You should aim to reduce the environmental impact of the products you manufacture. Planning what happens to an end-of-life product - ie one that it is no longer useful - has an important impact on its long-term environmental effects.

Having an end-of-life strategy can encourage business development, create new jobs, reduce environmental damage and increase profits.

Options for end-of-life treatment include:

• Reuse - returning a product or its components to its original use.
• Repair - returning a faulty or broken product or component to a usable state.
• Reconditioning/refurbishing - returning a used product to a satisfactory working state.
• Remanufacturing - returning a used product to its original performance.
• Repurposing - putting a product or its components to a use that is different from its original purpose.
• Recycling - processing waste materials either for their original or another purpose.
• Composting - converting organic matter to a soil additive which nourishes plants.
• Energy recovery - incinerating waste materials to generate power.
• Landfill - disposing of waste by burying it.

It is important to consider the type of product when you decide which end-of-life strategy is most suitable. You should consider the materials used, the technology involved, its intended market and its ability to be disassembled.

For more information, see ecodesign for goods and services.

Remanufacturing is a process applied to an end-of-life part or product which returns it to working order 'as new' or to better performance levels than the original product.

Products which are suitable for remanufacturing include those which:

• involve technology that will last for a long time
• have a high inherent material value and production cost
• are sold in market which are tolerant of 'as new' products
• can be collected and delivered
• contain a durable core which can be reused many times
• can be disassembled down to component parts

The remanufacturing process may not be cheap or fast. Remanufacturing broadly involves the following steps:

• collection of the product to be remanufactured
• initial assessment for quality and usability
• cleaning of components to be retained
• repair or replacement of broken or missing components
• processing to restore to working order
• testing for quality and safety

Remanufactured products typically come with a warranty to guarantee operation for a certain period.

The business benefits of remanufacturing include reduced production costs and environmental impacts. You may also be able to charge an 'as new' price for the remanufactured product.

How is remanufacturing different to recycling?

Remanufacturing preserves the entire form of a product, whereas recycling involves breaking the product down into its component parts and melting, smelting or reprocessing them into new forms.

These could be the same products (closed loop recycling) or new ones (open loop recycling) - see designing products for end-of-life treatment.

How is remanufacturing different to product reuse?

Reuse is a process by which whole products, or parts of whole products, are used again in one piece. This includes:

• straight reuse - probably by someone else and in a different way
• refurbishment - for example by cleaning or lubricating the product
• repair - fixing a fault
• redeployment and cannibalisation - using working parts elsewhere

Both remanufacturers and original equipment manufacturers can profit from supply chain improvements and enhanced product development. You can build better long-standing relationships with your customers than businesses that rely on throwaway, one-off products.

Advantages of remanufacturing

Remanufactured goods can also give you a higher profit margin than new goods by enabling you to:

• market new product service offerings
• embrace state-of-the-art manufacturing processes - learning new techniques, investing in people, improving material traceability
• gather valuable data for product improvements in design and function, and enhance after-sales activities

Remanufacturing can also help your business to cut costs. By considering how your products are designed and their environmental impacts at all stages of their life cycle, you can keep the cost of raw materials, energy and water to a minimum. You'll also save money by reducing the amount of waste you have to dispose of.

Remanufacturing benefits businesses which are concerned with social responsibility. It has a better safety record than the recycling industry, encourages problem-solving skills, is more rewarding than production line jobs and uses traditional industry skills.

Disadvantages of remanufacturing

Cost - the relatively high UK labour cost of remanufactured goods means that it is often cheaper to buy new products than to recondition old ones using conventional purchasing models. Remanufacturing is threatened by low cost imports of improved quality goods from abroad.

Image - the perception by consumers of remanufactured goods as 'second class' can limit sales growth in some fashion-oriented, lifestyle or status products such as cars, white goods or textiles.

Adaptability - remanufacturing is not always the most sustainable strategy for reusing products - for example, where costly reverse engineering of original products is needed, there is a skills shortage or where environmental benefits are higher through the process of recycling or design for recycling.

For information about overcoming some of these challenges, see selling remanufactured products to consumers.

Understanding the business benefits of remanufacturing is important, but it is also vital that you can persuade your consumers of the advantages of buying your remanufactured products.

Financial benefits of remanufactured products

Remanufactured products may be less expensive than new ones because of cost savings made from the recovery of the materials. Prices of remanufactured goods are usually 20 to 40 per cent lower than equivalent new products.

