Why second hand shopping is great for the environment

Save money, find cool treasures, and reduce waste – so much to love about second hand shopping.

Resisting the urge to buy so many new ‘things’

Every little thing that we use and that we throw away in our lives has a footprint on the planet. Whether it is small or big, we can’t ignore that the items we consume have an impact on our environment. That’s where we can see second-hand shopping as a great solution to helping save the planet. 

Most of us have already heard of the motto “Reduce, reuse, recycle” as being one of the core values of sustainable living.

First, we should reduce the number of things that we consume. But then, we ought to reuse what already exists in the world.

Second-hand shopping lowers the impact of the things we consume as we’re reusing things that have already been produced and we are diverting them from landfills.

What can I buy second hand?

Thrifting and buying second-hand clothes is more and more popular. But the good thing is that, nowadays, we can buy almost anything pre-owned, including:

• Books
• Clothing
• Furniture
• Kitchen appliances
• Toys and games
• Cars
• Home decor pieces
• Electronics
• So much more!

Benefits of second hand shopping

Shopping at charity shops ticks so many boxes for me, including:

• Second hand items are reused, instead of ending up in landfill.

• You can find some great bargains.

• Sometimes you find vintage or collectible items that aren’t available in mainstream shops.

• You can find things are aren’t the big trends right now! So you can create a fashion style that is unique to you by putting together clothes from different trends, eras or from other countries.

• You never know what you will find in a second hand shop. People often like the thrill and rush you can get from shopping, and would miss it if they stopped shopping completely. You can replace that feeling with the thrill of the unknown.

• There is usually no packaging to deal with (of course, you don’t know if the previous owner disposed of the packaging in a good way, but at least you are buying an item that isn’t generating more packaging waste).

• When you shop at a charity shop, you are supporting them to raise funds for their work.

• Charity shops create some paid jobs, and also provide volunteering opportunities for people who can donate their time to a charity.

• Charity shops are often located near other smaller shops or local businesses, which can help keep high streets and small communities alive, if the chain retailers have moved to more expensive malls.

And donating to charity shops is also part of the cycle for me. I often donate books, clothes and household items.

Check out my other posts on ways to create less waste, while still enjoying life!

• Lower waste lifestyle tips
• Hidden plastics and how to avoid them

Do you love second hand shopping? Or not quite convinced?

Love to hear your comments below.