Save & Go Circular
Sharing
An initiative delivered by The Rediscovery Centre in strategic partnership with the EPA.
Buying new is getting old…
On a planet where limited resources collide with increasingly expensive consumption, sharing is caring.
From toys to tools, and from transport to even nappies, this week we’ll be pointing you towards community sharing schemes and innovative apps that could consign ownership to the past.
Explore these easy and accessible money saving hacks that can help you save by going circular.
LIFE HACK
LIFE HACK
Did you know that cars spend 90% of their life parked up?
Car sharing initiatives, such as GoCar, Yuko and UfoDrive are paving a better way.
There’s over 800 GoCar vehicles across Ireland ready to be shared, while UFOdrive are championing electric cars. Simply select a vehicle according to your needs by the time it’s available, by your location and the vehicle’s size. All you need to do is sign up, book your car and return it once you’ve finished your trip.
In 2019 AA found that the average family car’s running costs are as high as €10,593.
Unlike owning a car, where the charges for tax, insurance, maintenance and fuel mount up, with GoCar you only pay for the time that you’re renting for. You can get on the road for €10 an hour or €54 per day.
Why is this good for the environment?
Car sharing saves resources that would otherwise have been used to inefficiently manufacture excessive numbers of cars. Car sharing also frees up urban spaces that are taken up with private parking. Of course, wherever there are good public transport links or bike lanes, we recommend using those instead.
How to organise a Swap Shop
Do you have clothes at home that you haven’t worn in a couple of years? Clothes that just aren’t you anymore? Do you want to add some new pieces that you really love to wear? Here’s your opportunity to clear out your wardrobe, and affordably add some ‘new’ garments that really spark joy!
Let’s….. organise a swap shop!
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Organise a day that suits you and your friends.
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Pick a venue - this can be your kitchen, your garden, a local community centre, whatever you fancy!
Try to have an area that can be used as a changing room.
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Send out invitations! Include guidelines of type, quality, and quantity of items. We recommend bringing 3-5 good quality items of clothing each.
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Lay out the clothes you’re looking to pass on to a new home, when people arrive they do the same.
If you’re using clothing rails, ask people to bring some hangers!
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Swap! You can run it on the basis of ‘bring a garment, take a garment’ with tokens. For each item people bring to swap, they can take home one item.
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If you want to make sure you aren’t left with more clothes than you can store, ask everyone to bring unswapped clothes home with them, or else drop them off at a local charity shop.
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Enjoy your sustainably swapped new pieces!
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You can also head down to our unique centre in Ballymun anytime to swing by our permanent swap rail!
Who can help you share?
Kids grow up quickly, which usually means lots of purchases throughout their childhood. Luckily help is at hand. Whether you’re looking for books, toys or nappies, there are community organisations and social enterprises championing the sharing economy across Ireland, reducing the costs and carbon footprint associated with buying things.
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The first stop on your sharing economy journey should be your local library. As well as offering a selection of literature to delight any bookworm, free of charge, you’ll find a range of resources, events and activities.
librariesireland.ie
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If you’re lucky enough to live in the Carrickmacross area, you should consider signing up for Toy Library membership. For either €12 per quarter, €20 per six months or €35 per year, you can borrow four different toys for three week periods. If you’re interested in joining, check out their full range of sustainably sourced toys online, covering categories such as puzzles, dress up, and ride-on toys.
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The average child will get through 4500 nappies, which totals at €1,000 and these take nearly 500 years to decompose in landfill! Cloth Nappy Library Ireland is tackling this big stink with a postal loan service. If you’re sceptical, give the “try before you buy” service a whirl.
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Jiminy Eco-Toys party kit rental service include cups, bowls, plates, cutlery, games and even jumbo-bubble kits. Check them out!
Why buy a book you’re only going to read once, when you can borrow one from your local library for free?
Sharing is sensible economically and environmentally, whether it’s for occasionally used items like DIY tools, or things that’ll be outgrown, such as toys and clothes.
What can you borrow?
This week we challenge you to find the most bizarre thing you can rent from your local library!
Did you know that in Dublin, you can borrow an energy assessment kit from your local library, and test how energy efficient your home is?!
Before / After: Jean Swap
Many buy brand new jeans from a well known label, with the hope that they will last for years to come. However, with an average price tag of €73.83, you may wonder if there are better options.
Have you ever considered swapping your jeans? With Nuw each clothes swap costs just €0.99. You could try out as many as 79 jeans for the same price as a new pair! Nuw is tackling fast fashion’s environmental impact, keeping second-hand clothes in circulation, at slashed prices.
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€73.83 :(
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€0.99 :)
