What if we could reduce the amount of waste being taken to transfer stations, reduce the percentage of that waste that ends up in landfill, and reduce virgin resource use, all without changing our habits?
We know from studies that people are willing to preference environmentally conscious products, so long as they offer equal functionality to conventional products. In addition, brands in all areas, from fashion to transportation, are bringing out new retro styled or ‘vintaged’ products to meet consumer demand. Retailers like Schots Home Emporium and Deus Ex Machina are going from strength to strength offering products that look like they are from another era. Despite this, second-hand, repaired, and upcycled products make up only a small portion of Australia’s overall retail landscape. If shoppers are willing to buy sustainable products, and are seeking out retro and vintage looking products, there must be a reason that they are not flocking to the genuine article. There must be needs that are not being met, and I believe that those needs are not reflected in the products themselves, but in the way that they are sold.