Home Energy Management Systems (HEMS), e.g. energy monitors, are intermediary products that can visualize, manage, and/or monitor the energy use of other products or whole households. HEMS increasingly receive attention for their role in energy conservation in households. A literature review and a case study examine the mid-term effectiveness (more than 4 months) of HEMS. The case study presents the results of a 15-month pilot with a domestic energy monitor in the Netherlands. It explores the extent to which participants manage to sustain their initial electricity savings over time, with a special focus on the development of habitual energy-saving behaviour. The results show that the initial savings in electricity consumption of 7.8% after 4 months could not be sustained in the medium- to long-term. A second finding is that certain groups of people seem more receptive to energy-saving interventions than others. These participants quickly develop new habits and exhibit larger savings than other participants. Obviously, a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach for home energy monitors cannot be justified. For HEMS to be effective, a deeper understanding is needed that embraces social science, contextual factors, usability, and interaction design research. Les Systèmes de Gestion Domotique de l'Energie (HEMS), par ex. les contrôleurs d'énergie, sont des produits intermédiaires qui sont capables de visualiser, gérer et/ou suivre l'énergie consommée par d'autres produits ou un ménage dans son ensemble. Les HEMS bénéficient d'un intérêt croissant en raison de leur rôle en matière d'économies d'énergie dans les ménages. Une analyse bibliographique et une étude de cas examinent l'efficacité des HEMS à moyen terme (au-delà de 4 mois). L'étude de cas présente les résultats d'un projet pilote sur 15 mois utilisant un contrôleur d'énergie domestique aux Pays-Bas. Elle examine dans quelle mesure les participants parviennent à maintenir leurs économies d'électricité initiales au fil du temps, en mettant un accent particulier sur le développement de comportements habituels économes en énergie. Les résultats montrent que les économies initiales réalisées sur la consommation électrique, de 7,8% après quatre mois, ne pouvaient pas être maintenues sur le moyen et le long terme. Une seconde constatation est que certains groupes de personnes semblent plus réceptives que d'autres aux opérations d'économie d'énergie. Ces participants développent rapidement de nouvelles habitudes et affichent des économies plus importantes que les autres participants. A l'évidence, une approche unique pour tous concernant les contrôleurs d'énergie domestique ne peut se justifier. Pour que les HEMS soient efficaces, il est nécessaire d'avoir une compréhension plus profonde, englobant les sciences sociales, les facteurs contextuels, l'utilisabilité et les recherches en conception centrée utilisateurs (interaction design). Mots clés: Captologie, demande énergétique, gestion de l'énergie, contrôleur d'énergie, Système de Gestion Domotique de l'Energie (HEMS), logement, comportement des occupants, comptage intelligent

Replacing fossil-based feedstock with renewable alternatives is a crucial step towards a circular economy. The bio-based plastics currently on the market are predominantly used in single-use applications, with remarkably limited uptake in durable products. This study explores the current state of the art of bio-based plastic use in durable consumer products and the opportunities and barriers encountered by product developers in adopting these materials. A design analysis of 60 durable products containing bio-based plastics, and 12 company interviews, identified the pursuit of sustainability goals and targets as the primary driver for adopting bio-based plastics, despite uncertainties regarding their reduced environmental impact. The lack of knowledge of bio-based plastics and their properties contributes to the slow adoption of these materials. Furthermore, the lack of recycling infrastructure, the limited availability of the plastics, and higher costs compared to fossil-based alternatives, are significant barriers to adoption. Product developers face significant challenges in designing with bio-based plastics, but opportunities exist; for example, for the use of dedicated bio-based plastics with unique properties. When designing with bio-based plastics, product developers must think beyond the physical product and consider sourcing and recovery, which are not typically part of the conventional product design process.

Designers play an important role in service transformation and the development of product-service systems by applying co-creation methods. This paper presents a case of how we applied co-creation in practice and the impact this has had on developing a circular product-service system. It details the method used in the co-creation process and highlights five benefits, such as the ability to develop value-adding services for repairs and supporting each of them with user citations. Furthermore, we interviewed the project team a year into product development to assess the uptake by the company and the impact co-creation had on their design process. Based on these findings, we present a conceptual model that identifies the tangible impacts of co-creation and visualizes at what stages and levels co-creation can impact both the development of product-service systems and a company's shift along the servitization continuum.

Rebound effects remain an overlooked but critical challenge in circular economy transitions. While existing research predominantly frames rebound effects as economic, behavioural or technological phenomena, these perspectives fail to fully account for the social and material dynamics through which rebounds emerge. This commentary argues that social practice theories offer a more systemic approach to understanding rebound effects by shifting focus from individual decision-making and efficiency gains to the interconnections between everyday practices, temporal and spatial reordering, and systems of provision. We outline four key conceptual resources from social practice theories – recrafting practices, practice interconnections, temporal and spatial reordering, and systems of provision – that help explain how rebound effects unfold within circular consumption. We also discuss the methodological challenges of integrating social and material assessments of rebounds. Moving forward, we call for interdisciplinary and practice-based research to deepen empirical investigations into how circular consumption practices evolve and how their unintended consequences can be anticipated and mitigated. By embedding practice-theoretical insights into rebound research, future research and policies can contribute to more effective and systemic approaches to circular transformation. This Commentary is part of a Special Issue titled, Everyday Circularities: Rethinking Consumption in the Circular Transformations, edited by Kersty Hobson and Mary Greene.

Airports, as high-density public ecosystems, face significant challenges in adopting circular waste management practices due to complex stakeholder dynamics and logistical constraints. This study employs a local waste hub integrated with a Pay-As-You-Throw approach as a systemic design intervention to enhance waste separation in the residual waste stream at Oslo Airport. By applying systemic design principles, the intervention addressed interconnected behavioural, organisational, and infrastructural factors to advance circularity. A one-month pilot, involving seven commercial units, tested the intervention using mixed-method data collection. Results demonstrated a measurable reduction in incorrect waste disposal within residual waste streams, alongside heightened employee awareness toward waste separation. The study underscores the potential of context-based interventions to advance circular practices in complex environments, and delivers an empirical study that offers actionable, real-world insights for advancing sustainable waste management in similar high-density ecosystems, such as shopping malls and train stations.

Context This study examines how co-creation can facilitate the adoption of circular design strategies in product development, including longer-lasting products, repair, refurbishment and recycling. The research was conducted in collaboration with a multinational company producing small household goods. The goal of this research was to explore how the cocreation process can support the implementation of circular design strategies in the product development process.