to end-of-life, in environmental-social- economic three dimensional perspective. This deficiency could lead to ineffective policy programmes and implementation. This exploratory study tentatively develops a measurement and benchmarking method, named as Sustainable Consumption Index (SCIndex) model, aiming at improving knowledge and holistic understanding of consumption patterns of household ICT appliances along the value chain in global or regional consumers' households. This dissertation accomplishes the preliminary design of the SCIndex model and its pilot application with a global Internet survey on consumer behavior for detailed analysis, such as, cross-cultural comparison, three stages analysis (purchase, usage and end-of- life), and total SCIndex score benchmarking and analysis. This study identified that overall consumption patterns of household ICT appliances in the developed countries are not necessarily more sustainable than in the developing countries, if all the stages of consumption are overviewed. The findings contribute to the gaps in knowledge of underlying behavioral factors that influence sustainable consumption of household ICT appliances entirely or in any stage; furthermore, they sketch out the national profiles and improvable aspects on the path of more sustainable consumption. The SCIndex model and pilot application stress the importance and provide empirical evidence to support concrete modelling with a multifaceted approach in measurement and benchmarking of household ICT appliances' life-cycle consumption for "going beyond GDP". The model is suggested to be optimized in sampling, design and structure, data analysis methods and the implementation. To efficiently promote sustainable consumption of the household ICT appliances, the pilot application provides further recommendations to the engaged stakeholders that include: i) sufficiency in purchase; ii) efficient usage; iii) responsible disposal; iv) smooth channels for reuse; v) further in-depth researches and projects.}, subject = {Hausger{\"a}t; Informationstechnik; Verbrauch; Benchmarking; Sustainable consumption; Household; ICT appliances; Nachhaltiger Konsum; Haushalt; ICT-Ger{\"a}te}, language = {en} }