The Challenge

Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) is the world’s fastest-growing waste stream, increasing faster than global population growth. In 2022, approximately 14.4 million tonnes of electrical and electronic equipment were placed on the market in the EU, with an official WEEE collection rate of around 40% according to the European Environment Agency (EEA, 2025). This rate remains below the EU’s 65% target established under the WEEE Directive.

In Ireland, 63,946 tonnes of WEEE were collected in 2023, reflecting a collection rate of approximately 43.6%, a significant drop from 51.2% in 2022 and 63.8% in 2021 (EPA, 2025).

WEEE is associated with major environmental and health risks due to toxic material content, energy consumption in production, and improper disposal. In 2020, WEEE contributed an estimated 580 million metric tonnes of CO2e emissions globally (Singh and Ogunseitan, 2022). This makes effective circular management essential.

The Circular Solution

Norsk Ombruk AS is a Norwegian Remanufacturing company established in 2013, certified for Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).

EPR is a policy approach that makes producers responsible for managing the environmental impacts of their products throughout the product lifecycle, including waste collection, recycling, and disposal at end-of-life.

Discarded kitchen, laundry, and bathroom appliances make up the majority of global e-waste, accounting for around 60%, with washing machines, clothes dryers, dishwashers, and electric stoves contributing approximately 11.8 million tonnes annually (Earthshine, 2024). Norsk Ombruk extends the useful life of household electrical goods such as refrigerators, washing machines, stoves, dishwashers, and dryers, playing a leading role in Norway’s shift toward a more circular electronics sector.

Norway’s EPR policies have fostered circular business models like Norsk Ombruk’s, which partners with leading electronics producers (e.g., Ikea, Elkjøp), municipalities, and second-hand shops to collect used household appliances (Elektronikkbransjen, 2022). Once Norsk Ombruk receives a product, it is inspected, barcoded, and entered into a quality control system. About 48% pass detailed diagnostics and are repairable, while non-repairable products are dismantled for parts recovery and the remaining materials are recycled. Repairable units are cleaned, assigned a tailored work schedule, refurbished or upgraded by certified skilled technicians, then rigorously tested to ensure quality. Once complete, products undergo a final hygienic cleaning before being dispatched to major retailers or sold via second-hand dealers or Norsk Ombruk’s own Sandefjord shop at around half the price of a new model. This collaborative, efficient workflow extends product and brand life while maximising resource use and environmental benefits (Earthshine, 2024).

A two-year guarantee on all remanufactured goods provides consumers with confidence and access to affordable, high-quality appliances. In 2016 alone, Norsk Ombruk remanufactured over 12,300 appliances and reported annual sales of €1.8 million, and by 2024 the company had extended the life of more than 100,000 products that would otherwise have become waste (Earthshine, 2024). Success in Norway has led to expansion into other European markets, including the establishment of a similar business in Denmark under the name Resirk (Elektronikkbransjen, 2022).

Climate and Societal Impact

Remanufacturing electrical appliances provides significant climate and resource benefits by displacing demand for new goods, reducing waste, and promoting resource efficiency. According to independent analysis, Norsk Ombruk’s activities in 2016 saved 2,713 tonnes of embedded CO₂, nearly 13 million kWh of embedded energy, and €2.3 million in raw material value—resulting in cumulative benefits valued at €9.4 million (Earthshine, 2024).

These savings translate to lower product costs for consumers, which is especially meaningful for lower-income households. The business model also eases the regulatory burden for retailers and municipalities while supporting national circularity targets.

Replicability

The European remanufacturing market is projected to reach €90 billion by 2030 (ERN, 2024). Regulations such as the EU Waste Framework Directive and the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation are strengthening producer responsibility and incentivising circularity across Europe (ERN, 2024).

Remanufacturing initiatives like Norsk Ombruk offer a scalable, proven pathway to cut emissions, retain value, and deliver social and economic wins for Ireland as it advances toward its national circular economy targets. Other examples of Irish remanufacturers include:

• Glen Dimplex Ireland repair and refurbish white goods and household appliances, including cooking appliances, water heaters, TVs, and electric fires. They use spare parts from returned appliances to refurbish or repair other units, reducing the need for new parts (WEEE Ireland, 2024).

  
  

• GreenIT are one of Ireland’s pioneers in IT remanufacturing and circular economy, offering remanufactured IT devices with warranty and comprehensive quality assurance (CIRCULÉIRE, 2025)

  
  

• Finline Furniture take back and remanufacture their pre-loved high-quality sofas offering them at an affordable price and a 20 year guarantee (CIRCULÉIRE, 2025).