news


Major conference on electrical safety tackles full lifecycle of products T


he clear focus of the 2023 Electrical Product Safety Conference was the


importance of the whole product lifecycle – from design and pre-market, to on the market and end of life – the full circular economy.


Held at Church House in Westminster, the


day-long event brought together experts and leaders from across government and industry to investigate critical issues, offer solutions, and share insights on the growing need for electrical product innovation to support the UK’s transition to a net zero future. Attended by more than 240 delegates from


government departments, manufacturers, retailers, importers, lawyers, fire and rescue services, and test houses, the conference explored key themes and trends affecting consumer safety


framework for the next 30 years.” This year’s conference theme, “To market and


beyond”, saw experts examine each stage of a product’s life with sessions focused on safety in design, pre-market, on the market, and end of life decisions. This led to discussions on issues such as how


and the electrical product industry. Sarah Smith, OBE, deputy chief Executive of the


Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) at the Department for Business and Trade, was among the panelists for the session on regulation and she noted: “This is the moment to set the


ASKO UK joins KBSA as corporate member


S


candinavian appliance


brand, ASKO, is the latest corporate member to join the Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Specialists Association (KBSA). ASKO said it is dedicated to supporting the retail members who uphold the association’s high standards of design, supply, installation and first class customer service throughout the KBB industry. Michael Hardwick, head of sales at ASKO UK, said: “When I first joined


ASKO six months ago, one of the first people I contacted was Richard Hibbert, who quickly put me in touch with Malcolm Scott, retail and corporate membership director at KBSA. “I had been following the KBSA through previous roles for a few years, and I was so pleased to be in a position where I could reach out to discuss becoming an approved corporate member of the group “The KBSA and its members represents so much about ASKO UK’s


ambitions to grow, and we are looking forward to meeting and working with many of the fantastic showrooms over the coming months and years.” Mr Scott said: “I am pleased to welcome ASKO UK to the KBSA.


Corporate members play an important role and enhance the association’s position as a voice for our industry.”


Winter 2023/24 www.ierdaily.co.uk | 7


to ensure safety from the outset of product design, the legal responsibilities and due diligence needed to take a product to market, supply chain issues, service and repair, the lack of global regulation, and the pros and cons of product removal versus extended life. Attendees gained insights from renowned


experts and industry leaders at the forefront of product safety and learned about the latest legislation and regulations affecting the safety of electrical products.


Currys reveals that Brits have bought in to second-hand technology


N


ew research from Currys has dug into what is


powering a ‘refurbished revolution’ in consumer tech, with Brits now more likely to buy second-hand technology (32%) than they are clothes (19%). Environmental concerns appear


to be a key driver behind this boom, with 75% of respondents saying they were worried about the amount of e-waste Brits produce. The UK generates the second- highest amount of electronic waste per capita in the world, with half a billion cheap electronic items going to landfill each year. Over a quarter (29%) said that they would be more likely to buy refurbished rather than new devices if it helped them reduce their environmental footprint.


Steve Pendleton, service director


at Currys, said the retailer is on a mission to give technology a longer life, and has unveiled a range of discounts across refurbished products. Mr Pendleton said: “We know that our customers are buying into the refurbished revolution for two main reasons: a desire to be more environmentally mindful – buying a refurbished product means that a valuable device remains in use, rather than being left unused, discarded or recycled – and amazing value for money. “We’re incredibly proud to support our customers on both of these fronts, thanks to our team in Newark who repair, refurbish and re-sell a whole host of previously unwanted tech at amazing prices.”


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