Appetite for re-use ‘here to stay,’ FCC finds

The research sheds light on the what the company terms as a “growing enthusiasm for sustainable practices and the circular economy.”

It found that 85% of those surveyed expressed their agreement that all household waste recycling centres (HWRCs) should either have a charity reuse shop onsite or nearby. This marks an increase of over 5%  since 2022.

Approximately 60% of respondents said they donate to their local charity shops every six months or more. Moreover, the percentage of individuals buying second-hand items every six months or more has risen by 8% to 55%, reflecting a growing trend towards reusing goods.

Steve Longdon, chief executive of FCC Environment, said: “It is heartening to see that the appetite for reuse has taken hold, and the second-hand and repair mentality is gaining in popularity amongst the public. People, or at least 90 percent of them, are keen to give good quality items a new life, which is just proven by our research.”

Economics

The study indicated economic uncertainty and inflation have driven the importance of reuse, particularly for vulnerable demographics. Those with children under the age of five are 45% more likely to purchase items from reuse shops due to the ongoing cost of living crisis, underscoring the economic benefits of reuse.

It also revealed nearly 80% of respondents recognised the value of reuse in preventing good items from going to waste and its positive impact on the economy.

Moreover, with the growing support for reuse, there has also been an increase in support for repair. A substantial 90% of respondents across various demographics believe that people should be encouraged to fix broken items rather than replacing them.

Popularity 

Furthermore, FCC’s research is also backed up by recent findings from Trojan Electronics, entitled ‘The Rise of Refurbished Electronics,’ which revealed that the repair and refurbishment market is worth approximately £1 billion, with over 38% of people having purchased a repaired item in the last 12 months.

Mr Longdon added: “We’re really proud of the work we do at our reuse shops to not only contribute to the local community by raising funds for local charities but also by encouraging the development of a circular economy.; Reuse is also a win for the environment and a win for the public, everyone’s a winner!”

The total sample size for survey was 2070 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 6 – 7 September 2023 and carried out online. The figures have been “weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+)”.