News Release from: Envirowise
Edited by the Electronicstalk Editorial Team on 6 April 2005
Survey adds fuel to UK recycling debate
Research from Envirowise has revealed the extent to which 'throwaway culture' has taken hold in Britain.
Note: A free brochure or catalogue is available from Envirowise about its services. Click here to request a copy.
Research from Envirowise has revealed the extent to which 'throwaway culture' has taken hold in Britain. The Government programme found that the majority of Britons believe that most products are not designed to last a lifetime. 65% feel that products do not last as long as they did 25 years ago, and that even larger items like washing machines will only last a few years before they must be replaced: 46% of people expect a washing machine to last less than six years; 75% think a laser jet printer will last less than six years; 74% expect a kettle to break within six years; 51% of iPod owners confess they have no idea how long the device will continue to function (but just 8% think they will last more than 5 years); and 40% expect a mobile phone to last two years or less, despite the batteries lasting approximately seven years in reality.
Worryingly, many people simply discard and replace even expensive electrical goods rather than having them repaired: 80% of all products are thrown away after one use; almost one third (31%) would not consider repairing a TV if it was worth less than GBP 300; more than five million TVs are ditched every year in the UK; and fewer than 50% of people are aware of a local TV repair service.
It is little wonder then, that Britain produces around 8t of waste per head of population every year - equivalent to throwing away its own body weight of waste every four days.
Martin Gibson, Director of the Envirowise programme said: 'People simply do not seem to expect the products they buy to last very long and do not see repair as a viable option'.
'Sadly that throwaway culture translates into huge quantities of waste'.
'I would encourage more people to investigate having appliances repaired rather than simply throwing them away and buying new - in so doing they could save money and do their bit for the environment'.
'First consider how to reuse, and then consider recycling'.
'But the only way to really change this situation is to encourage businesses to revisit product design - to look at ways to either extend their lifecycles or make them easier and cheaper to repair'.
'This shouldn't necessarily be seen as a cost to business - 'cleaner design' is about simplicity, which usually means better, more profitable products'.
Businesses interested in learning more about cleaner design and how it might be applied to their products can request a free confidential designtrack visit from Envirowise.
Designtrack advisors visit firms and spend a day reviewing product design to look for efficacies and unnecessary waste.
Paul Steedman, Senior Researcher on Sustainable Consumption at NCC, said: 'This research shows how little confidence consumers have in the sustainability and durability of the things they buy, just when they are increasingly demanding products that are less harmful to the environment'.
'The National Consumer Council wants to see government and industry taking action to help consumers turn those good intentions into more sustainable buying choices'.
'Government incentives to encourage industry to invest in less damaging, repairable and more durable products are one way forward'. Request free introductory details about products from Envirowise....
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