People have high sustainability ambitions

Press release

Low-price trends and short product lifespans mean few opt for repairs

Climate change, war, and an unstable economy have led more people to become interested in extending product lifespans and recycling more. However, in an era where foreign low-cost companies are growing in popularity, many people report that low purchase prices prompt them to throw away or buy new instead. This is revealed in Stena Recycling’s survey Circular Voice.

In the survey, nearly six out of ten respondents (54 percent) said that current global factors have increased their interest in extending product lifespans. Interest in recycling has also grown. A full 54 percent report recycling more today than before, and 57 percent say they care more about doing so correctly.

A man skeptically inspecting a piece of green clothing, standing against an orange background.

Although the majority have become more environmentally conscious and want to consume more sustainably, challenges remain. Respondents provided the following answers:It’s cheaper to buy a new product (44 percent)
It’s not worth repairing in relation to the purchase price (41 percent)
There are too few repair services available (31 percent)
I don’t know who to contact to get the product repaired (27 percent)
I believe the product is made to have a short lifespan (23 percent)
I don’t have the energy to repair products (15 percent)

“An uncertain world is prompting more people to think more sustainably, but it still seems difficult to go from words to action and actually act in an environmentally friendly way. This creates significant opportunities for companies and organizations to make it easier for people to make more sustainable and eco-friendly choices. The fact that buying new products is often perceived as simpler and cheaper clearly shows that we need to leave the throwaway culture behind,”

says Anna Sundell, Head of Sustainability, Brand & Communications at Stena Metall.

About Stena Recycling

Stena Recycling is a leading recycling company and a full-service partner for developing sustainable circular solutions for all types of businesses. With dedicated employees and extensive facilities across seven countries, we create long-term solutions every day for both our customers and society as a whole. By keeping resources in circulation, Stena Recycling plays an important and central role in the transition to a circular economy.

About the survey

5,000 consumers aged 18-65 in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Poland participated in the survey conducted by Ipsos in May 2024.

Have current global factors, such as climate change, war, and the economic situation, affected your interest in extending the lifespan of products?

	Total	DK	NO	PL	SE	FI
Yes, I have become more interested in extending the lifespan of products	54%	55%	54%	45%	57%	58%
Yes, I have become less interested in extending the lifespan of products	9%	7%	6%	12%	10%	12%
No, none of these	26%	27%	29%	31%	24%	22%
Unsure/don’t know	11%	11%	12%	13%	9%	9%

Have current global factors, such as climate change, war, and the economic situation, affected your willingness to recycle?

	Total	DK	NO	PL	SE	FI
Yes, I care more about recycling things in the correct way	54%	54%	51%	51%	59%	56%
Yes, I care less about recycling	7%	7%	5%	8%	7%	7%
No, none of these	31%	32%	36%	31%	27%	30%
Unsure/don’t know	8%	7%	8%	10%	7%	6%

Have current global factors, such as climate change, war, and the economic situation, affected the extent to which you recycle products?

	Total	DK	NO	PL	SE	FI
Yes, I care more about recycling things in the correct way	54%	55%	54%	45%	57%	58%
Yes, I care less about recycling	9%	7%	6%	12%	10%	12%
No, none of these	26%	27%	29%	31%	24%	22%
Unsure/don’t know	11%	11%	12%	13%	9%	9%

What, if anything, might cause you to throw away products that could have been repaired?

	Total	DK	NO	PL	SE	FI
I don’t have the energy to repair the products	15%	15%	17%	11%	20%	15%
There are too few repair services available	31%	23%	40%	33%	31%	27%
It’s not worth it compared to the purchase price	41%	35%	43%	39%	35%	51%
It’s cheaper to buy a new product	44%	43%	52%	39%	42%	45%
I believe the product is designed to have a short lifespan	23%	25%	27%	23%	24%	16%
I don’t know who to turn to for repairs	27%	27%	34%	20%	32%	23%
Not applicable, I always repair if possible	13%	12%	10%	18%	11%	14%
I don’t care enough	6%	4%	6%	6%	7%	8%
Other reason	1%	2%	2%	1%	1%	1%
Unsure/don’t know	5%	6%	5%	3%	5%	4%