Quality of remanufactured goods

Buyers of remanufactured products need to know that they are of the highest quality. You should make sure your products meet industry standards in providing this assurance.

In some business-to-business markets - such as the automotive industry - the quality of remanufactured goods is guaranteed. A replacement remanufactured spare, for example, is indistinguishable from a new one.

Serviceable items such as washing machines can be remanufactured and sold on into secondary markets where the function is more important than appearance. This type of remanufacturing has an important role in improving the lives of disadvantaged households in the United Kingdom - see using secondary markets for remanufactured products.

Purchasing flexibility

Buying remanufactured products relies on the original equipment manufacturer or remanufacturer getting a supply of used goods from users. This means that customers get a range of services that offer more than just a sale. Leasing, take-back, upgrading and supply can benefit both parties by:

• enabling capital costs to be written off over a period of time
• improving supplier relationships
• offering 'whole life solutions', ie there are no problems with disposal at the end-of-life of the product

Environmental appeal of remanufactured goods

Some types of consumers are likely to be particularly receptive to products that have less impact on the environment. These include:

• public sector organisations which have to meet environmental standards when buying goods
• businesses taking steps to manage their environmental impacts, for example using an environmental management system
• members of the public with strong ethical beliefs

There are no set rules as to what can and cannot be remanufactured, and there is no set list of products that can be remanufactured. However, remanufacturing works best where the product is:

• of high value
• complex
• durable
• not marketed as a basis of personal status or lifestyle

Remanufactured products can include:

• machine tools
• electrical motors and compressors
• starter motors
• automatic transmissions
• car and truck engines
• office photocopiers
• excavation equipment
• power bearings
• defence equipment
• computer and telecommunications equipment
• air-conditioning units
• pumps
• industrial food-processing equipment
• aerospace equipment
• carpet tiles
• rolling stock

It is less successful in markets where customers perceive remanufactured goods as second class, such as in the lifestyle and fashion industries.

Secondary markets are those that lag behind primary markets in terms of high technical specification, functionality or absolute quality and, therefore, price.

Examples of secondary markets include:

• repairing and testing used mobile phones, and other information and communication technology (ICT) for export
• exporting used school furniture to developing nations
• refurbishing of furniture and white goods by charities for sale to disadvantaged people in the UK
• exporting used bricks for de-mortaring and reuse abroad

These types of secondary market are vital to remanufacturing. The process is hard to justify if, for instance, the technology changes very quickly, fashion causes a high turnover of designs and styles, or if the product is durable but basic.

Beware of 'dumping'

You should ensure your used equipment is reused responsibly and reliably.

Often, equipment such as TVs and ICT is exported with the intention of reusing it, only to be scrapped which, therefore, exploits the receiving nation. This is known as dumping.

When placing goods into secondary markets you should therefore ensure that you have clear end-markets that avoid dumping.

You can read about the responsibilities of businesses that produce waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE).

Having credibility within the remanufacturing industry is important in reassuring potential customers that the product they buy is of a high quality. One way that your business can do this is by following industry standards, which ensure a high quality remanufactured product.

The British Standards Institution (BSI), trade bodies and other interested parties are working on creating product-specific standards to promote high standards in the remanufacturing industry.

Design for manufacture, assembly, disassembly and end-of-life

British Standard BS ISO 8887-1:2017 covers design for manufacture, assembly, disassembly and end-of-life. Recently the disassembly and end-of-life sections have been strengthened to develop a robust definition of end-of-life processes, including remanufacturing.

You can buy a copy of BS ISO 8887-1:2017.

Remanufacturing terminology

The purpose of BS 8887-2:2009 is to define remanufacturing terminology and eliminate confusion to industry and end users. It includes terminology surrounding:

• remanufacturing
• carbon footprints
• end-of-life or EoL
• reuse
• reconditioning

You can buy a copy of BS 8887-2:2009.

Assessing the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of goods and services

The greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with goods and services reflect the impact of processes, materials and decisions occurring throughout the life cycle of goods and services. For organisations that supply goods and services, PAS 2050 enables the evaluation of alternative product configurations, sourcing and manufacturing methods, raw material choices and supplier selection on the basis of the life cycle GHG emissions associated with goods and services.

You can read PAS 2050: Specification for the assessment of the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of goods and services.

