Environmental Impact

• The Donation Drive project diverted 8,160.31 kgs from general waste. This is equivalent to the weight of 80,000 decks of cards or 5,000,000 paper clips.
• The Donation Drive project avoided approximately 15,524 kgCO2e by keeping items in use. This figure has been calculated using lifecycle assessment data which looks at the impact of the raw materials required to produce the items, processing, packaging, and distribution of goods. This is equivalent to driving 2.3 laps around the world or 15 million phone charges.

• One of the aims of the Donation Drive project was to keep as many of the donated items as possible in use on campus,, and the Kitchen Kit Market helped achieve this by redistributing over 2 tonnes of kitchenware.

• Each student avoided approximately 14.7 kgs of carbon by choosing to buy preloved items rather than new. This is equivalent to driving a car for 86 kilometres.

Social and Economic Impact

• The Donation Drive engaged 61 staff, student and community volunteers.
• The Donation Drive supported the local community and on-campus initiatives including: Carriers of Hope, Trussell Trust, British Heart Foundation, Finham Park 2 School, and the Workwear Wardrobe.
• The Kitchen Kit Market raised £5,900 for charity.
• The Kitchen Kit Market saw over 1000 students purchase pre-loved kitchen items on a "pay as you feel" basis, picking up bargains to fill their new homes. Students had the opportunity to buy a full set of kitchenware for as little as £1.

Feedback from the Local Community

"Not only do we save tonnes of waste from landfill, but the items collected and money raised from the sale go to providing a positive start for our clients as they settle into their new lives in Coventry. Every item goes to turning a refugee family's empty house into a home they can truly feel safe and happy in. Thanks so much to Warwick Uni Circular Economy team for all of their hard work and for inviting us to be part of the project." (Steffi Price - Director of Operations and Partnerships Carriers of Hope)

"A huge thank you to the Donation Drive team who very kindly responded to our plea for fashionable clothing and stationery items suitable for young people. We are very grateful for the time and effort that was taken to sort through the donations to find such items and were overwhelmed by what we received. We know that your efforts will be very much appreciated by the local young people who access the school partnership clothing bank, who will be very happy indeed. This is a fabulous initiative that will no doubt make a positive difference to the lives of many families living in the local area – thank you so much." (Sarah Newell – Volunteer Development Officer, Warwick Volunteers on behalf of Finham Park 2 School Partnership)

Hayley Lambert, Sustainability Champion for Circular Economy, highlighted the importance of the project:

"It's estimated that our consumption of material goods contributes to 53% of global carbon emissions and 80% of biodiversity loss (UN Environment).These statistics show that we urgently need to change our behaviour, and that Circular Economy is vital to achieving our local and global sustainability goals. Circular Economy is about prolonging the life of material goods through better design, but also through reuse and repair. The Donation Drive and Kitchen Kit Market is a fantastic example of Circular Economy in action, bringing multiple environmental, economic, and social benefits."

Read the full impact report here.