More Life in Lifesaving Equipment
Ireland
“Used but good” is the phrase at the heart of the Irish Coast Guard’s uniform refurbishment scheme, a key part of the organisation-wide circular economy approach to equipment.
The uniforms, which form essential Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), are required by approximately 1,000 operational personnel across the country, including 80–100 new volunteers recruited annually. Historically, though, many serviceable uniforms were disposed of when members left the organisation.
Under this initiative, these uniforms are professionally cleaned, relabelled, and repackaged by the original supplier before being reissued into operational stock, to be distributed to newcomers. The cost of refurbishment is around 15% of the original cost of each garment, delivering a cost saving and an environmental benefit at the same time.
The uniform refurbishment programme is just one part of the Irish Coast Guard’s wider circular economy approach. Other actions include repurposing decommissioned defibrillators through donation to Community First Responder (CFR) Ireland, recycling components from lifejackets beyond their certified lifespan, and donating basket stretchers for humanitarian use in Ukraine.