Chapter 2: A Comprehensive Review of Disposition Literature and Theoretical Foundations

Disposition studies have far-reaching implications for business strategy, engineering design and technology, environmental science and policy making, sustainable economies, consumer psychology and public health. This global need is further emphasized by recent systematic reviews highlighting current gaps and new research avenues. A study of disposition behavior may help foster a caring business and consumer mindset that will help augment the positive economic, environmental and social impacts. Such a research is very pertinent as businesses are discovering ways to design and manufacture more sustainable products and consumer awareness and attitudes are still evolving. Planned product obsolescence, rapid and incremental changes in technology and values of over-consumption mean that possessions that have both usefulness and resale value are being tossed out from households. Disposition practices have opened up further cycles of consumption in the format of second hand used or pre-owned goods and gently-used goods markets. Buying used goods is very much about expressing ethics and ecological citizenship through consumer behavior choices.