Circularity: A Sustainable Cycle
Amidst discussions about sustainability, the idea of circularity has emerged. Circularity focuses on the idea of cycles and of reusing items to minimise waste. Upcycling, which refers to the repurposing and reusing of an item, is an example of circularity. As opposed to the traditional, linear economy in which products have a lifespan and are created and then disposed of, circularity focuses on extending that lifespan and reusing items as far as possible. Let’s explore some examples of this circularity in Singapore today.
1. Thrifting
Thrifting, the act of buying secondhand items, is making a big comeback both as a global phenomenon and locally as well. Demand for vintage fashion and second hand goods have risen and consumers are becoming increasingly open to the idea of a circular economy in which they put their items up for purchase and buy second hand items from others. Flea markets and bazaars are common and there’s something for everyone.
For example, The Luggage Market is the one of the biggest thrifting markets in Singapore which happens every Sunday and slots to book a booth to sell items there are quickly snapped up whenever they are released. Second hand shops are also easily found across Singapore and in major malls. For example, Refash, which specialises in taking in and re-selling clothes for women, has about 12 stores across Singapore and has resold over 1 million pieces of clothing. From Telok Ayer to Orchard and other areas, plenty of second hand stores selling wares reside across the island and are well-loved by the public.
2. Giving and Sharing
Sometimes, putting a price tag on everything just isn’t necessary. Sharing is caring, and many people are happy to give away items in good condition to strangers who may appreciate them more. Giving and sharing items we have in excess or no longer need or want are practices that many of us already engage in, albeit on a personal level. Now, there are widely-used platforms which allow us to expand our reach and to pass along items to more people.
Olio is a platform with over 100,000 users in Singapore who give away food and non-food items regularly. Users can bless others with everything from excess food cooked for the family to new clothes never worn. Popular second hand marketplace platform Carousell also offers the option for users to list items for free, allowing them to pass along items to others on the app. By removing the price tags on items, these items become more accessible to others and are much less likely to end up in the landfill.
3. Reusing
Another way that circularity is maintained is through the reusing and repurposing of items. Many items we use on a daily basis, from cups to bags, are often either single-use or considered to be. While single-use items are convenient and save us time, they have a devastating impact on the environment and translate to a great deal of waste. Therefore, reusing and repurposing items are a good way to introduce circularity and to minimise the number of items heading for the landfill.
Package Pals, a circular packaging initiative, collects, sorts and distributes second hand packaging to businesses and therefore tackles the issue of plastic waste generated by online shopping. Creative ways in which items are reused or repurposed include initiatives by ActiveSG to collect used shoes to make running tracks and the creation of bags from National Day 2021 banners.
Circularity is a promising sustainability trend that is growing and appears to be receiving positive responses from the public. With more and more people willing to try out second hand selling and buying, the above mentioned types of circularity have the potential to move us toward a more sustainable future of consumption.
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