Giving an appliance a second life for a worthy cause

Appliances taken back by our service due to early replacement are usually recycled professionally. In line with our commitment to greater sustainability, we asked ourselves how we could extend the service life of our appliances before they are recycled in order to make more efficient use of the resources they contain.

For this reason, three employees have been working on the topic of the circular economy as part of our 2021 talent programme. “As a team, we explored the idea of refurbishing returned appliances and donating them to a charitable or non-profit organisation in the region”, says Mauro Odoni, Head HR Business Partner and HR Services at V-ZUG.

In November 2021, two V-ZUG service technicians participated in the “Refurbishment for Charity” project by overhauling a CombiCooler V4000 refrigerator and delivering it to the Bad Knutwil Youth Village. For nearly a century, this social development institution has been enforcing civil and criminal law measures for young men with behavioural issues – and supporting them on their journey to a self-reliant life. 

Everyone involved was delighted with the successful donation. The youths now have a spacious appliance for storing their food. The project team at V-ZUG was also satisfied with the outcome. “While working together, we gained valuable insights from each other and learned a great deal about the market for used appliances. We can make very practical use of second-hand models by giving them a second chance at life”, says Odoni. The “Refurbishment for Charity” project will therefore be continued and developed into a business model.