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FFG-Projekt: „OPENing Re-Use“

Making the circular economy even more competitive!

Role R.U.S.Z: Project partner; Project duration: 2023 - 2025

What should be done with used products? Companies in the circular economy are faced with such questions every day: Can they be repaired, remanufactured or refurbished? Can spare parts or even entire modules be removed and/or must they be disposed of and recycled properly?

These decisions have to be made on a case-by-case - product-specific - basis, depend on factors such as brand, condition, age, demand or recycling possibilities, and have their consequences in the sustainability of the entire re-use process.

So far, there is a lack of models and tools to optimise this process and to take the functioning of circular businesses to the next level. What has been part of everyday life for many decades for the "forward logistics" of the linear economy (supply chains, serial production, standardisation) must first be worked out for the "backward logistics" of a growing circular economy.

This is where the "OPENing Re-Use" research project comes into play: Over the next three years, scientists from the University of Graz, together with the pioneering company R.U.S.Z and the IT reuse specialists from Compuritas, will be developing a business planning tool designed to increase the efficiency of reuse processes.

Learn more: openingreuse.at

Erasmus+ Project: ECOBOOST

Career opportunities to promote environmental sustainability

Role R.U.S.Z: Project partner; Project duration: 2023 - 2025

ECO-BOOST was designed to support VET teachers in the integration of new training approaches for soft and green skills. The aim is to provide tailor-made, high-quality learning experiences for low-skilled unemployed learners in vocational education and training. Five project partners will pilot ten workshops/trainings in five project countries, focusing on the construction, furniture and textiles, healthcare and electricity sectors. The use of gamification and the combination of formal, informal and non-formal learning will promote an innovative approach to vocational education and training.

Learn more: International project ECOBOOST

Erasmus+ Project

'Learning Workshop for Sustainable Environmental Protection'

Role R.U.S.Z: Project partner; Project duration: 2022 - 2024

The project "Learning Workshop for Sustainable Environmental Protection" develops and tests innovative learning workshops in 5 occupational fields. They are intended to address sustainable environmental and climate protection in vocational education and training. These job-specific 5 learning workshops are based on a general concept that is developed in the project. The project as a whole strives for a holistic portfolio of results that can be used in both vocational education and training.

In the project, 6 partners from 5 member states of the European Union work together for 2 years.

Learn more: Project summary Erasmus+ Project 'Learning Workshop for Sustainable Environmental Protection''

EU-H2020-Project PROMPT

'PRemature Obsolescence Multi-Stakeholder Product Testing' Program

Role R.U.S.Z: project partner; Project duration: May 1, 2019 to April 30, 2023

The consumption of resources and the amount of waste in electrical and electronic consumer goods have been increasing dramatically for decades. At the same time, many critical materials cannot be recovered in the recycling process. A promising strategy would therefore be to extend the life span of these products in order to move closer to a circular economy. The PROMPT project will support the development of more durable products by reducing the asymmetry of information between consumers and producers, thus enabling consumers to make better choices.

PROMPT's main objective is to develop an independent testing program to support the assessment of the durability of electrical and electronic equipment before it is placed on the market. The test program will highlight important aspects related to the durability of electrical and electronic equipment. It aims to provide test laboratories, consumer organisations, market surveillance authorities and other interested stakeholders with reliable definitions and methodological assessment against early obsolescence.

Learn more: PROMPT-Website and PROMPT-Project summary

Project 'Donate your old washing machine'

The eco-social redistribution of large household appliances

Role R.U.S.Z: project executing organization; Project duration: ongoing since 2010

 

The project aims to ensure a continuous inflow of high-quality used large household appliances for resale. The basis for the production of second-hand appliances is the donations that the R.U.S.Z. receives from its customer target group. In the middle of 2010 the donation campaign with washing machines was started. In the meantime, we not only receive around 1,000 large household appliances per year, but also several tons of consumer electronics, computers and small household appliances.

The project is funded by the City of Vienna - Environmental Protection (MA 22)

Stadt Wien Umweltschutz

 

In 2023, the project achieved the following results:

 

  • Number of large electrical appliances collected: 596 units (collection: 429 units, own delivery: 167 units)
  • Reuse rate: 18% (108 units)
  • Recycling: 82% (488 items). As in previous years, appliances classified for recycling were handed over to the company Metall Recycling, Müller-Guttenbrunn-GmbH for further treatment (including removal of harmful substances).
  • Viennese waste prevention volume (in kg/tons): The mass of waste saved by reusing the refurbished large electrical appliances amounts to a total of 6,480 kg. Based on the quantity of appliances that would have become waste without the project measure, this results in a waste prevention rate of 181 kg/t.
  • CO2 equivalent saved (in kg/tons): The GWP (Greenhouse Warming Potential), measured in CO2eq, is a midpoint indicator of life cycle assessment and standardizes the value of climate-changing emissions to that of carbon dioxide.

 

Based on the average value for the production of large electrical appliances calculated for the carbon footprint of R.U.S.Z Franchising GmbH and the assumption that the reuse of a used appliance that has not become waste replaces the purchase of a new appliance of the same value, the reuse sale in 2023 results in an avoidance of emissions of around 24 t CO2eq.

When referenced to the quantity of appliances that would have become waste without the project measure, this results in a GWP avoidance rate of 670 kg CO2eq/t WEE.

Details of the calculations can be found in the document "Carbon Benefit of R.U.S.Z Franchising GmbH", available at rusz.at/co2-bilanz .

Learn more: Donations-Project summary

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