You should aim to reduce the environmental impact of the products you manufacture. Planning what happens to an end-of-life product - ie one that it is no longer useful - has an important impact on its long-term environmental effects.

Having an end-of-life strategy can encourage business development, create new jobs, reduce environmental damage and increase profits.

Options for end-of-life treatment include:

• Reuse - returning a product or its components to its original use.
• Repair - returning a faulty or broken product or component to a usable state.
• Reconditioning/refurbishing - returning a used product to a satisfactory working state.
• Remanufacturing - returning a used product to its original performance.
• Repurposing - putting a product or its components to a use that is different from its original purpose.
• Recycling - processing waste materials either for their original or another purpose.
• Composting - converting organic matter to a soil additive which nourishes plants.
• Energy recovery - incinerating waste materials to generate power.
• Landfill - disposing of waste by burying it.

It is important to consider the type of product when you decide which end-of-life strategy is most suitable. You should consider the materials used, the technology involved, its intended market and its ability to be disassembled.

For more information, see ecodesign for goods and services.

Remanufacturing is a process applied to an end-of-life part or product which returns it to working order 'as new' or to better performance levels than the original product.

Products which are suitable for remanufacturing include those which:

• involve technology that will last for a long time
• have a high inherent material value and production cost
• are sold in market which are tolerant of 'as new' products
• can be collected and delivered
• contain a durable core which can be reused many times
• can be disassembled down to component parts

The remanufacturing process may not be cheap or fast. Remanufacturing broadly involves the following steps:

• collection of the product to be remanufactured
• initial assessment for quality and usability
• cleaning of components to be retained
• repair or replacement of broken or missing components
• processing to restore to working order
• testing for quality and safety

Remanufactured products typically come with a warranty to guarantee operation for a certain period.

The business benefits of remanufacturing include reduced production costs and environmental impacts. You may also be able to charge an 'as new' price for the remanufactured product.

How is remanufacturing different to recycling?

Remanufacturing preserves the entire form of a product, whereas recycling involves breaking the product down into its component parts and melting, smelting or reprocessing them into new forms.

These could be the same products (closed loop recycling) or new ones (open loop recycling) - see designing products for end-of-life treatment.

How is remanufacturing different to product reuse?

Reuse is a process by which whole products, or parts of whole products, are used again in one piece. This includes:

• straight reuse - probably by someone else and in a different way
• refurbishment - for example by cleaning or lubricating the product
• repair - fixing a fault
• redeployment and cannibalisation - using working parts elsewhere

Both remanufacturers and original equipment manufacturers can profit from supply chain improvements and enhanced product development. You can build better long-standing relationships with your customers than businesses that rely on throwaway, one-off products.

Advantages of remanufacturing

Remanufactured goods can also give you a higher profit margin than new goods by enabling you to:

• market new product service offerings
• embrace state-of-the-art manufacturing processes - learning new techniques, investing in people, improving material traceability
• gather valuable data for product improvements in design and function, and enhance after-sales activities

Remanufacturing can also help your business to cut costs. By considering how your products are designed and their environmental impacts at all stages of their life cycle, you can keep the cost of raw materials, energy and water to a minimum. You'll also save money by reducing the amount of waste you have to dispose of.

Remanufacturing benefits businesses which are concerned with social responsibility. It has a better safety record than the recycling industry, encourages problem-solving skills, is more rewarding than production line jobs and uses traditional industry skills.

Disadvantages of remanufacturing

Cost - the relatively high UK labour cost of remanufactured goods means that it is often cheaper to buy new products than to recondition old ones using conventional purchasing models. Remanufacturing is threatened by low cost imports of improved quality goods from abroad.

Image - the perception by consumers of remanufactured goods as 'second class' can limit sales growth in some fashion-oriented, lifestyle or status products such as cars, white goods or textiles.

Adaptability - remanufacturing is not always the most sustainable strategy for reusing products - for example, where costly reverse engineering of original products is needed, there is a skills shortage or where environmental benefits are higher through the process of recycling or design for recycling.

For information about overcoming some of these challenges, see selling remanufactured products to consumers.

Understanding the business benefits of remanufacturing is important, but it is also vital that you can persuade your consumers of the advantages of buying your remanufactured products.

Financial benefits of remanufactured products

Remanufactured products may be less expensive than new ones because of cost savings made from the recovery of the materials. Prices of remanufactured goods are usually 20 to 40 per cent lower than equivalent new products.

