Viridor and Reuse Network announce strategic partnership

Today, Viridor and Reuse Network have revealed a new partnership with the aim of developing the UK’s reuse sector and extending its environmental and social benefits.

In support of Reuse Network, Viridor announced a commitment of £50,000 to support the charity and its network of reuse charities and social enterprise members.

The donation, Viridor states, will assist in the funding of a nationally recognised program of training and qualifications, supporting the making of  ‘professional repairers’, in line with the UK Government’s new ‘right to repair’ regulations. Reuse Network will collaborate with manufacturers, major retailers, and multiple colleges to establish the new scheme.

The new partnership, Viridor and Reuse Network assert, will raise awareness of reuse and its importance in a circular economy, as well as support new reuse opportunities in the commercial sector. The partnership also hopes to divert items being sent to landfill.

Last year, the reuse sector as a whole reused 1.5 million furniture and electrical items, helping 652,098 households save £188.5 million, compared to buying these items new. This, Veolia highlights, prevented 50,574 tonnes of products from being wasted, saving 54,355 tonnes of CO2 emissions.

Viridor and Reuse Network’s announcement comes on Earth Day 2022. This year's theme is ‘Invest in Our Planet’, and follows the recent report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) that declared that it was ‘now or never’ in the fight against the climate emergency.

Craig Anderson, Chief Executive of the Reuse Network, said: “Developing the reuse sector requires partnership, and we are delighted to be working with Viridor to come together as one team to deliver real change in the local communities we call home.

“Seeing how Reuse Network and Viridor are strategically aligned, we didn’t think twice about this partnership. Viridor’s investment in the network will support our charity, and network of charity members, to help even more people access the affordable items they need to build a sustainable home.

“As the collective awareness of our environmental impact is getting stronger, communities are looking for ways they can take action and become more sustainable. There are simple steps that we can all take to reduce our carbon footprint and halt our demand on the Earth’s resources.

“For us at the Reuse Network, favouring reused or second-hand goods over new ones is an obvious choice. By extending the life of products and giving them a second life through reuse, we can vastly reduce the need for new products and in turn prevent and reduce harmful CO2 emissions from entering the atmosphere.”

Edita Adamcikova, Head of ESG at Viridor added: "We are delighted to support the work of the Reuse Network and to work together to raise awareness of the importance and benefits of reuse in communities all across the UK.

“Building a world where nothing goes to waste lies at the heart of everything we do and reuse is one of the core elements in achieving that goal, helping to create thriving carbon-neutral communities. Always think twice when you are about to throw something away – you never know, someone else might need just that in this very moment".