Re.Mark project shows high potential for reuse quality standard

Left to right: Sharon Keogh, Dublin Simon Community, Linda Ward, CRNI Board Member and ICSA Secretary, Ruairi McGinley, NCBI, Denise Cruickshank, Women’s Aid, Maureen O’Donnell, CRNI, and Mairead Mannion, Clarehaven Horizons.

CRNI’s Re.Mark project was established in 2017 to address consumer concerns regarding the quality and safety of reused goods in Ireland.

Initial consumer research has shown that the reuse market in Ireland remains “niche” (only 23% of the population had purchased reused goods in the past 6 months) and that barriers to purchase are mainly quality and safety. This implies that a quality standard has great potential to shift consumer perceptions and encourage more shoppers to prioritise reuse goods.

The Re.Mark project manager, Maureen O’Donnell, recently presented these results to the Irish Charity Shops Association who have four members participating in the pilot project. The first accreditation to the standard is anticipated in April 2018. For more information see here.

• February 28, 2018