A methodology and associated tool for quantifying the potential impact of re-use, including greenhouse gas emissions, job opportunities or financial impacts.
- Increasing re-use could reduce UK greenhouse gas emissions by an average 4 million tonnes CO2 eq per year between now and 2020
- Using this methodology WRAP estimates that UK households save around £1 billion per year and avoid 1 million tonnes CO2 eq per year from current levels of re-use
Overview
In 2009, WRAP published Meeting the UK Climate Challenge: The Contribution of Resource Efficiency. This found that increasing re-use could reduce UK greenhouse gas emissions by an average 4 million tonnes CO2 eq per year between now and 2020.
In order to better understand the impact of re-using particular items, WRAP have developed a methodology, and tool for quantifying the current and potential future benefits of increasing re-use. These are available for anyone to use in trying to understand the potential impact of re-use, including greenhouse gas emissions, jobs or financial impacts.
This can be applied to a range of products using an accompanying excel-based tool to provide a consistent means of assessing the impacts of different activities. The tool allows the calculation of three environmental indicators:
- greenhouse gas emissions
- energy demand and
- resource depletion
And two economic indicators:
- number of jobs and
- financial impacts, as well as where these occur in the supply chain.
Contents
Background >>
Scope >>
Functional Unit >>
Allocation of environmental impacts >>
Costs and Prices >>
Business As Usual Mass Flows >>
Data Sources >>
Supplementary Information >>
References >>
Appendices >>
Case studies
WRAP developed a number of case studies using this methodology and tool. From these case studies we estimated that UK households save around £1 billion per year and avoid 1 million tonnes CO2 eq per year from current levels of re-use.
The case studies opposite highlight opportunities for increasing re-use and the environmental and economic benefits associated with this.
Using the chapters below, you can find the case studies related to this methodology and tool:
Clothing re-use case study
Using this methodology and calculation tool, WRAP has developed a case study looking at potential impacts of t-shirt and woollen jumper re-use.
To find out more, please use the links below:
Domestic furniture re-use case study
Using this methodology and calculation tool, WRAP has developed a case study looking at potential impacts of sofa and dining table re-use.
To find out more, please use the links below:
Sofas >>
Dining tables >>
References >>
Office furniture re-use case study
Using this methodology and calculation tool, WRAP has developed a case study looking at potential impacts of office desks and chair re-use.
To find out more, please use the links below:
Electricals re-use case study
Using this methodology and calculation tool, WRAP has developed a case study looking at potential impacts of washing machine and television re-use.
To find out more, please use the links below:
Download files
By downloading resources you are agreeing to use them according to our terms and conditions.
These files may not be suitable for users of assistive technology.