There is no zero-impact consumption for our planet, but it is obvious that buying an old object rather than a new one is an eco-responsible approach that drastically reduces our carbon footprint. Imagine what the manufacture of a new object requires in energy, raw materials (usually not biosourced), packaging (plastic again and again), storage, transport (often from the other end of the planet) versus an existing item that at most will simply need to be cleaned, packaged and mailed.
So let’s be transparent and clearly define what the real impacts are when buying an old or vintage object:
Travel :
First of all, to hunt marvels, you have to get up early (do I have to count the 2 or 3 cups of coffee needed for this purpose ?) and move within a radius of several kilometers. For my part, I rarely travel more than 100 km and this already allows me to select all the beautiful things you find on the eShop of Kitchen Brocante.The advantage of focusing on finding small objects is that I can afford to travel on foot or by train to limit the use of the car.
The cleaning :
Once back with my findings, a good cleaning is needed (uh, no I’m not talking about me !). For the dishes, a mild soap and a little hot water do the trick, for the silverware elbow oil with mirror and a soft cloth. For the laundry, I usually add a little percarbonate to the laundry to whiten and disinfect it (it’s natural and much less polluting than bleach, everyone should know that). And that is all !
The packaging :
I am committed to minimizing waste and when packing your orders I use recovered cartons in neighboring shops, crushed newsprint for cushioning and for the most fragile objects some bubble packaging. I am working to find an alternative solution to this only plastic ever used at Kitchen Brocante, if you have any suggestions do not hesitate to tell me.
In short for the packaging, it is in the vast majority recycled products, so impact level here we are doing rather well so far!
Transportation to the buyer :
Once the small treasures of Kitchen Brocante are packed, they simply leave for their second life at your home by the Swiss Post. I’m lucky enough to have a post office down the street. When I say I’m doing everything I can to have as little carbon impact as possible, I really mean it by dropping off your little packages on foot. I even invested in a super cool roller trolley for heavier packages!
It is important to know that more than 80% of Kitchen Brocante parcels stay in Switzerland, so isn't life sweet ?
Well don’t get too excited ... Do you know that the world’s population currently consumes more resources than ecosystems can provide ? No one can deny today that this global overconsumption leads us to disaster. It is up to everyone to act now and become a consome'actor by reasoning about their purchases and making the right choices. Start by favouring the local and the second hand, you will have already made a big step forward preservation of resources, reduction of transport and waste, development of the local and sustainable economy. Bravo!
In conclusion, antique and vintage shopping is a form of circular economy that is part of a sustainable development logic and this is valid both for antique tableware from Kitchen Brocante, as for clothing, books, furniture ...
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