Chapter 07 · Materials & footprintsCircular Economy & Materials
Durable goods
Definition
Durable goods are tangible products that can be stored or inventoried, yield utility over repeated use and have an average life of at least three years (US Bureau of Economic Analysis definition) — for example vehicles, appliances, electronics and furniture. They contrast with non-durable goods, which are consumed or used up quickly. Durability makes these products the natural focus of lifetime extension, repair, refurbishment and remanufacturing strategies.
References
official definition (three-year threshold)
Overview
What it means
Products whose long life means design decisions — repairability, upgradeability, material choice — dominate their environmental footprint.
How it is used
The category structures circular-economy policy (right to repair, ecodesign requirements), product-as-service business models and economic indicators.
Why it matters
Durable goods concentrate embodied materials and energy; extending their useful life is among the highest-value circular-economy levers.