ReMark-able Achievement for Revamp

By COLM O’CONNOR

On Wednesday June 14th in the Guinness Enterprise Centre in Dublin, IRD Duhallow Furniture Revamp received the Remark accreditation from The Community Resource Network Ireland (CRNI), the representative body for community-based reuse, repair and recycling organisations in Ireland, awarded the ReMark Quality Mark to seven organisations across the country for their outstanding commitment to sustainability and circular practices.

The ReMark Quality Mark of Excellence

ReMark is a reuse certification scheme involving accreditation of reuse organisations to an accepted operational and sustainability standard. The ReMark accreditation is specifically designed for charities, non-profits and social enterprises and is an initiative of CRNI, funded by the Department of the Environment, Climate & Communications through the Circular Economy Innovation Grant Scheme (CEIGS).

In order to achieve the ReMark Quality Mark, each organisation that applied for the pilot was initially assessed across a number of key areas including Social & Environmental, HR, Governance, Health & Safety, Circular Service Management, Data Protection, Customer Service & Communication, and Physical Premises, to identify areas for improvement.

L- R:Colm O’Connor and Jessica Baron being presented with the Remark award from Emma Kavanagh National exct, CRNI.

The action plan for each differed according to the results of the initial assessment, and a timeline was agreed for each applicant to implement or improve their processes, with regular liaison and support from the ReMark Project Manager throughout. The accreditation process culminated in an audit carried out by independent auditors before a decision was made to award each organisation.

Emma Kavanagh, National Executive, CRNI, comments, “I’m delighted to see these organisations recognised today for their commitment to sustainable practices. Research carried out by CRNI reveals that 85% of all adults in Ireland have purchased and/or been gifted a re-used good, while two thirds of adults have used repair or refurbishment services. Millennials are the demographic who most frequently engage with the circular economy, with 49% purchasing or being gifted second hand items at least every couple of months. These figures are encouraging and point to a growing consumer appetite to engage with the circular economy, for a multitude of reasons.”

“However, the research also shows that 40% of adults believe that hygiene would influence them not to purchase a second-hand item, while 30% cite the unknown reliability of products. The ReMark Quality Mark is a step in the right direction to instil greater consumer confidence in engaging with the circular economy. By achieving the ReMark Quality Mark today, these organisations are at the forefront of sustainable social enterprises in Ireland, and we hope that many more follow suit.”

Emma Kavanagh National exct, CRNI Jessica Baron and Colm O Connor IRD Duhallow and Orla Matthews project Coordinator Remark

IRD Duhallow Furniture Revamp’s Jessica Baron, says, “The improvements we have made in the process of getting the ReMark accreditation have changed the customer’s experience. The retail space is a lot more inviting and pleasant; our customer service team is well trained and professional in the services we provide. We have seen an uplift in sales and footfall, with improved customer experience and word of mouth. The brand ReMark should be instantly recognisable by the public as a quality reuse mark, instilling confidence that the holder of the accreditation achieves a high standard in their social enterprise or company.”

CRNI’s research also shows that one third of those who have not used circular economy services claim that this is down to none being local to them or not being aware that the service existed, while over half of the population cite better value and supporting charity or local business as key positive drivers for purchasing second hand items.

Colm O’Connor participated in a panel discussion.

The audience in attendance on the day.