Swansea University has made £19,000 in savings, avoided three tonnes of waste and 9,000 kilograms of carbon since signing up with the Warp It reuse community at the beginning of 2022.

The savings have exceeded all expectations as the University integrates reuse into its overall sustainability and climate emergency strategy.

The most popular items reused across the university’s campuses are office chairs, desks, stools, and even a safe complete with keys.

May items have also been donated to local charities along with the Sylvia Lanka Foundation, an international charity that distributes essential furniture among rural hospitals in Sri Lanka.

Fiona Wheatley is the dedicated Waste and Recycling Officer at Swansea University and is responsible for driving improvements in reuse, recycling, and reducing waste production. She said:

“Reusing has already exceeded all expectations here at Swansea University and we are delighted with the savings already made. Our Pro-Vice Chancellor, who holds executive responsibility for sustainability, has endorsed the scheme and we have around 200 staff signed up and actively using it.”

Sustainability is at the core of all activities within the university with everyone contributing to its environmental and ethical performance. This commitment has seen the university rank tenth out of 154 universities in the People & Planet’s University League and achieve the Carbon Trust Standard for reducing waste year-on-year.

Above: Singleton Campus at Swansea University. Reusing has already exceeded all expectations at the university.

Fiona explained:

“As a recognised leader in organisational sustainability, the university is always looking for ways to enhance the way we manage our environmental impact, and reuse is proving to be a smart way to do so.

“The Warp It system is incredibly simple to use and with a huge variety of features, it has proven to be one of the best tools that helps us reduce waste, while interacting with staff and educating everyone on the benefits of a circular economy.”

Above: Swansea University is always looking for ways to enhance the way we manage our environmental impact, and reuse is proving to be a smart way to do so.

Fiona is now planning to build on the reuse success by ramping up engagement with staff across the university’s campuses and identifying schools and more charities to support by donating surplus goods.

She concluded:

“We may start reusing stationery as well and I am keen to integrate Warp It with our procurement policies to ensure reusing items is always considered before buying new.”

Read more about Swansea University’s sustainability strategy.

Start reusing today and register with Warp It.