Do not throw your unwanted items away, Partage them!
We have a responsibility to our world, and those who live in it, to treat it with respect and live within the means of the planet. We all know the R’s - refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle - so let’s talk about the impact we can have when we reuse items through sharing, and let me introduce you to Partage! Did you know that around £30 billion worth of unused clothes are sitting in UK’s wardrobes and more than 272,000 tons of furniture are available for re-use each year in the UK? This is one of the main problems that Partage is tackling. Set up by brothers Boris and Isaac Kwemo, it lets users donate and pick up household items in exchange for points. Items on the site range from fashion and tech to books, games and furniture. The other interesting part is the exclusive partnership Partage has with sustainable brands in clothing, food and furniture. You can save up points to get special offers from the site’s eco-friendly partners. Boris says: “I had the idea as a student – sadly a while ago - when I was frequently moving house and couldn’t find an easy way to sell or get rid of items. Also, the waste produced every day was alarming. Having a technology background, it was very clear to me that this major problem had to be solved by building a platform where people can easily give or get rid of their items and have some benefits in return. Partage brings together likeminded people and companies to recycle, reuse and cut waste.”
Just like Boris, I have often found myself needing to move accommodation as I have lived in different cities for studying and work. This has meant needing to donate, sell, or swap many items to help with the moving process. Normally this requires a lot of effort trying to find the right shops, donation centres, or local online groups to help me sustainably get rid off some of my possessions, while ensuring they get a second life! Isaac says: “When I was in was in the second year of my bachelor’s degree I worked on an entrepreneurial project on food waste. From then on, I realised that the waste market was very large and that this loss of efficiency was a problem that needed to be solved. This experience reinforced my environmental awareness.”
Similarly to Isaac, after studying environmental science, I realised the true cost of waste across the world, and new that I have a responsibility as an individual to play my part to reduce my own waste, and support initiatives like Partage to help others do this too. We all have to play our part, and push for better from businesses and governments to help with our waste crisis!
Why not today check out Partage to find out how you can help with our waste crisis?! You never know what you’ll find!