Re-use manifesto asks Government to support fix-first, pre-loved economy

According to ‘Repair, Re-use, Reform – How to accelerate Progress to a Circular Economy’, UK households and businesses throw away two million tonnes of electrical appliances every year and discard 70 million different household items worth more than £2bn. At the same time, uncertainty about value and fear of data security encourages us to hold on to an estimated 800 million smaller pieces of equipment until ‘technological obsolescence’ consigns them to a box at the back of a cupboard.

“This level of waste is unsustainable in a world of depleting resources and clearly a barrier to the Government’s plans to move towards a circular economy as part of their Net Zero goals,” said SUEZ recycling and recovery UK Chief Executive Officer, John Scanlon.

The Re-use Manifesto is asking the Government to encourage re-use and repair by reducing VAT on reused, refurbished and repaired goods, extending Right to Repair legislation and supporting the development of skills necessary to deliver a repair-first mentality – something the UK’s 600 high street mobile phone repair shops have demonstrated is a workable model.

Extending warranties and an accreditation scheme for reused goods would also build consumer confidence in pre-loved and refurbished goods such as household appliances which, the report says, could easily and cost-effectively replace a fifth of the items we buy new every year.

But new research undertaken for the re-use manifesto suggests that the cost-of-living crisis may already be driving a surge in pre-loved purchasing. The poll, conducted for SUEZ by Opinium in January this year, revealed that 30% of UK adults said they were more likely to buy second-hand as a result. Specifically, it showed that almost 16 million shoppers (29% of adults) have reined in their spending on clothes, with 20% buying fewer electrical goods.

One quarter (24%) of adults also said they are more likely to buy re-used or second-hand items this year than in 2024.

It also showed:

• Nearly half (48%) of UK adults bought a second-hand item in the last year – equivalent to 26 million people

• Gen Z and millennials are leading the trend, with under 35s almost twice as likely to buy re-used goods than over 55s

The research questioned consumers’ motivations for buying re-used items, with 42% citing better value for money, followed by environmental concerns (29%) and support for small businesses and charities (27%). However, affordability is a key concern, with one in four shoppers (26%) citing financial pressures as a key reason.

SUEZ has also highlighted the barriers in this area, with 40% of consumers hesitant to buy re-used goods due to concerns over quality, while one in five (18%) worry about being scammed.

The re-use manifesto further found that if every UK household re-used or repaired just two extra items a year, it would keep 23 million more items in use, generating £1.6 billion for local economies and creating 74,200 skilled jobs.

John Scanlon, Chief Executive Officer at SUEZ recycling and recovery UK, said: “The UK has a massive waste challenge – if all nations consumed at the same rate as us, we would need over two and half planets to sustain our demands. So, it is hugely positive to see the surging popularity of re-use and repair. We have seen new generations embracing buying pre-owned or refurbished goods, often driven by environmental concerns and the rise in the cost of living.

“However, the repair and re-use movement still faces major impediments and disincentives. Government action is needed to level the playing field and give consumers the confidence to buy re-used or repaired goods, which would help turbocharge the shift towards a more circular economy.

“The benefits are also more than environmental. This activity creates skilled green jobs and training opportunities; generates revenue for councils, community organisations and local SMEs; and provides essential goods at prices more people can afford.”

SUEZ operates 30 Re-use shops based throughout their household waste recycling centre (HWRC) network across England and Scotland and in 2023 diverted half a million items into re-use, raising £3m for charity and community activities in the process.