Research: Environmental concerns drive circular economy for kit
Published June 16, 2021 by MPB
New research, published by MPB, reveals that under 35s are twice as likely as over 55s to consider the impact of their photography on the environment (62% v 31%).
In line with growing awareness and appetite for green living among Millennials and Generation Z, these concerns are triggering a move toward a circular economy for a photography kit. Among photographers of all age groups, two-thirds (66%) recognize that there is no need to purchase brand new photography kit because it is manufactured to be long-lasting, yet under 35s are more likely to embrace the idea of buying used; seven in 10 (69%) agree that it is the best way to reduce the environmental impact of their photography.
Matt Barker, MPB founder, and CEO said: “Kit is built to last so buying used does not have to mean sacrificing on quality – but it does reduce the environmental impact of our field. We started MPB to make photo and video kit more accessible and more affordable whilst also providing a circular economy for visual storytellers, which allows the unused kit to continue its journey with someone new, without harming the planet.”
With 155,000 tonnes of electrical waste going to landfills each year, it comes as no surprise that this is among photographers’ concerns; more than half (56%) agree that e-waste is an issue in the photography field that needs to be urgently addressed. MPB is urging photographers, videographers, and content creators to recycle and recirculate unused kit and reduce the field’s contribution to the UK’s electrical waste problem.
As well as reducing the environmental impact of photography, seven in 10 (69%) photographers recognize that selling on or trading in unused kit also means that more people can get involved in the field, making it more accessible and affordable.
Matt Barker added: “As your skills and interests change, it is understandable that your kit needs might change too – but that doesn’t mean your old camera has to sit forgotten at the bottom of your kit bag or be sent to the landfill. We are committed to extending the life of kit in any way possible, whether that is providing a platform that makes buying, selling, and trading kit simple or donating un-purchasable items to charity.”
From June 2021, MPB will be donating un-purchasable accessories (e.g. filters, tripods, bags) sent in with kit to be sold or traded into the Disabled Photographers Society. The kit will be sold from the charity’s stand during The Photography Show, with all proceeds going towards making the photography sector more accessible to those with disabilities.
MPB commissioned Opinium Research to conduct a survey among 1,002 owners of professional-standard photography kit in the UK between 22 March and 8 April 2021.