Reduce, Reuse, Recycle... and Beyond - The Forgotten 'Re-'s

This week sees Scotland’s Climate Week , 23 - 29 September 2024.

For years, the phrase Reduce, Reuse, Recycle has been the cornerstone of environmental awareness campaigns. But have we overlooked a few other crucial "Re-" actions that could make a significant difference in our fight against climate change?

Let’s talk about Repair and Recover—two vital practices that could help us further reduce our consumption and waste.

The Power of 'Repair'

Instead of immediately replacing an item or even repurposing it for another use, why not just repair it? This approach was second nature to previous generations, who repaired everything from clothing to household appliances as a matter of course. However, the practice of repair fell out of fashion, overtaken by a culture that embraced planned obsolescence—the idea that products are designed with a limited lifespan to encourage frequent replacements.

Until recently, we accepted this unsustainable mindset, discarding broken items without a second thought and simply buying new ones. But times are changing.

We are seeing a resurgence of repair culture, especially in industries such as outdoor gear and electronics. Many major manufacturers now offer repair services, allowing consumers to extend the life of their possessions. In some eco-conscious circles, a "repaired" patch or label is considered a badge of honour—proof that the item’s lifecycle has been thoughtfully extended rather than abruptly ended.

Repairing not only reduces the amount of waste sent to landfills, but it also minimizes the demand for new products, which in turn reduces the extraction of natural resources like fossil fuels, metal ores, and timber. Every time we repair rather than replace, we lighten our environmental footprint.

Repairing Nature -

Peatlands as Carbon Sinks

This philosophy of repair can be applied not just to manufactured goods, but to the natural world as well. A prime example is the restoration—or repair—of peatlands, which play a critical role in absorbing carbon from the atmosphere.

When we restore peatlands, we don't just capture more carbon; we also improve water retention, reduce flood risks, enhance biodiversity, and beautify the landscape. Unlike forests, which eventually stop absorbing carbon as they mature, peatlands, when kept wet, will continue to act as carbon sinks indefinitely.

Repairing ecosystems like peatlands offers a practical and sustainable solution to environmental damage while helping us address climate change directly.

The Importance of 'Recover'

Another often-overlooked "Re-" is Recover. Whether in our personal lives or in business, it's not enough to just focus on the energy consumption of products while they’re in use. We must also consider the embedded carbon—the energy and resources used during the manufacturing process and the extraction of raw materials.

Recovering raw materials, especially from electronics, is critical if we want to ensure the availability of precious metals and rare earth elements for future use. These materials are essential for everything from smartphones to renewable energy technologies, yet their extraction has significant environmental impacts.

To make recovery easier, we need to push for better product design—items should be created with the end of their life in mind, allowing for easy dismantling and material recovery. By doing this, we can drastically reduce the need for virgin materials and the environmental degradation that comes with their extraction.

Learning From the Past to Save the Future

In our quest for sustainability, perhaps we need to take a step back and re-examine practices from the past. Repairing, reusing, and recovering are not new ideas—they’re concepts that previous generations lived by. It’s time we bring them back into the spotlight and integrate them into our modern way of life.

By embracing a more holistic approach to reducing waste and consumption, we can move beyond the simple mantra of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and adopt a broader, more impactful mindset. In doing so, we can build a more sustainable future for generations to come.

At QHSE Aberdeen , we are committed to helping organisations reduce their environmental impact and manage their carbon footprint, but lasting change comes from the collective effort ... it's up to each of us to do our part for a sustainable future.