The best way to do this is to make deliberate, informed choices about what we are consuming, and to place an emphasis on social and mental wellbeing over material wealth. Over time, it will even help reduce the number of energy and material-guzzling products that are produced at all. In a straightforward way, this is because consuming fewer products will eradicate the need for them to be reused or recycled when we are done with them. Read more about why you should reuse before you recycle here Reducing consumption can save even more energy and materialsĪs mentioned, the third R, reduce, is sometimes considered the most important-above reuse and recycle. After the Greater London Authority introduced reusing in their sustainability plan a few years ago, 12,000 tonnes of goods were reused in 2013. The market benefits from reuse thanks to an influx of quality products at reduced prices. It also significantly reduces waste and pollution because it reduces the need for raw materials, saving both forests and water supplies. Reusing is better than recycling because it saves the energy that comes with having to dismantle and re-manufacture products. There are also lots of online platforms that can aid this through allowing users to borrow, rent or sell any unwanted items that are still in good condition. This includes buying and selling used goods and repairing items rather than discarding them. The reusing process is not about repurposing the materials an object is made of, but repurposing the very object itself. And in some cases, especially with mobile phones and other electronic devices, it can be difficult.įind tips on how to recycle more effectively here. Particularly in the UK, recycling can still be a very expensive process. ![]() A large amount of energy is needed to transport, process and reassemble recyclable materials. In 20, UK households recycled about 44% of their rubbish.Īlthough recycling has been a staple of sustainable living for decades, it does have some downsides. Recycling reduces waste disposal by transforming useful materials such as plastic, glass and paper into new products. ![]() Reused items include anything that was bought second hand, often furniture and clothing Recycling can still produce waste and pollution This reduces pollution and waste, thus making it a more sustainable process.Įxamples of recycled items include fibreglass made from glass bottles, and insulation materials made from newspaper or plastic bottles. Reusing refers to using an object as it is without treatment. ![]() Recycling means turning an item into raw materials which can be used again, usually for a completely new product. What is the difference between reuse and recycling? ![]() Ultimately, this points towards the fact that recycling, while preferable to producing landfill waste, should actually be the second priority after reusing. The extra Rs are rethink, refuse and repair, and they encourage creating environmentally-friendly products which are built to last. These three words describe the core components of environmentally-responsible consumer behaviour.īut as UK children are now learning at school, there are in fact six Rs that product designers must keep in mind regarding the environment. When looking into environmental sustainability, cutting consumption or reducing rubbish during a house clearance, it’s more than likely that you’ll come across the following Rs: reduce, reuse and recycle.
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