World Recycling Day

Understanding the role reuse plays in preserving natural resources is important for all businesses, Ramco understand Recycling and circular economy and can help you give old assets a new lease of life!

Can you tell us a bit more about Ramco?

Almost £59 billion worth of working assets are sitting idle in organisations across the UK. Ramco’s reuse service puts a stop to that, as none of us can afford to waste resources - for the planet and for profit.

Ramco was founded in 1996 with a mission to give surplus equipment of all shapes and sizes a new lease of life. From gym and catering equipment to vehicles and plant and machinery, there really is no limit to the range of equipment we handle.

Through our work with organisations to give their unwanted equipment a new home, we promote reuse, generate a financial return, clear space, and contribute to the circular economy by keeping equipment in use for longer.

We’ve helped give huge volumes of assets a new lease of life for clients including the BBC, Centrica, Merlin Entertainments and the NHS. Ramco also holds MOD contracts for the reuse and resale of commercial assets and recycling of scrap metal.

What type of products do you sell and how do you sell them?

From huge machinery like excavators, cranes and boats to smaller items like cutlery and clothing (or even obscure items like a nuclear reactor control panel and flight simulator!), Ramco receives and sells an ever-growing range of items. We never really know what’s going to come through our doors next!

Equipment for reuse is sold to buyers across the UK and internationally through Ramco’s online marketplace and auction house for second-hand. Anyone can register and bid, whether trade or general public.

Our monthly general commercial assets auction typically has between 1,500 and 2,000 lots (but many more individual items!) and includes equipment covering catering, gym and fitness, clothing, electronics, vehicles, and industrial machinery.

How does Environmental responsibility and Social Value interlink and how to you do this at Ramco 

At Ramco, we aim to have a positive impact on both people and planet equally through our reuse work with clients, internal fostering of sustainable principles, and commitment to making a real difference to everyone around us.

Sustainability and supporting the circular economy are ingrained in what we do and are why Ramco was set up almost 30 years ago. By helping organisations give their working surplus equipment a second life, we extend the equipment’s life and prevent it from being needlessly scrapped or sent to landfill – which is often the case as it’s the easiest and quickest thing to do (but clearly not the best!).

We also practice what we preach about reuse at Ramco. Whether it’s us purchasing equipment from our clients to use within the business (like electric vehicles from National Highways), or members of our team converting campervans and using broken wooden pallets to build a fishtank - we know the importance and benefits of reuse and it’s part of our culture.

To help track our social value contributions and build on our performance and strategy, Ramco joined the Social Value Portal in 2021. From our carbon reduction plan and relationships with local schools to our volunteering initiatives and dedication to making Ramco a better place to work, our ongoing efforts reflects our commitment to social value. There’s still much more progress to be made, but it’s all about taking steps in the right direction.