Warp It - Waste Action Reuse Portal

What is Warp It?

Warp It is a customisable online peer to peer redistribution network for organisations. Warp It makes it very easy for individuals in an organisation to share or give surplus items to individuals inside the same organisation in the first instance. If items are not required within the primary organisation they can be passed onto partners. Warp It brings the unused into use, saving money, avoiding carbon emissions and landfill. The eco tool improves sustainability, reduces waste, reduces spend and improves internal/external collaboration and resilience. Warp It is part of the circular and collaborative economy- the tool is also considered to be part of the collaborative consumption movement.

Why has Warp It been developed?

Even in well managed best practice organisations, unwanted items in good condition are being wasted, whether they are in storage, being saved for a “rainy day” or is just being thrown out. A combination of space and time pressures and lack of easy communications, are the main reasons why good quality items are wasted. Warp it makes transfer of ownership quick and easy due to better communications.

Who uses Warp It?

Any organisation who is concerned with resource efficiency, waste, carbon, environmental issues or waste minimisation. Organisations who are interested in collaborating- sometimes called shared services- with other organisations use the service a great deal. Our main customers are Universities, Municipal Councils, Government departments and large private sector business. These types of organisation use the service for internal redistribution as well as sharing with approved partners. We are also popular with startups and SMEs who are able to access surplus corporate resources. We are also popular with business parks, green business club and other enterprise membership organisations who use the service to set up a facility so that their members can trade between themselves.

How does Warp It work?

The web application works by linking together individuals (contributors) who loan/give resources , with individuals (recipients) in the same or different organisations who require the resource to reuse as part of their operations/activities or service. Warp It clients use a bespoke web portal, where unwanted resources are advertised to interested subscribers, via email and/or online. A recipient from the client organisation or a partner organisation claims the resource and then arranges the collection. The legal transfer of ownership declaration is completed by both parties on transfer.

What items can be reused through Warp It?

Mostly furniture, electrical equipment, office consumables (such as stationery and ink jet cartridges) , lab equipment, supplies and medical equipment. We have even had Turkish CDs and bone china transferred! As long as it is legal it can be transferred. Individuals have to abide by the terms and conditions.

What are Warp It clubs?

A Warp It club is a reciprocal sharing network between related organisations. If there are a number of organisations in the same local area (where local sharing is convenient) or sharing similar activities (eg labs, engineering, medicine) then they can be linked on Warp It by setting up a Warp It club. This increases the range and frequency of items passing between organisations, thereby using items and equipment more effectively.

What are the benefits over using existing email systems to advertise items?

This system is easy and encourages community and co-operation, thereby facilitating better participation, management and control. The system makes it easy for all parties- which encourages mass participation. Each transaction is recorded and monitored. Every participant is registered. This means that waste and liability legal concerns are obliged. Carbon, recycling and financial information on each transaction is recorded which allows the production of management reports, important for carbon financial and CSR reporting.

We don't have storage so how can we benefit?

In the main there is a direct transfer of equipment between owner and claimant, so Warp It also negates the need for any intermediate storage. This makes for a user friendly, efficient way of getting the best value out of unwanted resources.

We already have storage and use it to exchange furniture and items- how does Warp it help?

The Warp It system will complement your existing storage swap shop system in a few ways. As Warp It allows users to communicate easily it means in the majority of cases a home can be found for the item without having to transfer it to storage. This means there is no double handling, taking out the storage link in the removal chain, reducing damage to goods and H&S risks. It will also reduce the need for people to walk around your store, as the items are displayed on line. Warp It also acts as a stock management system.

What happens if unwanted resources are not claimed?

If your organisation has the space to store the item it will be transferred to storage. Or after a specific time, resources can be passed to 3rd party partners using Warp it clubs. If the reciprocating sharing network cannot find a home for the equipment and there is no storage, the item can be passed on for reuse by local partners such as charities, businesses or schools.

Who is responsible for uploading equipment onto the system?

The staff upload information about the equipment they are offering. The upload process is very easy.

Who is responsible for arranging the transfer and transport of items?

The collection of items is to be arranged between the contributor and the requesting party. It is the requesting parties responsibility to arrange collection of the item/equipment. There is a facility to incorporate the client’s internal transfer/removal systems, such as portering systems. Any costs including labour, packaging and transport are to be covered by the recipient.

Who is responsible for ensuring that the items that are transferred are usable, safe and appropriate?

To abide by waste legislation and liability issues the guidelines must be followed. It is the responsibility of the contributing party to ensure that items are described correctly and the guidelines are followed. It is the requesting parties responsibility to ensure the item/equipment is safe and appropriate before using. All users must agree with the terms on registration.

What happens if the item that is transferred is then unwanted by the receiving party?

It is the receiver’s responsibility to re advertise the item.

Can staff use the system to trade their own goods?

How do you work out the financial savings of Warp It?

Each item is given an average replacement value using public sector contract prices. Each item is also given waste disposal financial value. These figures are updated annually. For more detail on this process please contact us.

How do you work out the reuse/ recycling rate/weight?

Using established references and methods each item is given an average weight. Every transaction/ item that is reused is added to the running reuse total which is measured in KG. For more detail on this process please contact us.

How do you work out the carbon emissions savings of items transferred?

Every item transferred saves on carbon emissions because a new item does not have to be purchased. Using established references and methods each item is given carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) value (KG). For more detail on this process please contact us.

How does Warp It save time?

1) The system is designed so that the staff upload information about the equipment they are offering. So instead of making a request for disposal as they normally would , the task of adding the item is given to the disposer. No additional time/resource spent- but a change in behaviours required.
2) Instead of the disposal contractor, porter (or equivalent) moving the item from old owner to disposal, skip or store- the item is taken to the new internal owner directly. Or if a new owner is not found internally the item is moved to store OR a 3rd party collects. No additional time/resource spent- but a change in behaviours required. Theer is a time and cost saving if a 3rd party collects.
3) In large organisations, in the main there is a direct transfer of equipment between owner and claimant internally, so Warp It negates the need for any intermediate storage. There is a time saving here as only one move instead of 2 (old owner>store>new owner).
4) Every internal trade negates the need for a quote/purchase order/invoice. This is an approximate 30 minutes time saving for each transaction.

In "theory" the service saves time but it depends on how it is implemented into policy and requires a change to practice. The above is a medium/long term, incremental, behaviour change goal.

Is Warp It secure?

Log in is encrypted. Access to your bespoke Warp It is password protected. Staff from the subscribing client organisation can register automatically. Individuals who do not work within the subscribing client organisation (such as representatives from charities, schools and SMEs) will only be given access if they are authorised by the superuser. Members of Warp It clubs can view other club members listings.