Shaping sustainable consumption practices: Changing consumers’ habits through lifestyle changes and Extended Producer Responsibility schemes

This paper studies Japan’s consumer-side circular economy strategies, particularly focusing on the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) systems. The current low rates of EPR fees limit their effectiveness in promoting sustainable consumption and production practices. The study investigates how increasing EPR fees might alter Japanese household sufficiency behaviors under different lifestyle change assumptions. Using a socio-economic approach, it assesses how adjusting EPR fees can influence consumer behavior and environmental outcomes, contributing to a sustainable circular economy. The findings suggest higher EPR fees on energy-using durable goods encourage circular consumption, especially on consumers with strong cognitive intentions towards circular economy behaviors. Behavioural policies promoting environmental awareness are important enablers. In addition, the timing of EPR fee imposition (at acquisition vs. disposal) significantly affects the policy outcomes. While the policy can slow resource loops for some products, its impact on CO₂ emissions may be limited.