ReUse Computer –

A Green Economic Enterprise Network

Project “ReUse-Computer” - aims and goals

developing new strategies of use for

citizens, enterprises and organizations

new technical applications and processes of reuse

setting up a network of enterprises in

Berlin

"Anyone who believes exponential growth can go on forever in a finite world is either a madman or an economist.“

Kenneth E. Boulding

About 160 millions of PCs were sold globally in 2004• manufacturing of ONE PC spends about 535 kWh of energy *• for producing the microchips of ONE PC about 550 l of water are used/wasted *• manufacturing and transport of ONE PC cause 112 kg CO2-emission**related to a Pentium III of 1999

We together developed a quality system which fits for „one-person-companies“ as well as for an enterprise with 20 or more employees.

Testing the computers a software tool is used.

A database contains data about the relevant substance of the computer and the identity of the retailer.

The ReUse-Computer association •works self organized and decentral

•proves steps for an economy of sustainainable development

•is a guiding project of Local Agenda 21 in Berlin

The reuse approach is transferrable to other regions, branches or products, e.g. ReUseVelo referring (re)used bicycleswww.reuse-velo.de.

Three basic factors of networks from the point of view of systems theory:

Reciprocity: Reciprocal exchange is different from the contractually regulated exchange of generally accepted equivalents (usually money) and refers to the situation in which agents only exchange their material goods, services or intrinsic needs for appropriate or approximate counter-performances.

Trust The partners share a common past with shared experience and an anticipated common future. Exchange or cooperation is not based on contracts but on trust.

SignificanceThere is an understanding that ones own success can be seen in the benefit of a counterpart.

There is a broad field of various possible activities towards an economy of sustainable development.

Activities are not restricted only to the interface between market of supply and demand and innovation of a new additional products.

Karl Polanyi described four archetype economic models:

Reciprocity: the exchange of goods and services takes place in accordance with a principle of mutual obligations; the goods and services are exchanged on the basis of pre-determined or freely negotiated relative benefits.

(Re-)Distribution: Goods and services are collected in a determined relationship, stored (as far as possible for the item in question), and redistributed.

Market: the exchange of goods and services is based on a price established through supply and demand.

Barter: the exchange process is based on the usability of the bartered goods and services.

Niko Paech proposed four different economic-technological concepts:

Renovation: The reworking or refurbishment of existing goods for the re-use or continued use.

Imitation: The adaptation /supplementing of an existing god by transfer / adaptation / extension.

Exnovation: Taking an existing good out of use and disassembling it into its parts.

Innovation: The development of a new additional good with all its (production) technical pre-conditions.

“Our thesis is that the idea of a self-adjusting market implied a stark utopia. Such an institution could not exist for any length of time without annihilating the human and natural substance of society; it would have physically destroyed man and transformed his surroundings into a wilderness. “

Karl Polanyi

Frank Becker

University of Technology BerlinCentre for Co-operation (ZEK)

Co-operation and Consulting for Environmental Questions (kubus)

FON: +49 (030) 314-26056FAX: +49 (030) 314-24276

becker.reuse@zek.tu-berlin.de kubus@zek.tu-berlin.de

www.tu-berlin.de/zek/kubus