I will buy products that are made to last, are repairable, and at the end of their life, are recyclable. Fact: 90% of the raw materials used in manufacturing become waste before the product leaves the factory while 80% of products made get thrown away within the first six months of their life. Source: Seven Things to Know about Bioeconomy (PDF. Page 6).
As Covid restrictions ease and we get back to shopping in person, please consider:
- Planned obsolescence: A common practice and a strategy used by many companies to grow profits. When an item breaks or is no longer fashionable, we replace it with a new one. Built To Fail: 7 Examples Of Planned Obsolescence From Durability Matters.
- Right to repair: Many companies make repair of their products difficult and expensive. Parts are not available and special tools are often needed. There is a growing movement to enact “right to repair” laws. When will Canadians have the right to repair? From Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives
- New products sent to landfill: This is a growing issue as online shopping increases. Incredibly it is often cheaper to send unsold or returned products to the dump (sometimes in their original packaging) rather than deal with it in a sustainable manner. Think Amazon fulfillment centres! Amazon labels millions of unsold products for destruction, new investigation finds From The Verge
How You Can Help — Shop Local
You can see what you are buying and avoid costly returns. Also, you can talk to your local vendor about stocking more sustainable products and making repair and recycling easier. Plus you’re supporting the local economy.
Circular Economy From Government of Canada.
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