Understanding the Barriers to Reuse: A Qualitative Study of Reuse Potential in the Norwegian EE Industry

The rapid growth in consumption and use of electronics has resulted in E-waste becoming one of the most accelerated global waste streams. Despite high rates of electrical and electronic (EE) recycling, Norway is one of the countries with the highest generation of E-waste per capita. Inspired by circular economy principles and previous research on the E-waste stream, this thesis explores the potential for reuse in solving the waste problem in the Norwegian EE industry. As reuse of EE products remains low in Norway, this thesis examines the current state of the industry and identifies barriers to reuse adoption. This is supported by insights from four semi-structured expert interviews and secondary data. The findings suggest that the most prevalent barriers are the linear design of products, economic unsustainability, consumer scepticism, lack of clear regulations and product value loss due to irresponsible treatment. Recommendations are presented as guidance on how to overcome these barriers and accelerate the reuse rate in Norway. This has important implications for policymakers and industry stakeholders that wish to transform their industry and business models. The barriers apply across stakeholder groups and require an industry-wide understanding of how to establish effective collaboration and ultimately increase the reuse of EE products