Buy something used on eBay or Craigslist
Why This is Green
Reusing anything and everything is a lovely way to stop waste at the source; every time you buy secondhand—from a table to a t-shirt--you’re avoiding (or at least delaying) that specific item’s entry into the waste collection and disposal system. Our groaning landfills will thank you.
Reusing has additional environmental benefits including reducing demand for the resources (natural and otherwise) that go into the manufacture and transport of anything new.
Recently, eBay asked a company called Cooler to calculate the carbon footprint of different items. The results were impressive. If you buy a used leather handbag on eBay, for example, instead of new from a store, you will apparently save “as much energy as a flight from London to Paris.” Keep in mind that many of the items on eBay are actually new, not secondhand. The environmental benefits of relying on eBay for new stuff is similar to buying new from any other online store. For the biggest eco-impact, bid on vintage.
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How To
When you’re in the market for something new-to-you, set aside the shopping time, log on, and surf the sites. Whatever you’re looking for will surely be available—in some way, shape, or form—on eBay. Craigslist can be a little more hit or miss, but worth a look.
To double up your green-ness, check out eBay’s selection of specifically eco-friendly items at green.ebay.com.
To purchase online, you’ll want to sign up for Paypal so you can charge to your credit card. You’ll also need to sign up for eBay to bid.
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