The All-Party Parliamentary Groups for Manufacturing (APMG) and Sustainable Resource (APSRG) are calling on members of the remanufacturing industry to submit evidence on barriers to – and the potential growth of – remanufacturing in the UK.

The evidence will be used to inform the APMG/APSRG ‘Remanufacturing: Resource Security and Opportunities for Growth’ inquiry and report, which will be Chaired by the former Environment Secretary Caroline Spelman MP and Barry Sheerman MP.

Following on from APSRG’s March 2014 report ‘Remanufacturing: Towards a Resource Efficient Economy’ (which laid out growth opportunities and challenges facing the UK remanufacturing sector), the inquiry seeks to further ‘identify and help establish the optimal policy environment to encourage remanufacturing activity, which could have a decisive role to play in ensuring resource security, and deriving extensive additional economic, environmental and social benefits’.

It shall be particularly focused on exploring ways in which lessons can be learned from best practice case studies in 'key industries' (such as the automotive industry) and applied to other remanufacturing sectors, including waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE).

Following on from the inquiry, the two bodies will then release a joint report ‘before Christmas 2014’ which will:

• consider how remanufacturing increases the potential for reshoring parts and products;
• examine the role of remanufacturing in improving national resilience;
• explore the potential drivers and barriers for remanufacturing in diverse industries;
• consider the benefits of alternative types of business models (such as ‘servitisation’) in engaging in remanufacturing; and
• identify areas where further government regulation or incentives may be needed to stimulate remanufacturing.

‘Putting a more resilient UK at the forefront of global remanufacturing innovation’

Speaking of the inquiry, Spelman said: “This new inquiry comes at a critical time. It is clear to us the importance of remanufacturing in terms of both resource security and economic potential is not yet fully appreciated by Parliamentarians or UK industry.

“The future of manufacturing is inextricably linked to environmental sustainability, reducing the consumption of virgin raw materials, and exploiting new areas of comparative advantage.

“We believe the government must do more - firstly to better understand the huge environmental and economic potential that remanufacturing offers, and secondly to create precisely the policy and regulatory framework needed in order for UK businesses to fully embrace it.”

Inquiry co-chair Sheerman added: “This inquiry is not about banging drums to prove the benefits of remanufacturing - the benefits are clear. This inquiry is about finding out what we need to do now and in the future to put a more resilient UK at the forefront of global remanufacturing innovation.”

The call for evidence is open until 26 September.

Submit evidence for the 'Remanufacturing: Resource Security and Opportunities for Growth' inquiry or read more about the barriers to remanufacturing in Resource 77, out now.