Quality of remanufactured goods

Buyers of remanufactured products need to know that they are of the highest quality. You should make sure your products meet industry standards in providing this assurance.

In some business-to-business markets - such as the automotive industry - the quality of remanufactured goods is guaranteed. A replacement remanufactured spare, for example, is indistinguishable from a new one.

Serviceable items such as washing machines can be remanufactured and sold on into secondary markets where the function is more important than appearance. This type of remanufacturing has an important role in improving the lives of disadvantaged households in the United Kingdom - see using secondary markets for remanufactured products.

Purchasing flexibility

Buying remanufactured products relies on the original equipment manufacturer or remanufacturer getting a supply of used goods from users. This means that customers get a range of services that offer more than just a sale. Leasing, take-back, upgrading and supply can benefit both parties by:

• enabling capital costs to be written off over a period of time
• improving supplier relationships
• offering 'whole life solutions', ie there are no problems with disposal at the end-of-life of the product

Environmental appeal of remanufactured goods

Some types of consumers are likely to be particularly receptive to products that have less impact on the environment. These include:

• public sector organisations which have to meet environmental standards when buying goods
• businesses taking steps to manage their environmental impacts, for example using an environmental management system
• members of the public with strong ethical beliefs

There are no set rules as to what can and cannot be remanufactured, and there is no set list of products that can be remanufactured. However, remanufacturing works best where the product is:

• of high value
• complex
• durable
• not marketed as a basis of personal status or lifestyle

Remanufactured products can include:

• machine tools
• electrical motors and compressors
• starter motors
• automatic transmissions
• car and truck engines
• office photocopiers
• excavation equipment
• power bearings
• defence equipment
• computer and telecommunications equipment
• air-conditioning units
• pumps
• industrial food-processing equipment
• aerospace equipment
• carpet tiles
• rolling stock

It is less successful in markets where customers perceive remanufactured goods as second class, such as in the lifestyle and fashion industries.

Secondary markets are those that lag behind primary markets in terms of high technical specification, functionality or absolute quality and, therefore, price.

Examples of secondary markets include:

• repairing and testing used mobile phones, and other information and communication technology (ICT) for export
• exporting used school furniture to developing nations
• refurbishing of furniture and white goods by charities for sale to disadvantaged people in the UK
• exporting used bricks for de-mortaring and reuse abroad

These types of secondary market are vital to remanufacturing. The process is hard to justify if, for instance, the technology changes very quickly, fashion causes a high turnover of designs and styles, or if the product is durable but basic.

Beware of 'dumping'

You should ensure your used equipment is reused responsibly and reliably.

Often, equipment such as TVs and ICT is exported with the intention of reusing it, only to be scrapped which, therefore, exploits the receiving nation. This is known as dumping.

When placing goods into secondary markets you should therefore ensure that you have clear end-markets that avoid dumping.

You can read about the responsibilities of businesses that produce waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE).

Having credibility within the remanufacturing industry is important in reassuring potential customers that the product they buy is of a high quality. One way that your business can do this is by following industry standards, which ensure a high quality remanufactured product.

The British Standards Institution (BSI), trade bodies and other interested parties are working on creating product-specific standards to promote high standards in the remanufacturing industry.

Design for manufacture, assembly, disassembly and end-of-life

British Standard BS ISO 8887-1:2017 covers design for manufacture, assembly, disassembly and end-of-life. Recently the disassembly and end-of-life sections have been strengthened to develop a robust definition of end-of-life processes, including remanufacturing.

You can buy a copy of BS ISO 8887-1:2017.

Remanufacturing terminology

The purpose of BS 8887-2:2009 is to define remanufacturing terminology and eliminate confusion to industry and end users. It includes terminology surrounding:

• remanufacturing
• carbon footprints
• end-of-life or EoL
• reuse
• reconditioning

You can buy a copy of BS 8887-2:2009.

Assessing the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of goods and services

The greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with goods and services reflect the impact of processes, materials and decisions occurring throughout the life cycle of goods and services. For organisations that supply goods and services, PAS 2050 enables the evaluation of alternative product configurations, sourcing and manufacturing methods, raw material choices and supplier selection on the basis of the life cycle GHG emissions associated with goods and services.

You can read PAS 2050: Specification for the assessment of the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of goods and services.

