Secondary Markets in Remanufactured Products

We need to recognise that not all products are suitable for remanufacture. For example if technology changes very quickly, or fashion causes a high turnover of designs and styles, or if the product is durable but basic, then remanufacturing will be hard to justify. Under these circumstances consider the role of Secondary Markets.

Secondary markets are those that lag the prime markets in their need for technical specification, functionality, absolute quality and, consequently, price. Some examples include:

• The repair and testing of used mobile phones and other IT for export to Africa.
• The export of used school furniture to developing nations.
• The refurbishing of furniture and white goods by charities for sale to disadvantaged in the UK.
• The export of used bricks for de-mortaring and reuse abroad.

Most importantly, placing goods into secondary markets must avoid being criticised as dumping. Too often, equipment such as TVs and IT has been exported in the guise of reuse merely to be scrapped under poor SHE conditions, exploiting the receiving nation. Legitimate operators will want to avoid criticism of this sort and perhaps employ a code of conduct.

Read more about the WEEE Advisory Board’s efforts to set protocols for the reuse and export of Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment. You can also see the mobile phone industry’s efforts to coordinate a legitimate reuse programme.

Do you have products that might be placed in secondary markets? Contact us if you’re thinking of operating standards or exporting.

You might also be interested in our review of attitudes to reuse in the UK.

 

• About CRR
• Links
• Legal
• info@remanufacturing.org.uk
• +44 (0)1296 337165