Recycling guru Karen Cannard looks into reuse networks - and explains how they operate
Last weekend I was reminded of Warp It, an online reuse network for companies and organisations. The memory nudge was in the form of their tweets, aimed at encouraging charities to sign up.
So, what is a reuse network? If you’re familiar with consumer sites such as Freegle or Freecycle, Warp It works along similar principles where unwanted items in one organisation are advertised to other organisations that could make use of them. This could include free furniture, office equipment, fixtures and fittings as well as equipment.
While there is a monthly charge for companies to sign up, all schools, charities and other third-sector organisations can benefit from the redistribution network for free.
Launched in 2011, Warp It is named after its Waste Action Reuse Portal that is at the heart of the reuse service. As well as passing on items to external members, larger organisations also use the portal to advertise and manage internal distribution of excess items between departments or even multiple sites.Environmentally, it is a helpful tool for organisations that wish to improve their Waste Hierarchy and therefore reduce their carbon footprint. By prioritising reuse opportunities first, Warp It members can also reduce procurement costs and disposal fees.
With over 50 charities, schools and community groups now signing up each month, the portal’s matching service has seen over £3.7 million of assets redistributed to good causes. Charities that have benefited include The British Heart Foundation, international organisations such as MedAid and smaller community projects that have needed furniture to kit out refurbished spaces. Schools have also been recipients of redistributed stationery, furniture and sports equipment.
Warp It has seen a surge in recent times, attributed to changes in the working practices during the pandemic, such as remote working and hotdesking. Daniel O’Connor, founder of Warp It and Head of Happiness, says: “We are seeing thousands of stationery items, office equipment, and furniture being added to our system, and the variety is enormous; the largest item we have redistributed so far has been folding bleacher stands estimated to be worth around £15,000 but we get everything from office desks and chairs, stationery items of all types, folders, paper, office furniture, kitchen equipment, hospital beds, other medical furniture and equipment.”
The Warp It website has a virtual library full of case studies that highlight how a wide cross-section of organisations make use of its service, including universities and colleges, hospitals and NHS Trusts, councils and housing associations. The network has even expanded internationally, with partnerships in New Zealand, Australia, the US and Canada.
For the curious, I recommend visiting its website where you can browse the portal’s current listings, and discover the Star Item of the day.
There are also feelgood statistics highlighting the CO2 saved by Warp It members, Staff Time Saved, amount of Waste Diverted, the value of Donations to Charity and Total Money Saved – not to mention the Customer Happiness Rating of 8.8/10
To find out more, visit https://getwarpit.com/charities.
There is also a separate sign-up page for schools that wish to join regional portals: https://getwarpit.com/app_pages/content/regionalschools.aspx