You should aim to reduce the environmental impact of the products you manufacture. Planning what happens to an end-of-life product - ie one that it is no longer useful - has an important impact on its long-term environmental effects.

Having an end-of-life strategy can encourage business development, create new jobs, reduce environmental damage and increase profits.

Options for end-of-life treatment include:

• Reuse - returning a product or its components to its original use.
• Repair - returning a faulty or broken product or component to a usable state.
• Reconditioning/refurbishing - returning a used product to a satisfactory working state.
• Remanufacturing - returning a used product to its original performance.
• Repurposing - putting a product or its components to a use that is different from its original purpose.
• Recycling - processing waste materials either for their original or another purpose.
• Composting - converting organic matter to a soil additive which nourishes plants.
• Energy recovery - incinerating waste materials to generate power.
• Landfill - disposing of waste by burying it.

It is important to consider the type of product when you decide which end-of-life strategy is most suitable. You should consider the materials used, the technology involved, its intended market and its ability to be disassembled.

For more information, see ecodesign for goods and services.

Remanufacturing is a process applied to an end-of-life part or product which returns it to working order 'as new' or to better performance levels than the original product.

Products which are suitable for remanufacturing include those which:

• involve technology that will last for a long time
• have a high inherent material value and production cost
• are sold in market which are tolerant of 'as new' products
• can be collected and delivered
• contain a durable core which can be reused many times
• can be disassembled down to component parts

The remanufacturing process may not be cheap or fast. Remanufacturing broadly involves the following steps:

• collection of the product to be remanufactured
• initial assessment for quality and usability
• cleaning of components to be retained
• repair or replacement of broken or missing components
• processing to restore to working order
• testing for quality and safety

Remanufactured products typically come with a warranty to guarantee operation for a certain period.

The business benefits of remanufacturing include reduced production costs and environmental impacts. You may also be able to charge an 'as new' price for the remanufactured product.

How is remanufacturing different to recycling?

Remanufacturing preserves the entire form of a product, whereas recycling involves breaking the product down into its component parts and melting, smelting or reprocessing them into new forms.

These could be the same products (closed loop recycling) or new ones (open loop recycling) - see designing products for end-of-life treatment.

How is remanufacturing different to product reuse?

Reuse is a process by which whole products, or parts of whole products, are used again in one piece. This includes:

• straight reuse - probably by someone else and in a different way
• refurbishment - for example by cleaning or lubricating the product
• repair - fixing a fault
• redeployment and cannibalisation - using working parts elsewhere

Both remanufacturers and original equipment manufacturers can profit from supply chain improvements and enhanced product development. You can build better long-standing relationships with your customers than businesses that rely on throwaway, one-off products.

Advantages of remanufacturing

Remanufactured goods can also give you a higher profit margin than new goods by enabling you to:

• market new product service offerings
• embrace state-of-the-art manufacturing processes - learning new techniques, investing in people, improving material traceability
• gather valuable data for product improvements in design and function, and enhance after-sales activities

Remanufacturing can also help your business to cut costs. By considering how your products are designed and their environmental impacts at all stages of their life cycle, you can keep the cost of raw materials, energy and water to a minimum. You'll also save money by reducing the amount of waste you have to dispose of.

Remanufacturing benefits businesses which are concerned with social responsibility. It has a better safety record than the recycling industry, encourages problem-solving skills, is more rewarding than production line jobs and uses traditional industry skills.

Disadvantages of remanufacturing

Cost - the relatively high UK labour cost of remanufactured goods means that it is often cheaper to buy new products than to recondition old ones using conventional purchasing models. Remanufacturing is threatened by low cost imports of improved quality goods from abroad.

Image - the perception by consumers of remanufactured goods as 'second class' can limit sales growth in some fashion-oriented, lifestyle or status products such as cars, white goods or textiles.

Adaptability - remanufacturing is not always the most sustainable strategy for reusing products - for example, where costly reverse engineering of original products is needed, there is a skills shortage or where environmental benefits are higher through the process of recycling or design for recycling.

For information about overcoming some of these challenges, see selling remanufactured products to consumers.

Understanding the business benefits of remanufacturing is important, but it is also vital that you can persuade your consumers of the advantages of buying your remanufactured products.

Financial benefits of remanufactured products

Remanufactured products may be less expensive than new ones because of cost savings made from the recovery of the materials. Prices of remanufactured goods are usually 20 to 40 per cent lower than equivalent new products.

