Work Integration Social Enterprises as an important means of the EU-3rd Sector Policy

1. Sepp Eisenriegler President of RREUSE Chair of Repair Network Austria, RepaNet CEO of Repair and Service Center R.U.S.Z, Vienna Work Integration Social Enterprises as an important means of the EU-3rd Sector Policy Reuse and Recycling European Union Social Enterprises Lux'09 4th International Forum “Globalisation of Solidarity”

2. 2003 in the EU-25: 31,7 Million people excluded from the labour market 8.5% of the population of working age (15 – 64) long-term unemployed and „inactive“ persons (discouraged after repeated past job search failures or willing to work but not able to find a job: disability or chronic illness, lack of basic skills, discrimination and/or family responsibilities) Facts and Figures: UnemploymentSource: Communication concerning a consultation on action at EU level to promote the active inclusion of the people furthest from the labour market. COM(2006)44 final Reuse and Recycling European Union Social Enterprises Lux'09 4th International Forum “Globalisation of Solidarity”

3. Based on income data in 13 European Member States: between 2 and 13% of the population live below the national, more or less guaranteed, minimum income schemes because of: lack of compliance with eligibility rules, miscalculation of amounts, payment delays, sanctions and suspensions, deductions applied to benefits for the direct imbursement of debts Facts and Figures: PovertySource: Nicaise, I. et al.: (2004) Gaps, traps and springboards in European minimum income systems. Contributions of Katholieke Universiteit Leuven and Loughborough University Reuse and Recycling European Union Social Enterprises Lux'09 4th International Forum “Globalisation of Solidarity”

4. There‘s a lot of work to do, we are lacking jobs though! – A paradox situation The public and the private sectors reduce job opportunities following capitalistic market principles A growing part of Europeans cannot afford a humane living lacking purchasing power We are more and more confronted with market failure The problem I Reuse and Recycling European Union Social Enterprises Lux'09 4th International Forum “Globalisation of Solidarity”

5. As a result of the permanent erosion of the social welfare state even the Social Market Economy has proved to be a concept of defense The SME´s dilemmma lies in it´s limitation to a programme of domestication It does not touch the functional core of capitalistic economy and therefore becomes a tranquiliser in economically better times … The problem IISource: Weinzierl, R.: (2004) Die Soziale Ökonomie im Internationalen Vergleich. In: Sozialwirtschaft in Österreich – Alternative oder Lückenbüßerin? Reuse and Recycling European Union Social Enterprises Lux'09 4th International Forum “Globalisation of Solidarity”

6. When times get tough there is a tendency towards a mere market economy – without social components We have to come to terms with people disadvantaged by the present labour market, who are not able to cope with the challenges of „normal“ jobs The market system does not offer solutions for them, certainly not today and not in the future The problem III Reuse and Recycling European Union Social Enterprises Lux'09 4th International Forum “Globalisation of Solidarity”

7. We need a new alternative towards the capitalistic approach, an alternative which serves the people – not the economy Social Economy implemented as a genuine 3rd Sector could create jobs and supply socially weak people with products and services at equal (EQUAL) macroeconomic costs (1 unemployed person causes costs of € 43.000.-/year in Austria) Local economy and economy of the regions as a start-off The solution Reuse and Recycling European Union Social Enterprises Lux'09 4th International Forum “Globalisation of Solidarity”

8. An exploding amount of elderly people want to stay at home as long as possible; they are not able to cope with daily living though (wash their curtains, clean their windows, change their electrical bulbs, …) Old people´s homes, nursing homes are expensive, subsidised with public money Something has to be done for a growing group of voters A triple dividend business idea for SE: Handyman services for elderly people Reuse and Recycling European Union Social Enterprises Lux'09 4th International Forum “Globalisation of Solidarity”

9. Dvd-presentation Reuse and Recycling European Union Social Enterprises EQUAL - EUROPEAN THEMATIC GROUP ON SOCIAL ECONOMY Exchange Event on “SOCIAL ENTERPRISES: EQUAL WORK AND BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES” Helsinki, 5-6 February 2007

10. Reuse and Recycling European Union Social Enterprises • First European network of social enterprises with activities in Reuse und Recycling. • Lobbying within the EU for social and ecological concerns. • Development and coordination of social enterprises and projects. • Promotion of sustainable production and consumption • Represents 40.000 transplacement jobs • 17,000 people collect, reuse and recycle about • 300,000 tonnes of WEEE through • 1,200 centres

