Ways of reducing the use of resources: The reduction in use, reuse and recycling of materials by end users reduces the use of limited resources, use of energy sources, waste and environmental impacts.

The idea

End users — people and organisations that buy and use products — can cut environmental impact in three linked ways. Reducing use means buying and consuming less, for example choosing products with less packaging or keeping a phone longer. Reusing means using an item again for the same or a new purpose, such as refilling a water bottle or passing on clothes. Recycling means collecting and reprocessing materials, such as melting used aluminium cans into new ones. Each action lowers demand for limited resources like metal ores and crude oil, saves the energy needed to extract and process raw materials, cuts the waste sent to landfill and reduces pollution and habitat damage. The three approaches are complementary, and reducing use usually saves the most because no new processing is needed.

What earns the marks

• Defines reduction in use, reuse and recycling as actions taken by end users, distinguishing them from actions by manufacturers or governments.
• Explains that using fewer raw materials conserves limited resources such as metal ores, crude oil and the finite materials used in electronics.
• Explains that less extraction and processing means less energy from sources such as fossil fuels is needed, lowering associated emissions.
• Explains that less material is discarded, so waste sent to landfill is reduced and environmental impacts such as pollution and habitat damage are lowered.
• Links the three approaches together, noting that reducing use avoids processing altogether, reuse extends an item's life, and recycling recovers material that would otherwise be wasted.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Confusing reuse with recycling.

  Put it right: Reuse uses the item again, perhaps for a different purpose, while recycling reprocesses the material into a new product.

• Claiming recycling removes all environmental impact.

  Put it right: Collecting, transporting and reprocessing still use energy and resources, so reduction and reuse are often more effective.

• Saying resources are unlimited or that recycling creates new raw material from nothing.

  Put it right: Resources such as metal ores are finite, and recycling only recovers material already extracted.

Exam tips

• Name the three actions explicitly and give one everyday example of each, such as buying less packaging, refilling a bottle and recycling cans.
• Link each action to at least one benefit from the statement: limited resources, energy sources, waste or environmental impacts.
• Use precise terms such as finite resources, energy sources and landfill rather than vague phrases like helps the planet.