REUSE IS NOT CHARITY

The circular economy looks good on paper. But if the reuse of products, whether electronics, textiles or furniture, is to become the backbone of the green transition, this invisible industry must be brought to the fore, recognised and regulated to ensure genuine profitability.

Norway is in the midst of a demanding paradigm shift. For decades, we have been good at sorting waste at source and recovering raw materials. But melting down plastic or recycling metals is no longer enough. If we are to meet our climate targets, we must move up the waste hierarchy: repair, upgrade and reuse products.

This applies across all sectors. Whether we are talking about white goods, clothing or furniture, the challenge is the same: we must create a professional, large-scale reuse industry. Yet reuse has long functioned as an invisible industry in the shadow of the established linear economy. We lack a shared identity, defined operating conditions and the industrial policy recognition required. The truth is brutal: unless this industry is made visible and ensured greater profitability, reuse operators will not survive. Then the circular initiative will also collapse.

The missing link: value creation

Reuse involves far more than dusting off a used product and reselling it. It requires logistics systems, testing, quality assurance and extensive specialist expertise. These are costly and labour-intensive processes, whether you are preparing a smartphone, sorting plastic or redesigning textiles.

When a reuse operator invests time and money in giving a product a new lease of life, genuine green jobs and enormous societal value are created. But in today’s unregulated market, professional operators are competing against informal marketplaces on one side and cheap new products on the other. If we are to move from being a fragmented niche to a visible industry, sustainability must be profitable.

The need for proactive regulation

For the reuse industry to be recognised and achieve the necessary value creation, the authorities must combine oversight with strong financial incentives, such as:

1. Approval scheme and getting one’s own house in order: The authorities must introduce official approval for reputable reuse operators. Strict requirements must be imposed for documented reporting, traceability and quality assurance at every stage. This will make the industry visible and accountable.

2. Zero VAT rate as a reward: To unlock major financial incentives, approved operators that have their own house in order must be rewarded with a zero VAT rate on reused products, repairs and used components.

3. Product design requirements: Manufacturers must be required to design products with a long lifespan that can actually be repaired and dismantled.

A shared circular future

Historically, the electronics industry has been proactive, and the members reading this commentary have the resources and expertise needed to lead the way. However, you cannot bear the risk alone under the current conditions. Increased profitability is the very foundation needed for the circular initiative to succeed.

It is time for the authorities to stop treating reuse as a voluntary community project. Together, we must build a robust, visible and profitable reuse industry. Only when the circular economy becomes more profitable than the linear economy will we see the genuine green transition.