Industrialisation of re-use

• The single biggest threat to decarbonisation and one of the greatest risks to biodiversity is consumption. If as a society we wasted less, reused more, and gave items a second lease of life, it would result in less primary resource consumption, less manufacturing of new products and a faster transition to a more circular economy.

   

  Changing our systems, attitudes and behaviours is essential to keep products and materials in use longer. The changes are necessary, from materials and design to use, maintenance and repair. Some changes will be challenging in scope and adoption, but all are important to enable items to live multiple life cycles.

   

  We live in a linear “throw away” society and often discard products which still work, are in good condition or with knowledge, tools and parts can be repaired or refurbished. In moving to this resource centric and circular approach there are vast opportunities to not only make a significant contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity loss, but at the same time creating skilled and valued employment.

   

  However, a circular economy is just that, an economy where people can and should earn a wage equal with their skill and contribution, where businesses can trade and undertake their activities on a level playing field and where the wider societal benefits of climate change and resource consumption reduction are correctly valued in the financial flows. Moving re-use from the margins of the economy to its centre is fundamental and underpins the industrialisation of its activities.

   

  Join our free webinar and hear from seasoned experts who have devoted their careers to the development and delivery of re-use projects, programmes and organisations. Learn from them about the far-reaching benefits of re-use and its positive impact not only on the planet, but also people and overall prosperity.

• Access the recording here