Buildbase boosts social value, supported by waste partner Reconomy
Buildbase Sandy recently donated its ex-display stock to a local YMCA charity store, in turn generating social value and positive environmental impact.
As part of ongoing work to promote waste up the hierarchy – preventing, reusing and recycling where possible, Buildbase approached Reconomy with the challenge of finding an environmentally friendly route for its ex-display stock. Reconomy worked with its extensive network of partners and engaged YMCA charity who were able to take the stock to resell in its stores. To date, YMCA has made over £900 in sales. Reconomy handled all the logistics arrangements for the Buildbase branch which reinforced the relationship and added value that Reconomy brings its customers.
Tina Gibbs, Retail Stock Manager at YMCA England and Wales, said:
‘We recently received a fantastic donation of ex showroom display bathroom products for sale in our YMCA Bedford store. This type of product is unusual for a charity shop to sell but we have seen fabulous sales and it has generated much interest with our customers and offers the local community great quality and value products and avoids anything going to landfill. A win win in our books!’
As an initiative, it supported the environmental aspect of reducing waste and the social value aspect by providing affordable stock to the local community and providing a local charity the opportunity to make money from the sale of the stock. Supporting the local community and charities is a fundamental aim of our Reconomy Social Value Programme (RSVP) and Reconomy is committed to helping its customers achieve social value and their own wider sustainability goals.
Stuart Liddell, Account Manager at Reconomy, said:
“As we strengthen our relationship with Buildbase, we continue to support them with challenges such as this. Problematic waste streams can be difficult to find environmentally friendly routes for when you aren’t experienced in the industry or have the wide network to coordinate such projects. We were delighted to be able to not only support from an environmental front but also to deliver social value was an added benefit – further demonstrating the importance of moving away from a linear economy and more towards a circular economy.”
Suzie Godfrey, Head of Health and Safety at Buildbase, said:
“Reconomy continues to show that it is a valuable partner who can support us to manage our waste and resources in a way that doesn’t just settle for the standard approach to doing things. Reconomy has thought outside the box to not only prevent waste, but also generate social value and money towards charity. We are proud to be supporting our local community and thankful to Reconomy for facilitating the process with such ease – acting as an extension of our own team, which is very helpful to allow us to focus on our core business activity”
As an initiative this proved the concept could work so is now being reviewed on a wider scale to apply to all ex-stock across all of the Buildbase showrooms.