Reuse
Reuse is simply using something again and again and again for its original purpose whether by the first owner or someone else. The goal is simple: keep items in use for as long as possible and avoid sending them to landfill before their time.
Why does that matter? The biggest chunk of an item’s carbon footprint is created during manufacturing before you even touch it. That includes:
- mining or harvesting virgin materials
- the energy and water used in production
- the emissions from transport.
Every reuse extends the value of those resources and spreads the environmental impact over time. The longer we use something, the lighter its footprint becomes.
The most sustainable item is the one you already own. Keep it. Care for it. Use it again (and again… and again).
Why reuse matters
When you reuse an item, whether it’s a couch, a coat, or a disco ball, you’re doing three amazing things:
- keeping it in use, not in landfill.
- preventing another one from being made from scratch.
- avoiding emissions from landfill and manufacturing.
To measure your personal impact, try this calculator.
REcheck gives you the power of choice
We’re here to help you keep your things in use.
Let’s say you’re ready to part with your hiking gear. we’ll give you all the options:
- Sell it through a specialised reseller
- List it on a local buy/swap/sell group
- Donate it to a school running Duke of Edinburgh programs
- Gift it to a charity offering outdoor adventures for disadvantaged youth
REcheck puts all your reuse options in one spot so you can choose what feels right for your item, your values, and your timeline.
To measure your personal impact, try this calculator.
Explore the next rung on the waste hierachy: Repair.
