A year of nothing “new”
By: Sam Selbie
Tags: Thrift Shops, Consumerism, Reuse, Environment, Recycle

Nothing new.

To reduce my impact on the planet, I’m self-imposing a year long ban on buying “new”.* Instead, all my purchases must be second-hand, used, or otherwise disconnected from the original retailer.

Why?

The planet has enough “stuff” and each time we buy a new sweater, or order a new sofa, we signal to manufacturers they should continue making more. For example, if I buy a sofa directly from IKEA, they use that to calculate how many sofas to produce next year. If I buy that same sofa from a charity shop, or on Gumtree, instead of IKEA, I’m telling them to produce fewer sofas, and I’m preventing a sofa being dumped into a landfill (so long as I find somewhere to put my old one).

My goal this year is to get the proverbial IKEAs of the world to produce fewer sofas, and as a result consume less cotton, wood, water, plastic and so on.

One rule.

Nothing can be new.*

“New” equals anything that will encourage a manufacturer to go and make more. For example, buying a brand-new t-shirt from a charity shop is fine, because even if the shirt still has the tags attached the charity shop won’t go and order more. It is NOT ok to buy a John Lewis cushion from a local shop, because the more cushions they sell, the more they will order from John Lewis, and the more John Lewis will produce next year.

*Food, medicine, toiletries (including cosmetics), and cleaning products are exempt. However, if you want an extra challenge, see if you can source some of your food from local zero waste initiatives.

How to.

Principle one: Use what you already have.

Before you buy new cleaning products and cosmetics, have a dig around the back of your cupboards; how many old sticks of travel deodorant and half-used tins of pomade do you have? What about the bottles of all purpose cleaning spray your last housemate left behind? (For me it’s two, four, and seven respectively…😬). Use them first.

Principle two: Repair, don’t re-buy.

A month ago I noticed the crotch splitting on my favourite (read, only) pair of black jeans. A death sentence, right? Wrong. A needle and thread, a YouTube tutorial, and a few episodes of Friends later and they were all sorted! (If you don’t feel up for doing the repairing yourself, or if the damage is a little more severe look-up local tailors & seamstresses, they can usually fix most repairs for under £15.)

Principle three: Alter.

Instead of binning clothes that don’t fit, have them tailored. My legs have slimmed a little since I stopped squatting and started climbing more seriously, and my trousers are noticeably baggier. Rather than replace my slim fits with skinnies, I can take trip ‘round the corner to Maria’s Repair and Alterations and have her take them in for me. She does a stellar job, it costs me half of what it would to buy them new, and I stop Mr. H&M from thinking he needs to make a new pair.

Principle four: Shop local first.

Pretty straight forward, if you can find it in your local charity shop, do that before you turn to the inter webs.

Principle five: If you can’t find it nearby, the internet is your friend!

I love charity shops, thrift shops, and junk shops as much as the next semi-hipster, slightly scruffy guy in his mid twenties, but searching for something specific can feel like a cross between an episode of Sherlock and Bargain Hunt. (Here I think size, and variety of American thrift stores like Goodwill beat British charity shops hands down.) However, in your quest for the perfect plant pot or coffee machine, there are plenty of options online. I recently purchased a pair of climbing shoes on Ebay, and part of a costume on Depop. Instagram, Craigslist, Gumtree, Preloved, Thredup (US only), Poshmark (US Only), Swap.com (US only), Swapz.co.uk, The Real Real, Tradesyo (US / Canada / Australia), Olio (app) and many many more are great for finding second hand stuff both nearby and further afield.

Principle six (hard mode): For every object you get, give one away.

The exchange economy only works if things move in two directions, so as you welcome new bits and pieces into your home, keep clearing out what accumulates under beds, at the backs of cupboards, and in the bottom drawers of dressers. (It goes without saying that abandoning your old furniture or clothes by a skip is a no-no. Charity shops and local councils offer pickup services — often free of charge — and when they don’t, what’s the bother going down to your local shop? It’s a good excuse for a rummage.)

In progress.

There’s plenty left to ponder with this goal, and exceptions upon exceptions to consider.

“What if I want to buy something new to repair something else?” “I really want to redecorate, but can’t find second hand paint, screws, or brackets? (Would that even be safe?)” “What if I want to buy an original painting, or make my own artwork?” “How about house plants, do they count?”

All good questions I don’t have good answers for, but that’s part of the exercise, and perhaps a place to contribute something new.

PS. Join in.

I’d love it if you joined me on this journey for two reasons. First, it’s harder to feel crazy if there’s someone else with you. And second, because this is a work in progress, and I want your feedback on how it can be better. I hope to hear from you.