Quality of remanufactured goods

Buyers of remanufactured products need to know that they are of the highest quality. You should make sure your products meet industry standards in providing this assurance.

In some business-to-business markets - such as the automotive industry - the quality of remanufactured goods is guaranteed. A replacement remanufactured spare, for example, is indistinguishable from a new one.

Serviceable items such as washing machines can be remanufactured and sold on into secondary markets where the function is more important than appearance. This type of remanufacturing has an important role in improving the lives of disadvantaged households in the United Kingdom - see using secondary markets for remanufactured products.

Purchasing flexibility

Buying remanufactured products relies on the original equipment manufacturer or remanufacturer getting a supply of used goods from users. This means that customers get a range of services that offer more than just a sale. Leasing, take-back, upgrading and supply can benefit both parties by:

• enabling capital costs to be written off over a period of time
• improving supplier relationships
• offering 'whole life solutions', ie there are no problems with disposal at the end-of-life of the product

Environmental appeal of remanufactured goods

Some types of consumers are likely to be particularly receptive to products that have less impact on the environment. These include:

• public sector organisations which have to meet environmental standards when buying goods
• businesses taking steps to manage their environmental impacts, for example using an environmental management system
• members of the public with strong ethical beliefs

There are no set rules as to what can and cannot be remanufactured, and there is no set list of products that can be remanufactured. However, remanufacturing works best where the product is:

• of high value
• complex
• durable
• not marketed as a basis of personal status or lifestyle

Remanufactured products can include:

• machine tools
• electrical motors and compressors
• starter motors
• automatic transmissions
• car and truck engines
• office photocopiers
• excavation equipment
• power bearings
• defence equipment
• computer and telecommunications equipment
• air-conditioning units
• pumps
• industrial food-processing equipment
• aerospace equipment
• carpet tiles
• rolling stock

It is less successful in markets where customers perceive remanufactured goods as second class, such as in the lifestyle and fashion industries.

Secondary markets are those that lag behind primary markets in terms of high technical specification, functionality or absolute quality and, therefore, price.

Examples of secondary markets include:

• repairing and testing used mobile phones, and other information and communication technology (ICT) for export
• exporting used school furniture to developing nations
• refurbishing of furniture and white goods by charities for sale to disadvantaged people in the UK
• exporting used bricks for de-mortaring and reuse abroad

These types of secondary market are vital to remanufacturing. The process is hard to justify if, for instance, the technology changes very quickly, fashion causes a high turnover of designs and styles, or if the product is durable but basic.

Beware of 'dumping'

You should ensure your used equipment is reused responsibly and reliably.

Often, equipment such as TVs and ICT is exported with the intention of reusing it, only to be scrapped which, therefore, exploits the receiving nation. This is known as dumping.

When placing goods into secondary markets you should therefore ensure that you have clear end-markets that avoid dumping.

You can read about the responsibilities of businesses that produce waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE).

Having credibility within the remanufacturing industry is important in reassuring potential customers that the product they buy is of a high quality. One way that your business can do this is by following industry standards, which ensure a high quality remanufactured product.

The British Standards Institution (BSI), trade bodies and other interested parties are working on creating product-specific standards to promote high standards in the remanufacturing industry.

Design for manufacture, assembly, disassembly and end-of-life

British Standard BS ISO 8887-1:2017 covers design for manufacture, assembly, disassembly and end-of-life. Recently the disassembly and end-of-life sections have been strengthened to develop a robust definition of end-of-life processes, including remanufacturing.

You can buy a copy of BS ISO 8887-1:2017.

Remanufacturing terminology

The purpose of BS 8887-2:2009 is to define remanufacturing terminology and eliminate confusion to industry and end users. It includes terminology surrounding:

• remanufacturing
• carbon footprints
• end-of-life or EoL
• reuse
• reconditioning

You can buy a copy of BS 8887-2:2009.

Assessing the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of goods and services

The greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with goods and services reflect the impact of processes, materials and decisions occurring throughout the life cycle of goods and services. For organisations that supply goods and services, PAS 2050 enables the evaluation of alternative product configurations, sourcing and manufacturing methods, raw material choices and supplier selection on the basis of the life cycle GHG emissions associated with goods and services.

You can read PAS 2050: Specification for the assessment of the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of goods and services.

