Second-Hand, First Choice: Vinted Saves Money and the Planet
Written by Katie Webber
In a world of fast fashion, how can we buy sustainable clothing that is also affordable? Is Vinted the answer to saving our pockets and the planet? Everyone loves a bargain, and it’s an even bigger win when buying cheap clothes doesn’t have to compromise on quality and style. Vinted is very user-friendly for both buying and selling second-hand clothes, so you’re sure to find what you’re looking for!
Vinted is perfect for saving money as a buyer and making money as a seller and I would recommend it to everyone – whatever age, gender or style. In the UK, nearly one-quarter of the population use Vinted and I am one of them. I now buy all my clothes on Vinted and can always find what i’m looking for and at a huge discount! It’s also a great side hustle for me too. I’m able to list all my unwanted clothes in a quick and easy process to make a bit of extra cash, with no extra shipping costs for me!
With 73% of all clothing manufactured globally ending up in landfill or incinerated, it feels good to know that every item I buy second-hand is one less unwanted item that ends up in landfill. For every 3 items bought on Vinted, the purchase of one new item is avoided which is equivalent to 2 kg of CO2 emissions prevented. Choosing second-hand over fast fashion is a huge step in the right direction to a more sustainable future, making the most out of the resources already in circulation.
Having an awareness of the environmental benefits is important to ensure our choice to buy second-hand isn’t solely based on the fact it’s cheaper than buying new, but also because we’re aware of the issue of fast fashion and the environmental benefits of buying second-hand. If we can make the conscious choice to protect the planet as well as our pockets, our motivations for using Vinted will withstand the competing low prices of fast fashion.
While Vinted can’t save the planet on its own, it does give us as individuals the opportunity to make a difference in our own small way by making second-hand the first choice.
Why not give Vinted a try.
You will find lots of other ideas for loving your clothes and reducing your impact on the planet here.
You can read about How fast fashion is fuelling the fashion waste crisis in Africa Greenpeace.
The fashion industry is responsible for 10% of annual global carbon emissions, and 20% of global waste water. In the UK we buy more clothes per person than any other country in Europe and an estimated £140 million worth goes to landfill every year. Simple changes to how we buy and dispose of our clothing can have a huge impact on both the planet and also save us money.
At Sussex Green Living we often talk about our outreach with families, in the villages, in schools and with the Youth Eco Forum. What people may not realise is that we also run community sessions with the elderly. Morag and I went along to the Kings Court Care Home in January this year, taking the Horsham Cape of Good Hopes along with us.
Last month London Fashion week was held. There’ll be another in June.
During the first half of 2019 Sussex Green Living and the Horsham Repair Cafe are out and about, inpiring people to ‘make do and mend’, remake, repair, repatch and basically love the clothes and materials around them. Come and learn long lost skills of sewing, patches, repairing buttons, clothes etc. Learn about fast fashion and the damage it is causing our planet, solutions, ways of saving money and the planet……
Neckties are a bit of an environmental nightmare, novelty ties get bought for people who might use them once or twice, charity shops don’t want them as they don’t sell well and if sent for recycling they often get caught up in the recycling machinery and cause expensive damage. Upcycling, remaking and reuse is best!