1000 Flowers for the Planet - # 223 Buy Second-Hand

1000 Flowers for the Planet - # 223 Buy Second-Hand

It’s not always necessary to buy things brand new. People everywhere are learning the art of buying second-hand for several reasons. In financially difficult times, it saves money to buy second-hand. It prevents items from being sent to landfill for no good reason other than they are surplus to requirements. People often want to get rid of some of their possessions either because they don’t use them anymore or their needs have changed and these items can be bought by someone else and given a new purpose. Shopping at a charity shop has the dual benefit of finding things at really good prices and supporting the charity the shop exists to aid.

By moving things around the community for use and re-use we avoid putting them into landfill where they do no one any good and the planet a great deal of harm. Buying second hand goods ensures the resources that went into making those items are put to further use and not wasted mindlessly. By valuing our resources and ensuring we maximise their use we reduce the need for more and more energy being used to produce goods from scratch. Second hand doesn’t mean second-rate – it just means someone doesn’t need it anymore. But you might.