Bicycle reuse programmes report threefold return on investment – resource.co

Analysis of Bicycle Repair and Reuse Programmes and Their Contribution to Sustainable Development Goals

Executive Summary

An analysis by FCC Environment, detailed in the white paper “Bikes: A Vehicle of Opportunity,” quantifies the significant economic, environmental, and social returns generated by bicycle repair and reuse programmes. These initiatives demonstrate a direct and measurable contribution to several key United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The report combines operational data with external research to validate the model’s effectiveness.

• Waste Diverted: 35 tonnes
• Bicycles Refurbished: 2,424
• Carbon Emissions Prevented: An estimated 345 tonnes of CO₂e

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production & SDG 13: Climate Action

The programmes are foundational to advancing a circular economy, directly addressing sustainable consumption and climate mitigation targets. By prioritising repair and reuse over disposal and new production, the initiatives preserve embodied carbon and reduce waste.

• Embodied Carbon: Refurbishment avoids the carbon footprint of manufacturing a new bicycle, which is approximately 96 kg of CO₂ for a steel-frame model and over 200 kg for an aluminium equivalent.
• Waste Reduction: The model provides a solution for the significant volume of discarded bicycles, estimated at over 11,000 annually across the UK and 27,500 in London alone.
• Resource Management: The Wigan Cycle Project alone diverted 6.8 tonnes of materials from landfill between late 2024 and mid-2025.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth & SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Prison-based workshop programmes create pathways to employment and significantly reduce recidivism, contributing to economic growth and stronger, more stable communities.

1. Skills Development: The programmes provide vocational training for prisoners, directly addressing a documented 13-15% staff shortage for trained mechanics in UK bike businesses.
2. Social Value Generation: FCC’s network of workshops across nine prisons has generated £119,000 in recorded social value.
3. Reduced Reoffending: The Wigan Cycle Project has achieved a 0% reoffending rate among its 24 participants since 2022, a stark contrast to the cited national average of 65%.
4. Economic Impact on Public Funds: Research from the City & Guilds Foundation indicates that each prison skills qualification saves taxpayers an estimated £34,000 per year through reduced reoffending and associated social costs.

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being & SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

By increasing access to affordable, active transport, these programmes generate substantial public health benefits and promote social equity.

• Health and Productivity Returns: Cycling UK’s Big Bike Revival initiative recorded a return of £4.30 in health and productivity benefits for every £1 invested.
• Healthcare Savings: A Lancet study found that increasing active travel in England and Wales could save the National Health Service (NHS) £17 billion in healthcare costs over a 20-year period.
• Social Equity: Modelling by Sustrans shows that a national 40% voucher scheme for low-income individuals, costing £18 million, would generate £60 million in societal benefits by improving access to transport.

Programme Impact and Market Context

UK Cycling Market Trends

While new bicycle sales have moderated post-pandemic, the demand for maintenance and repair has created a distinct economic opportunity.

• Sales Data: New bicycle sales fell to approximately 1.45 million units in 2024, down from a peak of 3.1–3.3 million during 2020-2021.
• Workshop Demand: In 2024, workshop volumes increased by 7% and value rose by 5%, with many independent shops reporting revenue growth of 10–50%.

Case Study: The Wigan Cycle Project (SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals)

The success of the Wigan Cycle Project exemplifies the power of multi-stakeholder partnerships in achieving sustainable development objectives. The collaboration between Wigan Council, the charity Rebuild with Hope, and FCC Environment has delivered exceptional results.

• Refurbished more than 300 bicycles for community distribution.
• Provided valuable skills and improved prospects for prisoners preparing for release.
• Demonstrated a replicable model for combining social rehabilitation with environmental stewardship.

Policy Recommendations and Future Outlook

Supporting a Circular Economy for Bicycles

The report concludes that bicycle repair and reuse initiatives offer a proven model for simultaneously addressing multiple strategic challenges. To scale these benefits, a supportive policy environment is recommended.

• Regulatory Frameworks: Policy measures similar to right-to-repair legislation for household appliances could provide the sector with greater clarity and funding stability.
• Integrated Strategy: Bicycle reuse should be formally identified as a model that combines waste reduction (SDG 12), carbon savings (SDG 13), skills development (SDG 8), and community reintegration (SDG 16).
• Multi-faceted Solution: As stated by Gemma Green, Reuse Development Manager at FCC Environment, these initiatives can address “waste prevention and skills shortages to public health and social inclusion.”

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   The article connects bicycle reuse to public health benefits. It cites research showing significant returns on investment in cycling initiatives through improved health and productivity, as well as potential long-term savings in national healthcare costs by promoting active travel.

2. SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

   The programmes discussed address skills development and employment. By training prisoners as bicycle mechanics, the initiatives provide valuable skills that can lead to employment upon release. The article also highlights a growing demand for trained mechanics and staff shortages in the UK bike industry, indicating a direct link to job creation and economic growth.

3. SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

   The article points to the social inclusion aspect of the bicycle programmes. It mentions initiatives aimed at getting bikes to “people who really need them” and a proposed voucher scheme for “low-income individuals,” which helps provide affordable transportation and mobility, thereby reducing inequality.

4. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

   This is a central theme of the article. The entire focus on repairing and reusing bicycles instead of disposing of them directly supports sustainable consumption and production patterns. The article quantifies the amount of waste diverted from landfills and emphasizes preserving the embodied carbon in existing products.

5. SDG 13: Climate Action

   The environmental benefits detailed in the article are directly linked to climate action. By refurbishing bicycles, the programmes prevent significant CO₂e emissions that would have been generated from manufacturing new bikes and managing waste. The report quantifies these carbon savings.

6. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   The article highlights the role of prison workshop programmes in rehabilitating offenders. By providing skills and reducing reoffending rates, these initiatives contribute to creating more peaceful and inclusive societies. The success of the Wigan Cycle Project, with its zero percent reoffending rate, demonstrates a tangible impact on justice and rehabilitation systems.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 3.4: Reduce by one third premature mortality from non-communicable diseases through prevention and treatment and promote mental health and well-being.

  The article supports this target by highlighting how increasing active travel (cycling) can lead to massive savings in health costs (£17 billion for the NHS) and generate significant health and productivity returns, which are outcomes of disease prevention and improved well-being.

• Target 8.6: Substantially reduce the proportion of youth not in employment, education or training.

  Although focused on prisoners rather than youth specifically, the principle of providing skills for employment is directly relevant. The article describes programmes that equip prisoners with marketable skills as mechanics to address industry staff shortages (13-15% of businesses), thereby reducing the number of individuals lacking prospects for employment upon release.

• Target 10.2: Empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all.

  This target is addressed through efforts to provide refurbished bicycles to low-income individuals and those in need. This enhances their mobility and access to opportunities, promoting social and economic inclusion. The article mentions the £119,000 in recorded social value generated by these schemes.

• Target 12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.

  The article directly aligns with this target by focusing on repair and reuse as a primary strategy. It provides specific data on waste reduction, such as FCC diverting 35 tonnes of waste and the Wigan project diverting 6.8 tonnes of materials from landfill.

• Target 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.

  The programmes described are a practical implementation of climate change mitigation. The article quantifies the prevention of an estimated 345 tonnes of CO₂e emissions and advocates for policy measures like right-to-repair legislation, which would integrate these sustainable practices into a broader regulatory framework.

• Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.

  This target is relevant through the article’s focus on prisoner rehabilitation and reducing reoffending. The Wigan Cycle Project’s zero percent reoffending rate, compared to a 65% national average, is a clear outcome that strengthens the justice system’s effectiveness and promotes successful reintegration into society.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article provides several quantitative and qualitative indicators:

• Indicators for Waste Reduction (Target 12.5)

  • Total weight of waste diverted from landfill (e.g., 35 tonnes by FCC, 6.8 tonnes by the Wigan project).
  • Number of bicycles refurbished and reused (e.g., 2,424 by FCC, over 300 by the Wigan project).
  • Estimated number of bicycles discarded annually (e.g., over 11,000 in the UK, 27,500 in London).

• Indicators for Climate Action (Target 13.2)

  • Volume of CO₂e emissions prevented (e.g., an estimated 345 tonnes).
  • Embodied carbon in new bicycles, used as a baseline for savings (e.g., 96 kg of CO₂ for a steel-frame bike).

• Indicators for Social and Economic Impact (Targets 8.6, 10.2, 16.3)

  • Reoffending rate of programme participants (e.g., 0% for the Wigan project vs. 65% national average).
  • Monetary social value generated (e.g., £119,000 recorded by FCC).
  • Estimated taxpayer savings from reduced reoffending (e.g., £34,000 per year per qualification).
  • Number of prisoners participating in skills training (e.g., around 100).

• Indicators for Health and Well-being (Target 3.4)

  • Return on investment in health and productivity (e.g., £4.30 for every £1 invested in Cycling UK’s initiative).
  • Projected savings in national healthcare costs (e.g., £17 billion in NHS costs over 20 years).

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: resource.co