The heart of the RAL Quality Mark 950 ‘Reverse Consumption’

From waste prevention advice to Resource potential.

Waste prevention advice

Advising the public about the reverse consumption and waste prevention strategies is a key element of the RAL GZ 950 standard. The information and advisory services are designed to stimulate the purchase of sustainable and environmentally friendly products, not just to members of the public bringing end-of-use products to a Reverse Consumption Centre , but to everyone living within the centre’s catchment area.

Communications and customer advisory services make use of the same elements deployed in product advertising campaigns. The communications strategy for a reverse consumption scheme therefore needs to make use of the same media channels used in advertising campaigns for new consumer products (press, radio, television, brochures, etc.).

Resource potential: A bonus for RAL-compliant waste management providers

The fraction of end-of-use products that are accepted at a Reverse Consumption Centre (RCC) and subsequently sent for reuse or reintroduction into production supply chains is calculated using the ‘Resource potential method’ as detailed in the RAL GZ 950 Quality Assurance and Test Specifications. The ‘Resource potential’ concept was developed in Luxembourg and provides a means for RAL auditors to annually assess the quality of the services being provided by RAL-approved RCCs. Leading RCCs use the RAL-specific methodology to highlight the quality of the services they provide and to underscore the contributions being made to environmental sustainability.

The resulting ‘Resource potential’ score for individual end-of-use products is made available at the reception points of RCs and offers guidance to RC users on the quality of the services being provided. RC users are made directly aware of how they are personally contributing to an ecologically sustainable resource base and the role they are playing in achieving circular-economy objectives.