You should aim to reduce the environmental impact of the products you manufacture. Planning what happens to an end-of-life product - ie one that it is no longer useful - has an important impact on its long-term environmental effects.

Having an end-of-life strategy can encourage business development, create new jobs, reduce environmental damage and increase profits.

Options for end-of-life treatment include:

• Reuse - returning a product or its components to its original use.
• Repair - returning a faulty or broken product or component to a usable state.
• Reconditioning/refurbishing - returning a used product to a satisfactory working state.
• Remanufacturing - returning a used product to its original performance.
• Repurposing - putting a product or its components to a use that is different from its original purpose.
• Recycling - processing waste materials either for their original or another purpose.
• Composting - converting organic matter to a soil additive which nourishes plants.
• Energy recovery - incinerating waste materials to generate power.
• Landfill - disposing of waste by burying it.

It is important to consider the type of product when you decide which end-of-life strategy is most suitable. You should consider the materials used, the technology involved, its intended market and its ability to be disassembled.

For more information, see ecodesign for goods and services.

Remanufacturing is a process applied to an end-of-life part or product which returns it to working order 'as new' or to better performance levels than the original product.

Products which are suitable for remanufacturing include those which:

• involve technology that will last for a long time
• have a high inherent material value and production cost
• are sold in market which are tolerant of 'as new' products
• can be collected and delivered
• contain a durable core which can be reused many times
• can be disassembled down to component parts

The remanufacturing process may not be cheap or fast. Remanufacturing broadly involves the following steps:

• collection of the product to be remanufactured
• initial assessment for quality and usability
• cleaning of components to be retained
• repair or replacement of broken or missing components
• processing to restore to working order
• testing for quality and safety

Remanufactured products typically come with a warranty to guarantee operation for a certain period.

The business benefits of remanufacturing include reduced production costs and environmental impacts. You may also be able to charge an 'as new' price for the remanufactured product.

How is remanufacturing different to recycling?

Remanufacturing preserves the entire form of a product, whereas recycling involves breaking the product down into its component parts and melting, smelting or reprocessing them into new forms.

These could be the same products (closed loop recycling) or new ones (open loop recycling) - see designing products for end-of-life treatment.

How is remanufacturing different to product reuse?

Reuse is a process by which whole products, or parts of whole products, are used again in one piece. This includes:

• straight reuse - probably by someone else and in a different way
• refurbishment - for example by cleaning or lubricating the product
• repair - fixing a fault
• redeployment and cannibalisation - using working parts elsewhere

Both remanufacturers and original equipment manufacturers can profit from supply chain improvements and enhanced product development. You can build better long-standing relationships with your customers than businesses that rely on throwaway, one-off products.

Advantages of remanufacturing

Remanufactured goods can also give you a higher profit margin than new goods by enabling you to:

• market new product service offerings
• embrace state-of-the-art manufacturing processes - learning new techniques, investing in people, improving material traceability
• gather valuable data for product improvements in design and function, and enhance after-sales activities

Remanufacturing can also help your business to cut costs. By considering how your products are designed and their environmental impacts at all stages of their life cycle, you can keep the cost of raw materials, energy and water to a minimum. You'll also save money by reducing the amount of waste you have to dispose of.

Remanufacturing benefits businesses which are concerned with social responsibility. It has a better safety record than the recycling industry, encourages problem-solving skills, is more rewarding than production line jobs and uses traditional industry skills.

Disadvantages of remanufacturing

Cost - the relatively high UK labour cost of remanufactured goods means that it is often cheaper to buy new products than to recondition old ones using conventional purchasing models. Remanufacturing is threatened by low cost imports of improved quality goods from abroad.

Image - the perception by consumers of remanufactured goods as 'second class' can limit sales growth in some fashion-oriented, lifestyle or status products such as cars, white goods or textiles.

Adaptability - remanufacturing is not always the most sustainable strategy for reusing products - for example, where costly reverse engineering of original products is needed, there is a skills shortage or where environmental benefits are higher through the process of recycling or design for recycling.

For information about overcoming some of these challenges, see selling remanufactured products to consumers.

Understanding the business benefits of remanufacturing is important, but it is also vital that you can persuade your consumers of the advantages of buying your remanufactured products.

Financial benefits of remanufactured products

Remanufactured products may be less expensive than new ones because of cost savings made from the recovery of the materials. Prices of remanufactured goods are usually 20 to 40 per cent lower than equivalent new products.

