Reuse: National attitudes and behaviours survey 2023

Abstract

Behavioural insight is a foundation of the EPA’s Circular Economy Programme, providing evidence to inform policy, behavioural change interventions and awareness campaigns. The EPA contracted Ipsos B&A to carry out this quantitative research to investigate the incidence and attitudes towards reuse behaviours among the Irish population. For the scope of this report, Reuse Behaviours include the following activities: ‘making items available for reuse’, ‘sourcing second hand’ and ‘renting, leasing or borrowing’. The survey topic areas are presented in a series of four reports covering: 1. Making items available for reuse, 2. Sourcing second hand, 3. Renting, leasing or borrowing and 4. Reuse Behavioural Categorisation.

Authors

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Conducted by

EPA Circular Economy Programme and Ipsos B&A

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Methods

The fieldwork for the online survey of a nationally representative sample of 1,264 adults ages 16+ was carried out in May 2023

Main Findings

The survey topic areas are presented in a series of four reports. The results are presented in infographic form with raw data files available to download.

  • 80% of people made clothing available for reuse in the past 12 months, while 38% of people bought or received a second-hand clothing item in the past 12 months.

  • About 1 in 3 people made at least one small furniture or electronics item available for reuse in the past 12 months.

  • 72% of people agree there should be minimum performance and durability requirements for products

  • 69% of people agree that producers should provide citizens with information on how to make products available for reuse.

  • 34% of people are aware of services that help items they own to be used again.

  • 55% of people who bought or received a second-hand item sourced the item from a charity shop.

  • 64% of people bought or received a second-hand item for cost reasons.

  • 61% of people mentioned the quality of second hand items as a concern.

  • More than 1 in 3 people have rented or leased at least one product type.

  • 15% of people have rented or leased a bike making it the most rented or leased item.

  • 37% of people agree that borrowed/leased products are usually good quality

  • 38% of people are interested in using tool libraries or libraries of things.

  • 8-10% are aware of tool libraries or libraries of things.

  • 60% of adults within the High Reuse Group are women.

  • 29% of adults within the High Reuse Group are aged between 35-54.

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Funded by the Government of Ireland under the Circular Economy Fund, powered by the Rediscovery Centre

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