Technology reuse creates up to £346m of social value

Between £120 million and £346 million of social value was created as a result of product reuse enabled by the resource and waste management sector in 2023/24, according to a new report, funded by CIWM and produced by Tech-Takeback.

The report, which focuses on technology reuse for digital inclusion, as well as assessing social value from wider reuse activities, demonstrates the key role the resource and waste management sector can play in supporting the Government’s commitment to moving to a circular economy and accelerating towards net zero by helping to deliver:

• The creation of new jobs in the repair and reuse economy.
• A reduction in household expenditure by offering high-quality reused items at low prices.
• Assistance for people back into employment through digital inclusion, e.g., the provision of reused laptops.
• Increased capture of rare earth metals from the disassembly of end-of-life products.
• A contribution to cutting carbon by reducing the need for new product manufacturing.

The report goes on to highlight the significant opportunity for increased technology reuse, estimating that there are currently around 20 million unused laptops stored in UK homes, which have the potential to generate up to £44 billion in social value.

The research used three different tools (TOMS, HACT, and LOOP) to measure the potential social value from technology and other reuse activities. It found that each of these tools has a different intended function and therefore provides differing assessments of the level of social value a reuse activity will generate. As a result, there is still a high degree of complexity when it comes to measuring social value, with no single tool providing a complete picture. The report recommends that organisations use two different tools to give as complete a picture as possible.

Jodi Harford, Chief Operating Officer at Tech-Takeback, said: “This report demonstrates that reuse is more than just an alternative to recycling — it can be a powerful catalyst for community transformation. Our social value calculations show that every reused item, whether a piece of tech or another everyday product, can create jobs, reduce costs, and boost wellbeing. We’re excited to share these insights and show how reuse organisations can play a pivotal role in moving us toward a more sustainable, inclusive future.”

Lee Marshall, CIWM’s Director of Innovation & Technical Services, said: “Waste policy has not always been strong on reuse activities, and it will need to strengthen if we are to move towards a more circular economy. By demonstrating the social value associated with reuse activities, we can hopefully accelerate the move toward them becoming more mainstream than they currently are. This report is a useful insight into how social value can be calculated and assessed for the reuse of laptops and other equipment.”

A report last year by CIWM showed that reuse and repair are likely to create the most jobs in the sector over the next 10 years. Demonstrating the social value associated with reuse activities will be a key part in realising this job creation and moving toward a circular economy and a world beyond waste.