Extended product responsibility (EPR) is a policy concept which makes the producer responsible for operating or managing the end-of-life products through environment-friendly processes like recycling. EPR legislation provides incentives to the producers to design products that have environmentally superior attributes. EPR can be implemented by collection and recycling the used products. Collection refers to a portion of the product sold to be recollected. Recycling means the percentage by weight that are to be recycled. It is not feasible to specify the durability target that is related to recycling rate or collection target. It is interesting to find how collection rate and recycling rate targets imposed by EPR indirectly affect durability choice. In this context, it is worth examining the interaction between recyclability and durability choices in product design. For instance, cars with thicker aluminum frames are more durable and have more recyclable material. Similarly, when comparing adhesives and screws, the latter is more durable and has recyclability. Photo voltaic panels (PVPs) are also included under EPR legislation, so their design choices are important. Currently two technologies are available for this purpose namely, based on crystalline silicon (c-Si) and thin-film technologies. Thin-film PVPs are more recyclable than c-Si PVPs. However, the latter out performs the former because of its lower degradation rate. The trade-of between recyclability and durability is a consideration in deciding the design of PVPs. A frameless PVP is easier to recycle compared to PVPs with framed designs. Also, the glass-glass frameless PVP modules have higher degradation rates than the glass-polymer framed modules. The design decision should take care of the durability-recyclability trade-off. This article presents a model to investigate a durable good producer's choice of durability and recyclability under EPR.
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