Nothing New: ready to step up to the challenge?

The “Nothing New” challenge is an initiative from the Zero Waste France association, which campaigns for a reduction in waste and better management of resources. During 2018, more than 15,000 people in France stepped up to the challenge and the target was 100,000 participants in 2019.

The aim of the challenge is to reduce consumption of new items and promote awareness of our overconsumption by focusing on forgotten or ignored alternatives such as :

● Repairing things: this is an option that is far too often dismissed, despite being the most common approach just two generations ago! In many cases, by changing one small part in a device or mending a ripped seam, we can enjoy our items for longer!

● Buying second-hand: this is an easily accessible option today thanks to the many websites and physical shops dedicated to selling second-hand goods.

● Renting or borrowing: again, how many times have we bought something and then only used it once? Maybe you want to host a raclette party, but you don’t have a raclette grill? If you’re only going to use it occasionally, it’s better to borrow one from someone you know rather than running out to buy a new one which will just clutter up your home for the rest of the year! The same goes for books and games – libraries and media libraries can provide an endless supply and you won’t need to buy anything new yourself! Rental, where you pay to borrow an item (a dinner jacket, for example), is another good option.

● Making things: the DIY approach! Thanks to the internet, there are tons of websites and blogs sharing DIY ideas in a huge variety of areas – a great source of inspiration and advice. Now, it couldn’t be easier to make your own wipes, fabric bags or even tawashi scrubbing brushes from old clothes!

● Transforming things: here too, websites such as Pinterest will help you work wonders, and as an added bonus, you’ll boost your creativity! Transform your tin cans into flower pots or use your empty egg boxes to start your seeds. There’s no shortage of ideas out there!

● Doing without non-essential items: by asking yourself whether you really need that new thing you want (however you plan to acquire it) and adopting a ‘slow attitude’ (link to ‘slow attitude’ article).

Now that you have all the information, are you ready to step up to the challenge?

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