Choose Secondhand
This week's #52climatesolutions is choose secondhand. This can be especially effective at Christmas time, so we've included our secondhand gift-giving guide.
Modern society has normalised the constant getting of new stuff. Clothing, household goods, books etc. continue to be manufactured and sold to ‘consumers’ like there are no other options. Our desire for new belongings is influenced by media and advertising to drive profits to business owners. Businesses justify production on notions of ‘need’, such as to meet societal expectations, appear fashionable or desirable, or to 'improve your life'. Governments encourage us to buy new to boost the economy. But all that shiny comes at a human cost to low-paid workers, and an environmental cost, from extraction and use of resources (esp. fossil fuels to the tune of 12% of global GG emissions), leading to huge amounts of waste, pollution and litter.
Many of us have power to choose what we want to buy. We don’t have to accept mass marketed stuff or seek the latest shiny thing. We can just say “no” to many things. Or, adopt this weeks’ #52climatesolutions; choose secondhand.
This month is #SecondHandSeptember, aiming to avoid throwaway fashion. How long can you go without buying new? The useful life of stuff can be extended in many ways. Hand-me-downs can be great for prolonging the life of clothes. Donate, or swap with friends who will find a use in a belonging, where you might not. Borrow what you need through sharing economies (e.g. toy/tool/book libraries). Next, consider secondhand shops, online classifieds and garage sales.
Buying secondhand can be a fine art. To find the right items to meet your needs might involve a bit of rummaging or willingness to be patient until the right thing turns up. You may get lucky and find something of higher quality than the modern equivalent! Keep in mind that some people rely on secondhand stores for basic needs, due to limited finances, and that aspect needs to be supported in an ongoing way. Remember, secondhand stores receive more donations than they can sell, so check with your local to see if they can find use in what you want to donate, so as to avoid landfill.
One person’s trash is another person’s treasure! Let belongings cycle through until they have truly met their end, and help reduce reliance on virgin resources.
A secondhand Christmas
Last year, we sent ourselves the challenge of buying only secondhand gifts for each other.
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