Quality of remanufactured goods

Buyers of remanufactured products need to know that they are of the highest quality. You should make sure your products meet industry standards in providing this assurance.

In some business-to-business markets - such as the automotive industry - the quality of remanufactured goods is guaranteed. A replacement remanufactured spare, for example, is indistinguishable from a new one.

Serviceable items such as washing machines can be remanufactured and sold on into secondary markets where the function is more important than appearance. This type of remanufacturing has an important role in improving the lives of disadvantaged households in the United Kingdom - see using secondary markets for remanufactured products.

Purchasing flexibility

Buying remanufactured products relies on the original equipment manufacturer or remanufacturer getting a supply of used goods from users. This means that customers get a range of services that offer more than just a sale. Leasing, take-back, upgrading and supply can benefit both parties by:

• enabling capital costs to be written off over a period of time
• improving supplier relationships
• offering 'whole life solutions', ie there are no problems with disposal at the end-of-life of the product

Environmental appeal of remanufactured goods

Some types of consumers are likely to be particularly receptive to products that have less impact on the environment. These include:

• public sector organisations which have to meet environmental standards when buying goods
• businesses taking steps to manage their environmental impacts, for example using an environmental management system
• members of the public with strong ethical beliefs

There are no set rules as to what can and cannot be remanufactured, and there is no set list of products that can be remanufactured. However, remanufacturing works best where the product is:

• of high value
• complex
• durable
• not marketed as a basis of personal status or lifestyle

Remanufactured products can include:

• machine tools
• electrical motors and compressors
• starter motors
• automatic transmissions
• car and truck engines
• office photocopiers
• excavation equipment
• power bearings
• defence equipment
• computer and telecommunications equipment
• air-conditioning units
• pumps
• industrial food-processing equipment
• aerospace equipment
• carpet tiles
• rolling stock

It is less successful in markets where customers perceive remanufactured goods as second class, such as in the lifestyle and fashion industries.

Secondary markets are those that lag behind primary markets in terms of high technical specification, functionality or absolute quality and, therefore, price.

Examples of secondary markets include:

• repairing and testing used mobile phones, and other information and communication technology (ICT) for export
• exporting used school furniture to developing nations
• refurbishing of furniture and white goods by charities for sale to disadvantaged people in the UK
• exporting used bricks for de-mortaring and reuse abroad

These types of secondary market are vital to remanufacturing. The process is hard to justify if, for instance, the technology changes very quickly, fashion causes a high turnover of designs and styles, or if the product is durable but basic.

Beware of 'dumping'

You should ensure your used equipment is reused responsibly and reliably.

Often, equipment such as TVs and ICT is exported with the intention of reusing it, only to be scrapped which, therefore, exploits the receiving nation. This is known as dumping.

When placing goods into secondary markets you should therefore ensure that you have clear end-markets that avoid dumping.

You can read about the responsibilities of businesses that produce waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE).

Having credibility within the remanufacturing industry is important in reassuring potential customers that the product they buy is of a high quality. One way that your business can do this is by following industry standards, which ensure a high quality remanufactured product.

The British Standards Institution (BSI), trade bodies and other interested parties are working on creating product-specific standards to promote high standards in the remanufacturing industry.

Design for manufacture, assembly, disassembly and end-of-life

British Standard BS ISO 8887-1:2017 covers design for manufacture, assembly, disassembly and end-of-life. Recently the disassembly and end-of-life sections have been strengthened to develop a robust definition of end-of-life processes, including remanufacturing.

You can buy a copy of BS ISO 8887-1:2017.

Remanufacturing terminology

The purpose of BS 8887-2:2009 is to define remanufacturing terminology and eliminate confusion to industry and end users. It includes terminology surrounding:

• remanufacturing
• carbon footprints
• end-of-life or EoL
• reuse
• reconditioning

You can buy a copy of BS 8887-2:2009.

Assessing the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of goods and services

The greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with goods and services reflect the impact of processes, materials and decisions occurring throughout the life cycle of goods and services. For organisations that supply goods and services, PAS 2050 enables the evaluation of alternative product configurations, sourcing and manufacturing methods, raw material choices and supplier selection on the basis of the life cycle GHG emissions associated with goods and services.

You can read PAS 2050: Specification for the assessment of the life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of goods and services.