- 1 - A FRAMEWORK FOR SUSTAINABLE PRODUCT SERVICE SYSTEMS: WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO ICT INDUSTRIES Ke Xing School of Advanced Manufacturing & Mechanical Engineering & Institute for Sustainable Systems and Technologies, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes Campus, SA 5095, (618) 8302 3406, ke.xing@unisa.edu.au David Ness Institute for Sustainable Systems and Technologies, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes Campus, SA5095, (618) 8463 6236, david.ness@unisa.edu.au Suzanne Benn Graduate School of the Environment, Department of Environment and Geography, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, (612) 9850 7993, sbenn@gse.mq.edu.au Wei Qian School of Commerce, University of South Australia, City West Campus, SA5000, (618) 8302 0455, wei.qian@unisa.edu.au ABSTRACT The Sustainable Product Services Systems (S-PSS) philosophy is also known as sustainable servicizing. It focuses on minimizing materials, energy, emissions and the end-of-life waste produced in relation to the use of any manufactured good. The holistic management of a suite of services for the customer, of which the products form a part, differentiates the S-PSS approach from conventional leasing and renting. This paper develops a framework for guidelines that may assist organisations, both clients and service providers, in moving towards implementation of S-PSS in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) industries. The paper discusses the role of products and services in making a switch from buy-own methods of procurement to product service systems for both economic and environmental benefits. It further outlines some changes of management principles that may assist this switch, not only in ICT but also with possible extension to other industries. A number of considerations requiring further investigation are also highlighted. Keywords: Sustainability, Product-Service Systems, Resource Efficiency, Eco-efficiency INTRODUCTION As the ultimate form of product stewardship and extended producer responsibility, Product Service Systems (PSS) involve provision of a service to customers through producers maintaining ownership of products and the products being a part of the service – a different procurement model to traditional buy and own approach. The notion of PSS originated in the business world due to perceived business benefits [1]. For example, PSS facilitates the establishment of a long-term business-customer relationship to create brand loyalty. Such systems improve product use efficiency, which may lower asset depreciation rates and lead to potential tax savings [2]. PSS can also increase product reuse and recycle values. More