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Harnessing the Power of Thrifting to Drive Circular Economies and Environmental Justice - Thought Leadership by #SustXGlobal50 Awardee Sadaf Taimur, Canada
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Summary
In this thought leadership article, "Thrift to Thrive: Promoting Sustainable Living" by Sadaf Taimur, Sustainability Scientist/Director of Sustainability & Circularity at Goodwill Industries, Ontario Great Lakes, Canada, and a recipient of The SustainabilityX® Magazine Global 50 Women In Sustainability Awards™ 2024 shares her journey from a resourceful upbringing in Pakistan to advocating for sustainability in Canada. Her article highlights the crucial role of thrifting in promoting circular economies, reducing resource consumption, fostering environmental justice, and encouraging sustainable consumption patterns. By diverting goods from landfills and supporting green jobs, thrift infrastructures exemplify sustainable practices and contribute to Canada’s emission reduction goals. This inspiring piece calls for collective action to embrace mindful consumption and build a more equitable, sustainable future.
I was born in Pakistan and grew up in a culture of resourcefulness. In my upbringing, nothing was ever wasted – most of the things were repurposed, refurbished, and reused. For example, glass jars were reused to store spices, empty boxes were repurposed for storage and shopping bags were kept to be used again. I vividly remember my father trying to repair appliances and my grandmother converting used clothes into the cushion covers and other homewares instead of throwing them away; this was simply the way life was. Every item had value and creating waste was not in the horizon.
Reflecting on my upbringing, I realize that in my community, thrift and sustainability weren’t just buzz words – they were a way of life. Everyone understood that resources are finite, and people learned to make the most of everything – a concept which was discussed by the MIT researchers in their report “Limits to Growth” identifying that earth has limited resources and using them infinitely will eventually deplete them; therefore, changes in resource utilization patterns and economic policies are needed. For me, being a part of this culture taught me that every item was precious, not just for its utility but for the thought, effort and care that went into making it last.
I moved from Pakistan and traveled across the world for education and work, from the Far East in Japan to Vietnam, Sweden to Germany, and now, I call Canada my home. As I've moved from place to place, I've noticed a stark shift in consumer habits, with time, that leaves me astounded whenever I reflect on it. Every day, we can see perfectly usable items being discarded without a second thought. The harsh pursuit of new trends and convenience has led to a culture which gives priority to quantity over quality and disregards the true value of items.
Driven by a deep commitment to sustainability and resource conservation, I pursued a major in sustainability science during my master’s and doctorate studies, which led to a career in this field. Today, I am glad that I work for Goodwill Industries, Ontario Great Lakes (OGL) an organization where my values align perfectly with its strategic vision & mandates – I.e., focus on collecting, sorting, grading, repurposing, reusing and recycling the used commodities while promoting sustainable consumption patterns in the community. My work in sustainability, has allowed me to connect with my roots and advocate for a more sustainable future.
Reusing and repurposing commodities play a crucial role in promoting sustainability and ethical practices. Thrifting offers a second life to items that might otherwise end up in landfills, while making a positive impact on our planet and society in the following ways:
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Promoting Circularity
Reusing the commodities is critical for a more circular and sustainable economy where material and products remain in circulation, reducing pressure on the virgin resources and minimizing waste. The waste hierarchy model also informs that in order to move towards a circular economy, we need to keep materials and products in use for as long as possible, with reuse being the most preferred approach after prevention/reduction. The role of infrastructures that promote the reuse, repurposing, and recycling of commodities becomes crucial, especially at this time where Canada is facing troubles to make a shift towards being a circular economy and is repeatedly ranked among the top ten waste producing countries. It is projected that Ontario is going to run out of landfill space by 2032, making the role of thrifting even more significant. Thrifting exemplifies the shift towards circularity by promoting circular and sustainable values (reduce, reuse, and recycle) while diverting millions of goods from landfills.
