SUSTAINABILITY Focus


September 2023 ertonline.co.uk


At AMDEA we have used this research to help shape our award-winning ‘Know What’s Watt’ householder campaign. We work hard to spread our messages on energy efficient appliance choices, use and maintenance as wide as possible.


In terms of consumers, we expect to see


increased demand for extended product life, currently the typical life of large household appliances is 15 years or more. Extended life means more product servicing, repairs and demand for spare parts.


Our biggest challenge is in ensuring that 18


The role of appliances in achieving net zero homes


By Paul Hide, CEO of AMDEA


and over 300 million small appliances. AMDEA’s responsibility is ensuring there is


A


a net zero action plan across the full supply chain, from sustainable raw material and precious mineral sourcing, to carbon and water neutral manufacturing, net zero delivery to the customer’s home, net zero impact in use and then full recyclability and material recovery at end of the maximum useful life. We’ve come a long way over the past 10 years; appliances are increasingly manufactured in low impact or net zero factories and work is underway to improve supply chain carbon footprints. Our annual conference “2050: Appliances of the Future” is dedicated to the ongoing cross- industry dialogue on how we achieve net zero emissions by 2050.


ppliances have an important role to play in achieving net zero homes. Estimates suggest that within the 29 million UK homes there are at least 130 million large appliances


Until we have a 100 per cent green electricity


supply, efficiency in the usage phase is critical to delivering net zero homes. Appliance manufacturers have made great strides in improving energy and water efficiency during use and we are fast approaching a position where the majority of washing machines sold will reach the new, much tougher A rating for efficiency in under three years. But user behaviour matters, and education and awareness building is key. Earlier this year AMDEA partnered with Exeter University, commissioning research to understand householder awareness and motivations towards sustainable appliance use.


The recommendations from this study focussed on four areas: - Using education to improve behavioural intention of the consumer and influence action; - Improving consumer education about energy efficiency and product life extension; - Building relationships with consumers through maintenance and repair education; - Optimising smart technology to assist with maintenance and repair cues, whilst addressing the repair potential.


repairs are done safely, using parts that meet the required minimum specifications. Injury and fires are risks if repairs are undertaken by those without the required minimum levels of knowledge and training. AMDEA continues to promote our ‘Register My Appliance’ campaign so that manufacturers can reach owners in the rare event of a safety intervention requirement, but there remains an estimated 100 million unregistered appliances.


The final industry initiative is that of


responsible recycling. All appliances, large and small, can be captured by the recycling network. Large appliances are generally recovered and recycled, but the recycling rates for small appliances is poor; less than 40 per cent are recovered due to the lack of effort by customers to separate this waste for recycling, as well as patchy kerb side recycling services offered by local authorities. Material Focus, the organisation set up by


producers and Defra, has been promoting our joint ‘Recycle Your Electricals’ campaign for a number of years, with ads hitting prime time TV for the first time this year.


Never have appliances been more energy and water efficient in manufacture and use, or more recyclable. We can be hopeful that with the efforts the industry is making now, appliances will be net zero by 2050.


AMDEA is once again a sustainability partner of the ERT Awards, and we are supporting the 2023 event in November. We fully support ERT’s initiative to ensure its Awards event is completely carbon neutral – for the second year in a row. Turn over for more information.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40