Ideas for Secondhand Buying – Day 27 of the Zero Waste Problem

Final Up to date on January 23, 2024

It takes quite a lot of vitality and assets to make new merchandise. Bear in mind after we talked about shopping for much less in day one of many zero waste problem?

Whereas shopping for much less is actually a part of the answer, so is shopping for second hand or asking your family and friends if they’ve an additional one mendacity round you might borrow and/or have.

Right now, I problem you to buy second hand and buy merchandise already within the waste stream.

It’s day twenty seven of the zero waste problem! There’s solely 4 days left of the problem – we’ve come a good distance!

The start of the problem is concentrated on easy swaps like bringing your personal water bottle and baggage to the grocery retailer.

The second part of the problem is concentrated on way of life adjustments like studying to make your personal snacks, decluttering your life the zero waste approach, and conserving pure assets.

Now, we’re into the third part of the problem.

The activism part. The part the place you get to get slightly exterior of your self and work on bringing change at a complete new stage.

(I’ll say a few posts are out of order. We had an activism put up earlier within the problem and we’ll have a way of life change on this part, however you possibly can forgive me, proper!? Thanks 🙂

Right now we’re speaking about purchasing second hand!

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the issue:

Each merchandise bought second hand means one much less new one produced. Each merchandise, even one thing small like a t-shirt takes quite a lot of time, vitality and assets.

Clothes, significantly, quick style has some questionable ethics, and could be wasteful and dangerous to the surroundings.

Producing artificial fibers like polyester requires vitality and crude oil like petroleum. Yep – polyester is plastic!

Even clothes that make the most of pure fibers, like cotton, use a ton of water. It takes 27,000 gallons of water to make the cotton for one t-shirt! (supply)

Conventionally grown cotton makes up simply 2.5 p.c of complete cropland, however makes use of 16 p.c of the world’s pesticides.

And, if the clothes you’re shopping for, isn’t made native to you, you additionally need to think about the fossil fuels utilized in transportation.

As soon as we now have the t-shirt in our possession, what number of instances will we put on it?

When does it get thrown out with the subsequent tidying session? One of many greatest issues concerning clothes particularly is textile waste.

In response to the Ellen Mac Arthur Basis “Each second, the equal of 1 rubbish truck of textiles is landfilled or burned.

An estimated USD 500 billion worth is misplaced yearly resulting from clothes that’s barely worn and infrequently recycled. “

After all, this is applicable to excess of simply t-shirts, but additionally furnishings, jewellery, toys, all of them take vitality and assets to create.

the answer:

Don’t help this cycle of fixed consumption and exploitation of the earth.

Select to buy second hand as a substitute.

By buying second hand, you aren’t supporting this waste of time, vitality and assets. In actual fact, you’re retaining gadgets out of the landfill.

Go go to your native thrift retailer and see what number of gadgets, nonetheless in nice situation, are being offered.

You’ll be amazed at how a lot backstory, historical past and worth the gadgets accessible. You may additionally discover one thing that actually speaks to you!

You may also discover some nice second hand issues on-line utilizing ebay and even craigslist.

Even Fb Market could be a beneficial asset find issues native to you, second hand.

I personally love second hand purchasing. So a lot of my homewares and clothes is second hand.

Considered one of my favourite issues about second hand items are the tales. You’re a part of its story now. And, while you cross it on, possibly it will likely be a part of another person’s story, and I believe that’s actually particular.

I’ve a pearl necklace that was my grandmother’s. It began out as an extended strand of pearls that have been break up into six totally different necklaces for all the ladies within the household.

It’s simply so particular and shopping for a brand new pearl necklace wouldn’t have almost the quantity of heat, fuzzy recollections connected with it.

A number of different gadgets I put on are second hand too, like my engagement ring and my marriage ceremony bands.

I’m telling you – there are such a lot of superb issues on the second hand market.

You additionally don’t have to really buy gadgets with a view to help second hand values – you may also get gadgets second hand from family members.

All the time ask round earlier than shopping for an merchandise to see if somebody has a spare first.

I do hyperlink to merchandise that I personal, however usually instances you’ll see me say “please examine the second hand market first”. I additionally love supporting sustainable companies and suppose we’d like each to thrive, however that’s one other put up for an additional time.

After all, some issues are higher purchased new – like a toothbrush. 😉

take the problem!

Over the subsequent 4 days, your problem is to buy second hand.

New gadgets take quite a lot of time, assets, and vitality to make.

As a substitute, select to purchase gadgets which might be already on the market. This implies one much less new merchandise shall be produced and ensures a superbly good merchandise stays out of the landfill.

You could find so many issues from garments to housewares on the second hand market: the chances are countless.

Will you be taking the problem?

need extra?

Simply beginning out? Have 1,000 burning questions!?

Get entry to my personal Fb group, the place I’ll be internet hosting weekly lives all through the problem and I reply your entire most urgent questions.

PLUS! I’ll be sending out a model new e-book on the finish of the problem known as the Recreation On Handbook which is all about particular person methods to combat local weather change.

You don’t wish to miss it.

miss a day?