Refurb By Screwfix to expand as 250,000 products refurbished since 2021

Screwfix is expanding its refurbished product capability even further, having refurbished more than 250,000 products since the initiative launched on Screwfix.com in 2021.

As part of its sustainability strategy, ‘Let’s Fix Tomorrow, Today’, the omnichannel retailer is committed to providing customers with high quality products and keeping products in use for longer with its Refurb By Screwfix range.

As customer appetite for pre-loved products increases, Screwfix’s £1m investment into Refurb by Screwfix will be used to create a bespoke refurbishment area where taps, showers and pressure washers can also be tested and resold on Screwfix.com, significantly expanding the range of products available to customers.

Through the recent investment, the retailer has also installed a packaging machine that precisely measures refurbished products – and new products with damaged packaging – before being repackaged in recycled cardboard. This has reduced the volume of packaging, with any leftover cardboard shredded and used to add further protection when products are shipped.

Through its partnership with iForce, a provider of fulfilment and returns solutions, Screwfix has provided customers with access to a broad range of products that have been given a second life on the Screwfix App and Screwfix.com.

This year more than 90,000 products have been processed through the refurb facility in Stafford so far, where they are thoroughly inspected by technicians before being prepared for re-sale or recycling.

Many power tool brands are available on Screwfix.com with prices up to 20 percent cheaper than the new equivalent and with a one-year guarantee. This gives tradespeople access to quality tools at a reduced price and has been well-received by Screwfix customers leaving five-star reviews on Screwfix.com.

63 percent of tools that are returned are either refurbished or have usable parts salvaged to support the refurb of other products. The remaining products are all WEEE recycled with zero waste going to landfill.

Matt Compton, Screwfix Commercial Director said: “At Screwfix we work hard to supply the trade with great quality products that last. When customers return unwanted or pre-loved products, where possible, we want to give them a second life. By partnering with iForce and our vendors we have successfully refurbished and repaired more than 250,000 tools since 2022 that would otherwise been disposed of. With further investment this year we are excited to be able to increase our product offering and capabilities to keep products in use for longer and help our customers get their jobs done quickly, affordably, right first time and more sustainably.”

Clive Murphy, iForce Commercial Director said: “Refurb by Screwfix is very important to us achieving good sustainability credentials and the programme of refurbishment and recommerce of products is a win for Screwfix, a win for the customer and a win for sustainability. With the new packaging machine and additional products were adding to expand our ranges, it’s a really exciting time to be a key partner in Screwfix’s bold sustainability ambition.”

The investment into repair and refurbishment capabilities is key to the ‘Keeping products in use for longer’ pillar of Screwfix’s environmental strategy, Let’s Fix Tomorrow, Today. There are six key priority areas that ensure a meaningful difference to customers, colleagues, community and the planet. The other five areas are eliminating carbon emissions, reducing and recycling waste, sourcing responsibly, selling sustainable products, and providing sustainable packaging.

Screwfix was awarded Retailer of the Year at the 2024 Business Green awards for the breadth of its sustainability activities and the depth of its commitment to a decarbonisation strategy, and was highly commended for Refurb By Screwfix.