Reuse charities and social enterprises reused 3.7 million furniture and electrical items last year, supporting people to access affordable household items across the UK.
1.6 million households in the UK were helped by reuse charities and social enterprises in 2019.
This is just one of the benefits of reuse shown in the recently published Reuse Network Social Impact Report 2019.
Accessing reused furniture and electrical goods has led to £468 million worth of savings for low income households compared to buying items new.
The environment impact of reusing 3.7 million items has resulted in 125,000 tonnes of household items being diverted away from landfill and waste, pushed up the waste hierarchy, and has saved 135,850 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
The reuse sector has stepped up to ensure that low income households continue to access affordable furniture and electrical items
Craig Anderson, Reuse Network CEO says: “The last few years have been difficult for many reuse organisations, as we received reports of charities closing their doors due to financial constraints and austerity. In spite of this, the reuse sector has stepped up to ensure that low income households continue to access affordable furniture and electrical items.
“Our commercial partners, including John Lewis & Partners, IKEA and DixonsCarphone are instrumental in supporting members of the Reuse Network and their beneficiaries in accessing good quality items at affordable prices thanks to donations and takeback schemes.”
In addition to diverting 3.7 million items in the last year, the reuse sector supported over 56,000 people through volunteering, training and work placements and employed around 4,900 staff.
Craig Anderson says: “Our members go far beyond the provision of reused household items, they become a hub for their communities in providing key services and support networks”.
The Reuse Network works to ensure that no-one is without a bed to sleep on, a cooker to cook on, or a sofa to sit on, wherever they live in the UK.