Quantifying environmental impact
Arrow validates Re:Play’s circular football boot initiative
Arrow validates Re:Play’s circular football boot initiative
Arrow really helped us to understand and validate the environmental impact and social value of our work. There’s no way a small start-up could have funded the three months of research and expert academic input Arrow gave us. It’s really benefited our development and we’re looking forward to continuing our relationship with Northumbria University in the future.Ben Fisher
Co-founder, Re:Play Football
In growing the business, Ben and Jon wanted to understand more about the environmental, social and economic impacts of their work and were keen to have their assumptions independently tested.
Ben was aware of Arrow from his previous career in academia and was confident that it could provide the robust and independent research he was looking for. He gave the Arrow team at Northumbria University 10 pairs of football boots, which they set about disassembling and analysing to assess how much of the material was recyclable. This confirmed that, due to the complex materials used in the manufacturing process, there was no current methods or technologies that could be used to recycle football boots.
The only near-term solution for improving the sustainability of boots was by extending their lifecycle through resale. So the Arrow team at Northumbria began gathering and analysing data to assess the sustainability impacts of extending the lifecycle of a pair of boots for one year. The work was carried out by Dr Craig Hodgson, Senior Innovation Associate, Arrow, with input from Dr Gareth Crapper, Senior Innovation Associate, Arrow, and Dr Alana James, an Associate Professor in Fashion who specialises in the field of sustainable innovation.
Their comprehensive report produced a wealth of independent data on the sustainability impacts of Re:Play’s activities, helping to validate the business model and informing the company’s developing impact framework.
What began as a grassroots movement, grew into an initiative that works with the FA and more than 30 football clubs across the country. Re:Play is also piloting an initiative with Durham County Council which has inserted 12 boot recycling boxes into household waste recycling sites across County Durham and initiated an educational sustainability programme in primary schools, as well as exploring potential partnerships with charities. The company is keen to continue scaling its operations, while building R&D capacity to identify the most environmentally friendly way achieve its aim of saving as many boots as possible from ending up in landfill.
Our independent analysis showed that football boots are too materially complex to be recycled at scale with current technology, so extending their life through reuse is the most effective way to cut their environmental impact. We were also able to quantify those carbon savings, giving Re:Play confidence in their model and a strong foundation to build on. Providing a young business with tailored support in this way is a great example of what Arrow makes possible.Dr Craig Hodgson
Senior Innovation Associate, Arrow, Northumbria University
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