Building an Agent-Based Simulation Framework of Smartphone Reuse and Recycling: Integrating Privacy Concern and Behavioral Norms
Abstract
1. Introduction
2. Methods
2.1. Overview
2.2. System Definition
2.3. Properties of Agents
- Smartphones are represented as resource agents that undergo performance degradation and repairs over time, simulating the physical decline and maintenance typical of real-world devices.
- Consumers act as decision-makers whose purchasing and end-of-life (EoL) behaviors are influenced by income, product attributes, and social norms. Their choices are modeled using utility-based frameworks and the Theory of Planned Behavior to reflect both economic and psychological drivers.
- Second-hand stores function as intermediaries that acquire, refurbish, and resell used smartphones. Their decisions are shaped by repair costs, inventory levels, and prevailing market conditions.
- Recyclers handle smartphones from consumers and second-hand stores, with operations guided by pricing strategies and government incentives aimed at optimizing material recovery.
- Manufacturers are responsible for producing new smartphones and facilitating trade-in or take-back programs, thereby influencing product demand and the flow of devices into recycling channels.
2.3.1. Smartphone Agent
2.3.2. Consumer Agent
2.3.3. Second-Hand Store Agent
2.3.4. Manufacturer Agent
2.3.5. Recycler Agent
2.3.6. Government Incentive Model
2.3.7. Publicity Education Model
2.4. Experimental Settings
3. Results
3.1. Analysis of Consumer Behavior
3.2. Impact of Government Incentives
3.3. Impact of Publicity Education
3.4. Validation
4. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Notation | Agent | Description |
---|---|---|
Consumer | Active agent | |
Second-hand Store | Active agent | |
Recycler | Active agent | |
Manufacturer | Active agent | |
Smartphone | Resource agent |
Study | Location | Proffer | Landfill | Store | Resell | Manufacturer Recycle | Third-Party Recycle |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
[45] | China | 25.0 | 6.0 | 54.0 | - | - | 15.0 |
[46] | Finland | 16.0 | 8.5 | 55.0 | 2.4 | - | 18.0 |
[47] | Austria | 12.2 | 1.4 | 51.4 | 6.7 | - | 19.1 |
[48] | China | 24.8 | 6.9 | 47.1 | - | - | - |
[49] | China | 20.0 | 3.0 | 64.0 | 7.0 | 1.0 | 5.0 |
[50] | USA | 41.0 | 3.0 | 43.0 | 3.0 | 9.0 | 1.0 |
[51] | UK | 18.7 | 1.6 | 55.7 | 3.1 | 5.2 | 9.4 |
[52] | China | 35.7 | - | 79.3 | 6.0 | - | - |
[53] | China | 12.7 | 8.9 | 62.1 | - | 1.4 | 0.8 |
[28] | China | 19.0 | 1.0 | 49.0 | 4.0 | 11.0 | 14.0 |
Ours | - | 15.5 | 1.6 | 54.4 | 4.0 | 8.1 | 16.4 |
Ours + GI | - | 13.6 | 1.5 | 40.3 | 8.9 | 13.9 | 21.8 |
Ours + PE | - | 15.2 | 1.5 | 38.5 | 9.4 | 18.6 | 16.8 |
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Hou, W.; Peng, D.; Chu, J.; Jiang, Y.; Chen, Y.; Chen, F. Building an Agent-Based Simulation Framework of Smartphone Reuse and Recycling: Integrating Privacy Concern and Behavioral Norms. Sustainability 2025, 17, 6885. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17156885
Hou W, Peng D, Chu J, Jiang Y, Chen Y, Chen F. Building an Agent-Based Simulation Framework of Smartphone Reuse and Recycling: Integrating Privacy Concern and Behavioral Norms. Sustainability. 2025; 17(15):6885. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17156885
Chicago/Turabian StyleHou, Wenbang, Dingjie Peng, Jianing Chu, Yuelin Jiang, Yu Chen, and Feier Chen. 2025. "Building an Agent-Based Simulation Framework of Smartphone Reuse and Recycling: Integrating Privacy Concern and Behavioral Norms" Sustainability 17, no. 15: 6885. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17156885
APA StyleHou, W., Peng, D., Chu, J., Jiang, Y., Chen, Y., & Chen, F. (2025). Building an Agent-Based Simulation Framework of Smartphone Reuse and Recycling: Integrating Privacy Concern and Behavioral Norms. Sustainability, 17(15), 6885. https://doi.org/10.3390/su17156885