Corporate retailers support re-use with impressive impacts

18th September 2015 | News

Based on a press release by the FRN

The Furniture Re-use Network (FRN), a member of RREUSE, has issued a new report revealing the significant social, economic and environmental impact of its take back scheme in partnership with corporate retailers including IKEA, John Lewis, DHLE and Dixons. 78,000 quality, reusable items supplied through its take-back scheme with corporate retailers went to people living in poverty.

Figures about individual achievements from a selection of commercial FRN take-back schemes include:

  • 2,818 sofas provided by IKEA in the past year, saved households £845,400
  • Over 12,000 low income households were helped as a result of the re-use and repair of electrical items and WEEE products from Dixons Carphone and DHL Envirosolutions take-back appliances.
  • 254 tonnes of furniture collected from the John Lewis FRN take-back scheme in 2014 prevented over 125 tonnes of CO2 from being emitted into the atmosphere

Craig Anderson, FRN CEO and member of the RREUSE board said:

“Through our FRN take-back schemes we have found corporate retailers looking to reduce their waste and have married this with the re-use sector’s growing demands of meeting the needs of their communities. The social, economic and environmental impacts brought about by the FRN take-back schemes are proof of our sector’s importance in achieving a circular economy in our society today.”

Given the current discussions on the EU Circular Economy Package, to be published at the end of 2015, the EU Commission must look to reports such as this to be reminded that re-use must be at the heart of an ambitious vision for a circular economy. The positive impact on people’s lives will be significant.

For the full FRN press release click here

 

Note to editor:

Social enterprises that form part of the FRN:

  • helped 1 million UK households through the provision of free or low cost household items
  • saved £382 million for low income households on essential goods thanks to reused items
  • helped re-use 3 million furniture and electrical items in the UK
  • employed 4793 people
  • supported 49,209 people through volunteering, training and work placements

Image Source: www.frn.org.uk