11. R.U.S.Z (AU) RepaNet (AU) RepaNet Slovakia (SK)‏ ARGE Müllvermeidung (AU) Komosie (BE) RESsources (BE) BAG Arbeit (DE) BAG Arbeit & Werkstatt Frankfurt (DE) AERESS (ES) Fédération ENVIE (FR) Emmaüs (FR) Réseau des Ressourceries et Recycleries (FR) Ecorec (GR) Cylch (UK) Community Recycling Network (UK) Charity Shops (UK) CRN Scotland (UK) Community Composting Network (UK) Create (UK) Furniture Recycling Network (UK) Emmaüs International (INT) bKN Amersfoort (NL) Työ & Toiminta Ry (FIN) Tervatulli Oy (FIN) Neo-Act Ltd (FIN)

12. www.rreuse.org Reuse and Recycling European Union Social Enterprises Lux'09 4th International Forum “Globalisation of Solidarity”

13. Basics : RREUSE members activities Reuse and Recycling European Union Social Enterprises 1.We collect and separate waste from households or municipal waste collection sites 2. We do the sorting of reusable and non-reusable items • Cleaning – repairing – selling of reusable items or • Dismantling and (preparing for) recycling • Promoting waste minimization at regional, national, EU level 3. Our main product groups are: • Electrical and electronic appliances and components (WEEE)‏ • Textiles • Furniture, household goods, books

14. Basics: Environmental benefits Reuse and Recycling European Union Social Enterprises • Repair and reuse avoid/delay products and components to become waste and reduce their overall ecological impact • Reuse diminishes the need for new products and the wasting of valuable natural resources • Repair for reuse requires less energy and resources compared to recycling • We take care of sustainable resource use + reduction of water and air pollution (incl. greenhouse gases)‏ • Reuse = preferred waste management method after prevention (see WFD)

15. Basics: Social benefits Reuse and Recycling European Union Social Enterprises • Social enterprises create jobs and training for people at risk: long-term unemployed, disabled, youngsters … leading to social reintegration 40 000 full-time equivalent jobs and 110 000 volunteers and trainees involved ! • Reuse activities provide essential household items for people with low income (though more and more reuse and second hand is accepted by all socio-economic segments)‏ 16% European population live under poverty level, 7% unemployed (16,1 Million)‏

27. in 1995: existing demand – no serious repair services offered = market failure! Repair-Know-How started to fade away after R.U.S.Z launch, enormous demand for repair services looking for partners led to the establishment of RNW Vienna 3 other RNWs followed in Austria first social franchising model with 50 for profit franchisees only in Vienna RNW Vienna was a good arguement for RREUSE lobbying WEEE and Waste Framework directives in Brussels MS shall implement reuse and repair networks until 2010 “Member States shall take measures as appropriate to promote the re-use of products and preparing for reuse activities, notably through encouraging the establishment and support of re-use and repair networks, (...).” Best Practice 1: RepairNetWork Vienna Reuse and Recycling European Union Social Enterprises

28. We are aiming at eco-designed products which are labelled to indicate to the consumers the difference concerning durability and repairability at retailer’s shops. As we are working together with some 450 waste advisers and environmental counselors without specific economic interests, we expect a growth of the market share of labelled products which would be an (the only) incentive for the producers to increasingly put products on the market which fulfill the criteria set by the Austrian Standards Institute (ONR 192102 available at: www.on-norm.at ). Best Practice 2: the Eco Design Label for durable and easy to repair EEE Reuse and Recycling European Union Social Enterprises

29. 20% reduction of the energy consumption of a 13-year old washing machine this makes an energy efficiency class A device out of a C washing machine – why buy a new one? at a price of some € 100.- almost everyone can contribute to saving the planet without buying new household appliances According to Eco-indicator ´99, 53% of the negative environmental impact comes from production and distribution!!! (Steiner et al.: Timely Replacement of White goods. Investigation of Modern Appliances in a LCA)‏ Best Practice 3: Tuning of Washing Machines instead of „Timely Replacement“ Reuse and Recycling European Union Social Enterprises

30. Best Practice 4: Recycling of Mobile Phones Reuse and Recycling European Union Social Enterprises • 1 Million mobiles collected within 3 years • Austrian Broadcasting Corporation, Austrian Post, Caritas as partners • Charity campaign (2 months before Christmas)‏ • Reuse of more than 50% • 15 jobs for disabled people • Cost units as an alternative currency in Africa • Micro economies (Trade with cost units)‏ • Possibilities to survive (Darfour)‏

31. Product idea  prototype • Design and elaborationof technical standards • Collection of componentsand production Drums of washing machines key-pads of mobile phones … and other components www.trashdesign.at

32. Reuse and Recycling European Union Social Enterprises CONTACT Secretariat Rue Washington, 40 1050 BRUSSELS T: +32 (0) 2 647 99 95 F: +32 (0) 2 647 99 95 WWW: www.rreuse.org E: info@rreuse.org