Exploring different product-service combinations for sustainable clothing rental service based on consumer preferences and climate change impacts

Abstract Access-based consumption of clothing has garnered attention because of its sustainability potential; however, the profile of a product-service combination that benefits both consumers and the environment has been inconclusive. To characterize these services, this study explored consumer pre...

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Main Authors: Eri Amasawa, Koji Kimita, Tatsuki Yoshida, Masahiko Hirao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-03-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-87893-w
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author Eri Amasawa
Koji Kimita
Tatsuki Yoshida
Masahiko Hirao
author_facet Eri Amasawa
Koji Kimita
Tatsuki Yoshida
Masahiko Hirao
author_sort Eri Amasawa
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Access-based consumption of clothing has garnered attention because of its sustainability potential; however, the profile of a product-service combination that benefits both consumers and the environment has been inconclusive. To characterize these services, this study explored consumer preferences and climate change impact of diverse garment type and service combinations for a clothing rental service. We performed a web-based survey in Japan to analyze consumer preferences and intended behavior for 15 garment types and ten service types in clothing rentals. The survey results were used to characterize the desired clothing rental service using a cluster analysis and to calculate life cycle greenhouse gas emissions when the garment was purchased and rented. The results showed a specific combination of consumer segments, product characteristics, and service types that construct a sustainable clothing rental service; formal dress, dress shirt, and maternity wear were the garment types that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 21% ~ 75% depending on consumer behavior and service implementation. We also demonstrate that implementing services often augments greenhouse gas emissions. This study conveys that renting garments for occasional wear are ideal for both consumers and the environment, and rental service providers need to effectively manage product’s lifetime extension.
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spelling doaj-art-e1ca5b914f6644a5bead1d6e73c9627d2025-08-20T03:40:47ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-03-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-87893-wExploring different product-service combinations for sustainable clothing rental service based on consumer preferences and climate change impactsEri Amasawa0Koji Kimita1Tatsuki Yoshida2Masahiko Hirao3Department of Chemical System Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of TokyoDepartment of Technology Management for Innovation, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of TokyoDepartment of Chemical System Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of TokyoDepartment of Chemical System Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of TokyoAbstract Access-based consumption of clothing has garnered attention because of its sustainability potential; however, the profile of a product-service combination that benefits both consumers and the environment has been inconclusive. To characterize these services, this study explored consumer preferences and climate change impact of diverse garment type and service combinations for a clothing rental service. We performed a web-based survey in Japan to analyze consumer preferences and intended behavior for 15 garment types and ten service types in clothing rentals. The survey results were used to characterize the desired clothing rental service using a cluster analysis and to calculate life cycle greenhouse gas emissions when the garment was purchased and rented. The results showed a specific combination of consumer segments, product characteristics, and service types that construct a sustainable clothing rental service; formal dress, dress shirt, and maternity wear were the garment types that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 21% ~ 75% depending on consumer behavior and service implementation. We also demonstrate that implementing services often augments greenhouse gas emissions. This study conveys that renting garments for occasional wear are ideal for both consumers and the environment, and rental service providers need to effectively manage product’s lifetime extension.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-87893-wFashion rental platformSharing economyServicizingAccess-based consumptionProduct-service systemsCustomer acceptance
spellingShingle Eri Amasawa
Koji Kimita
Tatsuki Yoshida
Masahiko Hirao
Exploring different product-service combinations for sustainable clothing rental service based on consumer preferences and climate change impacts
Scientific Reports
Fashion rental platform
Sharing economy
Servicizing
Access-based consumption
Product-service systems
Customer acceptance
title Exploring different product-service combinations for sustainable clothing rental service based on consumer preferences and climate change impacts
title_full Exploring different product-service combinations for sustainable clothing rental service based on consumer preferences and climate change impacts
title_fullStr Exploring different product-service combinations for sustainable clothing rental service based on consumer preferences and climate change impacts
title_full_unstemmed Exploring different product-service combinations for sustainable clothing rental service based on consumer preferences and climate change impacts
title_short Exploring different product-service combinations for sustainable clothing rental service based on consumer preferences and climate change impacts
title_sort exploring different product service combinations for sustainable clothing rental service based on consumer preferences and climate change impacts
topic Fashion rental platform
Sharing economy
Servicizing
Access-based consumption
Product-service systems
Customer acceptance
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-87893-w
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AT kojikimita exploringdifferentproductservicecombinationsforsustainableclothingrentalservicebasedonconsumerpreferencesandclimatechangeimpacts
AT tatsukiyoshida exploringdifferentproductservicecombinationsforsustainableclothingrentalservicebasedonconsumerpreferencesandclimatechangeimpacts
AT masahikohirao exploringdifferentproductservicecombinationsforsustainableclothingrentalservicebasedonconsumerpreferencesandclimatechangeimpacts