Quantification of the environmental benefits of the reuse of goods

This paper aims to define a methodology to quantify the environmental impacts associated with the reuse of goods, by developing an ad-hoc model based on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Considering an activity that enables the marketing of various used goods, the model is built on a mathematical relationship between the specific environmental impact, number, and weight of each product category. Each specific impact is obtained through an LCA that includes the benefits of reuse considering that this will imply the avoidance of the life cycle of the same good as new. The LCA evaluates thus the first life of a representative good for each product category, whose impacts are "avoided", and the second life of that good, whose impacts are "additional". In aggregating these impacts, some factors are introduced, i.e. the level of substitution, and quality and energy performance rates, to reflect the users behaviour and the qualitative characteristics of the reused good. The methodology is then applied to a reuse centre in Italy. Results show that under average conditions, the reuse centre yielded environmental benefits in 5 out of 16 impact categories according to EF 3.1 characterisation method. Assuming different values of the rates would change the outcomes: e.g. a 100% substitution of new with used goods would bring benefits across all 16 impact categories. In conclusion, the research highlights the role of the consumers in ensuring that such a waste prevention activity actually brings environmental benefits.