12Rs

12Rs is an expanded framework used in sustainability education and waste management to broaden the traditional three Rs—reduce, reuse, and recycle—into a twelve-item approach beginning with the letter R. The term appears in various environmental curricula and programs, but there is no single universal standard for the exact list. Proponents use the 12Rs to encourage consideration of a product’s life cycle, from design to end-of-life disposal, and to promote more preventive and restorative actions alongside recycling.

Common interpretations of the twelve Rs include:

- Refuse: decline unnecessary goods and packaging.

- Reduce: cut overall consumption and resource use.

- Reuse: use items again in their existing form.

- Repair: fix broken items to extend their life.

- Refill: replenish containers instead of buying new.

- Recycle: process materials into new products.

- Redesign: alter products and systems to minimize waste.

- Remanufacture: rebuild used components into like-new products.

- Refurbish: restore worn or damaged items to good condition.

- Repurpose: assign new uses to items beyond their original purpose.

- Rehome: transfer goods to others who can use them.

- Recover: recover energy or materials from waste where feasible.

The 12Rs aim to complement the broader shift toward a circular economy by emphasizing prevention, durability, and end-of-life recovery, rather than relying solely on recycling. Critics note variability in the exact items and potential overlap between categories.