Smart Action, Social Impact:
Repurposing PPE for Care
BEKO Europe CASE STUDY
Contract Overview
Start Date
2019
Value
£12.4 m
Term
7 years
On-Site Operatives
8
Contract Manger
INDUSTRY
The Challenge
- Beko Europe, a leading home appliances business, had 24,000 surplus hygiene face masks that were no longer needed for operational use.
- These masks were potentially destined for incineration – a common but carbon-intensive disposal method.
- Incineration would have incurred unnecessary disposal costs and created waste.
- At the same time, care providers like Peterborough Care are under resource and cost pressures, especially for consumables like PPE.
Axil’s Input and Waste Solutions
Sustainability in Action: Axil’s Circular Approach to Redistributing Surplus PPE
The site manager identified the masks as a potential opportunity for reuse, recognising they were still viable and unused and reached out to colleagues across the business
Axil team coordinated a sustainability led redistribution effort to identify a suitable new home – reaching out to Peterborough Care, a local network of care homes.
The logistics were arranged to ensure compliance, hygiene and a quick delivery.
This solution aligned with Axil’s Circular Economy values: redistributing surplus, avoiding carbon emissions, and supporting the local community.
Key themes:
- Avoidable waste/incineration
- Opportunity for community/social value creation
- Need for quick action due to shelf-life and storage
Key input highlights:
- Internal vigilance and proactive cross function team culture
- Matching waste surplus assets to community needs
- Collaboration across different sectors (manufacturing + care)
- Speed, teamwork/collaboration and compliance in execution
Benefits of Total Waste Management
Axil recommended a phased approach to deliver a sustainable total waste management solution. A series of innovations were put in place to achieve Beko Europe’s waste reduction and recycling targets.
Environmental Impact
- 24,000 masks diverted from incineration
- Reduced carbon emissions associated with disposal
- Extended product life of otherwise discarded resources
Financial Impact
- Disposal cost savings for Beko Europe
- Avoided procurement costs for Peterborough Care
Social Impact
- Tangible support for frontline care workers, care home residents and visitors
- Strong example of cross-sectoral circularity in action
- Reinforces ESG credentials for both Beko Europe and Axil
” We have 5 care homes within the group and very grateful for the extra supply of masks that we have received, as much as we try to keep infection low within the care homes sometimes it’s inevitable and can happen quickly overnight hence this kind gesture is welcomed – Thank you from everyone at Peterborough Care
Beverley Steward
Head Office Administrator Peterborough Care
Why It Matters
This case shows how rethinking waste turns surplus into shared value – supporting BEKO’s mission to improve lives through innovative, sustainable household solutions that don’t cost the earth. It highlights the power of human intervention, quick thinking, and cross-sector collaboration to make sustainability both practical and impactful
Other Case Studies
Our latest case studies show successful waste management in practice. Our unique, value-added, partnership approach delivers results – that’s why we’ve retained 98% of our customers.
Re-engineer your waste
ARRANGE A WASTE REVIEW
To gain a clearer understanding of your waste operations, we will visit to carry out a detailed site audit.
Our waste management experts will understand your waste streams and the challenges you face— and develop a service proposal tailored to accommodate your needs.
We will explain how our innovative solutions can re-engineer your waste to reduce your costs and increase your recycling.