Remanufacturing Towards a Resource Efficient Economy

16th April 2014

Remanufacturing presents a huge financial and environmental opportunity for the UK. Estimates suggest that the value of remanufacturing in the UK is £2.4 billion, with the potential to increase to £5.6 billion alongside the creation of thousands of skilled jobs.

Further, the remanufacturing of products results in reduced greenhouse gas emissions, material use and water consumption when compared to the manufacture of new products. Remanufacturing can be considered one element of the wider ‘circular economy’, where products and components are designed, made and reused. However due to the opportunity that remanufacturing presents to the UK’s economy it will be the sole focus of this paper.

There is no universally accepted definition of remanufacturing and there are widespread market and regulatory barriers which impede its uptake. This briefing paper identifies the opportunities and challenges relating to remanufacturing and makes recommendations to Government as to how it can overcome these.

A report by the All-Party Parliamentary Sustainable Resource Group (APSRG).