4th PLATE Conference
University of Limerick 2021

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the fourth PLATE (Product Lifetimes and the Environment) conference was hosted by the University of Limerick from 26-28 May 2021 as a fully virtual event. Over the 3-day event, a total of 138 papers, 4 keynote speeches, 4 workshops and 1 panel discussion, drawn from a multi-disciplinary and international perspective, were presented and discussed the latest research in the field of product lifetimes and the environment. In total 191 delegates from 26 countries attended and registrants can continue to view recordings of the presentations through their login to the PLATE 2021 Events Air Platform.

The conference also included a student best paper competition produced the following results

  • Winner: Tamar Meshulam, Tel Aviv University, “Sharing Economy Rebound – The Case of Peer-2-Peer Sharing of Food Waste.”
  • Second Place: Ana Neto, Universidade de Lisboa, “Through thick and thin: Committing to a long-lasting wearer-clothing relationship.”
  • Third Place: Réka Ines Tolg, Lund University, “Caring for extending – Consumer configuration in fashion retail settings.”
  • Fourth Place: Karl Samenjo, Delft University of Technology, “Opportunities for 3D-printable spare parts: estimations from historical data.”

The proceedings have been published as open access on the University of Limerick Institutional Repository and are available here: PLATE2021 PROCEEDINGS.

Special Issues of the Journal of Industrial Ecology and Sustainability emanating from papers presented at PLATE are planned.

PLATE was deemed to be a great success by the delegates and organisers, with the majority of delegates finding it to be of excellent or good quality in relation to the papers, the event itself and the virtual social events, which included a music performance, quiz, yoga and virtual coffee break-outs.

The fifth PLATE conference will be hosted by Aalto University, Finland, 31st May – 2nd June 2023.

Plate Committees 2021

Conference Chair

  • Prof. Colin Fitzpatrick, University of Limerick, Ireland

Conference Series Chair

  • Prof. Tim Cooper, Nottingham Trent University

Programme Committee

  • Prof. Colin Fitzpatrick, University of Limerick
  • Dr Tamar Makov, Ben-Gurion University
  • Prof. Kirsi Niinimäki, Aalto University
  • Dr Jessika Richter, Lund University
  • Dr Keshav Parajuly, UNITAR/University of Limerick
  • Prof. Connie Bakker, TU Delft

Local Organising Committee

  • Prof. Colin Fitzpatrick, Dept. of Electronic & Computer Engineering, University of Limerick
  • Dr Maria Lichrou, Dept. of Marketing & Management, University of Limerick
  • Prof. Lisa O’Malley, Dept. of Marketing & Management, University of Limerick
  • Dr. Alan Ryan, School of Engineering, University of Limerick
  • Dr. Muireann McMahon, School of Design, University of Limerick
  • Dr. Yvonne Ryan, Dept. of Electronic & Computer Engineering, University of Limerick
  • Kathleen McMahon, Dept. of Electronic & Computer Engineering, University of Limerick
  • Deborah Tudge, Campus Life Services, University of Limerick
  • Dr. Keshav Parajuly, Dept. of Electronic & Computer Engineering, University of Limerick
  • Dr. Michael Johnson, Dept. of Electronic & Computer Engineering, University of Limerick
  • Narjes Fallah, Dept. of Electronic & Computer Engineering, University of Limerick
  • Ruth Duignan, Limerick School of Art and Design
  • Chidinma Muoneke, Dept. of Electronic & Computer Engineering, University of Limerick

Scientific Advisory Committee

  • Prof. Tim Cooper, Nottingham Trent University
  • Dr. Nils Nissen, Fraunhofer IZM
  • Prof. Melanie Jaeger-Erben, TU Berlin
  • Prof. Ruth Mugge, TU Delft
  • Prof. Connie Bakker, TU Delft
  • Prof. Kirsi Niinimäki, Aalto University
  • Dr. Matthew Watkins, Nottingham Trent University
  • Dr Gordon Young, Sheffield Hallam University
  • Dr Jef Peeters, KU Leuven
  • Dr Tamar Makov, Ben-Gurion University
  • Dr Janis Winzer, Fraunhofer IZM
  • Dr Jessika Richter, Lund University
  • Dr Kees Baldé, United Nations University
  • Dr Vered Blass, Tel Aviv University
  • Dr Callie Babbit, Rochester Institute of Technology
  • Dr Deepali Sinha Khetriwal, Sofies India
  • Dr Roland Hischier, EMPA
  • Dr Damian Coughlan, IMR
  • Kyle Wiens, iFixit
  • Dr Josh Lepawsky, Memorial University
  • Silvia Bobba, European Commission JRC
  • Reid Lifset, Yale University
  • Jean Cox-Kearns, Sustainability Care
  • Claire Downey, CRNI
  • David Fitzsimons, European Remanufacturing Council
  • Janet Gunter, The Restart Project
  • Padraig Murphy, Logitech
  • Dr Daniel Cooper, University of Michigan
  • Dr Ramzy Kahhat, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú
  • Prof. Dr. Erik G. Hansen, University Linz
  • Dr Kirsi Laitala, Oslo Metropolitan University
  • Prof. Brian Paul Burns, Carleton University
  • Dr Claudia E. Henninger, University of Manchester
  • Dr Marium Durrani, Aalto University