REdUSE

REducing Resource Use for a Sustainable Europe

REdUSE is a three year action within the EuropeAid strategy “Public awareness and education for development in Europe” which aims at highlighting the global impacts of Europe’s growing resource use, focussing on imported resources from the global south and the consequences of resource extraction.

This project will be realized by twelve different partners from eleven different countries – except SERI all partners belongs to the Friends of the Earth network, a worldwide network by environmental-NGOs. SERI as the scientific partner is responsible for Strand 1 of the project, which is the scientific backbone of the project. Its purpose is to provide a solid, scientifically sound and comprehensive background for the activities to be carried out in the other strands. Thereby, the objective is to provide easy available and understandable reports demonstrating Europe’s overall resource use and describing the environmental and social impacts brought about in the countries where resource extraction is taking place.

Two “Global Resource Reports” (GRR) including global trends and interrelations will be produced; the first focussing on virtual water – water used along the production chain of a good or service – and the second on the distribution of added value produced along the resource extraction and processing chain.

Furthermore, case studies on Aluminium, Lithium and Cotton in non-European Partner countries of the action will be carried out which will deal with extraction/production, processing in their country: Chile on Lithium, Brazil on Bauxite/Aluminium, Togo and Cameroon on cotton. The cases studies will also deal with disposing, possible recycling and available alternatives for consumers in Europe. Environmental effects (pollution, water abstraction, change in land use etc) social, human rights and developmental impacts (added value issue, right to water, working conditions, human rights situation etc) will be addressed.

The generated reports as well as the case studie material will be used to produce a multi vision show for presentations in schools, as well as for policy briefs, for publicity and media, aiming at raising awareness for the impacts of Europe’s resource consumption. Additionally, a conference will be organized in autumn 2011 in Brussels to discuss the main issues and possible policy strategies.