If we all knew how we were going to say ‘bye’ before we ‘buy’, our planet may be facing less of a climate emergency.
Before you buy anything, just ask yourself, do I really NEED it? If the answer is yes, then look at all the other options on the ‘buy’ side so you can try to avoid bringing something new into the world unnecessarily. “But it is already in the shop”, I hear you say. That’s true, but the less we all buy, the less of a market there is and therefore less will be produced. In time. Everything takes time. We need to start some time – today is good.
We get it, you can’t keep everything forever. You grow, your interests change, you downsize – just some of the reasons we all need to say ‘bye’ to our belongings. But just because you no longer want it, doesn’t mean it is no longer wanted. Before you put it straight it the bin, or out on the curb, work your way through our ‘bye’ guide.
If you don’t know someone who needs it, then check the list of the items we accept and email a photo. If we don’t take it, try an op shop, Gumtree, Ebay, Facebook Marketplace, a buy/sell or pay it forward group on Facebook. It takes a bit of effort, but we think keeping it alive and out of landfill is well worth it.
Spread the message to friends and colleagues. Have conversations. Be proud of wearing second-hand, or buying ‘new to you’. Be a role model for the planet – we can’t think of a better cause.