Reducing Resource Consumption Through Thrift
The operations and systems of the thrift infrastructures require fewer resources compared to those required to manufacture new goods - keeping the items in circulation can indirectly reduce the energy and water footprint associated with producing new goods. For example, thrifting a cotton t-shirt instead of buying a new one can save 2700 liters of water – enough for one person to drink for two and a half years – and prevent the release of 9.5 pounds of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. Furthermore, these infrastructures create jobs in the local communities, reducing the carbon footprint associated with resource consumption for employees’ commute and non-local commerce.
Promoting Environmental Justice
Thrift stores play a vital role in promoting environmental justice by encouraging the right to a safe, healthy, safe and sustainable environment for all – including ecological, physical, social, and economic aspects. By creating green jobs in the sorting, repurposing, recycling, and resale of donated goods, thrift stores help reduce waste and extend the life cycle of products. These green jobs not only support local economies but also empower people facing employment barriers, fostering inclusivity and community support. Canada’s 2030 Emission Reduction Plan (ERP) is a huge part of nation’s strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition to a green economy, with a commitment to create green and sustainable jobs. According to Royal Bank of Canada, this transition to clean economy could generate between 235,000 and 400,000 new jobs by 2030. Thrift infrastructures (like Goodwill) are well-positioned to contribute by creating green jobs and nurturing green skills within local communities. They engage their employees in implementing sustainable and circular business models and process – as these infrastructures are well equipped to handled commodities in need of diversion, repurposing or recycling – making them ideal platforms for developing the abilities, knowledge, and competencies required to thrive in a sustainable economy. Furthermore, while decreasing the environmental footprint, thrift stores also providing affordable, eco-friendly shopping options for consumers. By bridging the gap between environmental sustainability and social equity, these stores are key players in promoting environmental justice.
Promoting Sustainable Consumption Patterns
Thrift infrastructures promote sustainable practices like reuse, repurposing, in contrast to the traditional buy-use-dispose cycle. By establishing a presence in communities, thrift stores capacitate the communities on sustainable consumption patterns. On average, each Canadian generates 2.7 kg of waste daily and Canadian landfills produce 27 megatonnes (Mt)of greenhouse gases annually. Therefore, shifting consumer behavior is crucial for supporting an economy where resources are utilized more efficiently and responsibly, and thrift infrastructures can play a crucial role in this transition. Ontario diverts approximately 4 million tons of materials from landfills annually, collaborating with and supporting existing thrift infrastructures, which are well equipped to handled commodities in need of diversion, repurposing or recycling, can help the government achieve its waste management and emission reduction goals in a cost effective and efficient manner.
In short, thrifting is not just about finding affordable items; it promotes sustainability and ethical practices. Thrift infrastructures play a vital role in extending the lifespan of commodities, reducing resource consumption, promoting environmental justice, supporting green jobs, and capacitating communities. These efforts are crucial to reduce environmental degradation and promoting sustainable consumption patterns. Thrifting has the potential to transform the way people live, creating a more sustainable and socially equitable environment. Let’s lead by example and inspire others to embrace a sustainable and mindful approach to consumption.
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The SustainabilityX® Magazine is an award-winning, digital, female-founded, and female-led non-profit initiative bringing the environment and economy together for a sustainable future through dialogue, and now transforming the environment and economy for a sustainable future through the power of women's leadership. Founded on May 8, 2016, and inspired by the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals by Canada's Top 30 Under 30 in Sustainability Leadership awardee, Supriya Verma, the digital media initiative focuses on approaching the world's most pressing challenges with a holistic, integrated, systems-based perspective as opposed to the traditional and ineffective siloed approach with a single lens on interdisciplinary topics like climate and energy. This initiative ultimately seeks to explore how to effectively bring the environment and economy together through intellectual, insightful dialogue and thought-provoking discussion amongst individuals across sectors taking an interdisciplinary and integrated approach to untangling the intricate web of sustainability while championing women's leadership in sustainability.
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