28 Eco Homes
PROMOTIONAL CONTENT
How to shop second-hand and find hidden furniture gems Second-hand shopping is a sustainable and cheaper way to decorate your home As world-renowned tidying expert Marie Kondo famously said, items should spark joy. Whether it’s a chest of drawers or a candelabra, it’s important • to seek out – and hold on tight – to things that set our heart aflutter. But • while minimalist Marie might not be tempted to snap up other’s waste, more and more people are fi nding joy in deep-diving, ruin-rummaging and second-hand shopping. • The search is part of the thrill, after all, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Shoppers are increasingly looking for sustainable solutions for their shopping habits and charity retailers across the country are perfectly positioned to meet the needs of this change. Take the British Heart Foundation. They offer quality items at affordable prices, while also making sure your money goes to worthwhile causes. The charity expect to save around 71,000 tonnes of goods from going to waste, by selling over half a million pieces of living room furniture this year. “Shopping second-hand with the BHF is not only an affordable option
for all types of budgets but it also gives those who want to reduce waste a way to support the reuse cycle – while helping to generate millions of pounds for research into heart and circulatory diseases,” said Imogen Shephard from BFH. Here are BHF’s top tips for hunting down your very own second-hand saviours.
Dedicate your day If you are shopping second-hand on the high street it is always good to go with an open mind and plenty of time on your hands so that you can seek out any hidden gems.
Something to think about The reuse and recycling of donated items each•year helps prevent 135,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions from being released into the atmosphere.
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Don’t •linger If you fall in love with something, snap it up • straight away otherwise you’re likely to be disappointed on your second visit. If you’re worried about how to get it home, the BHF offer a free delivery service.
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Set your search bar While there is nothing quite like the thrill of fi nding something on the shop floor, looking online on sites like eBay gives you the option to shop from the comfort of your own home and quickly narrow down your search.
Start small If you’re new to second-hand shopping, ornaments like vases, clocks and paintings are a great place to start. Mirrors and side lamps are also simple items that can transform spaces. Try to visualise what items will look like in your home. Anything unique that looks like a one-off will stand out and add character.
Mix and match Don’t worry about every piece of furniture or accessory being exactly the same tone and style. If you want to give your home an individual touch, a mix of styles will look fabulous.
Don’t be duped Finally, if you’re buying vintage, be careful of dupes, there are a lot of good ones out there. The BHF trains all of their shop teams to recognise the true value of donations. Any high value items or unique pieces of electronics or technology are sent to the BHF eBay shop, where experts will assess and value items before listing them on their site.
The search is part of the thrill, after all, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure
So, perhaps it’s time to try something a little different and discover all the hidden and unique gems that second-hand shopping has to offer. by Kirsty McKenzie
Inspiring sustainable living
Sustainable surface cleaning tablets
Meet the indie fi rm that believes small changes can make a big difference to global plastic waste and climate change
Clean without plastic waste and nasty fumes
Tabitha Eve is among Britain’s most loved sustainable brands and a go-to store for the truly eco conscious. Based in South Wales, the company was established in 2018 by entrepreneur Debbie Rees, who started her own personal war against wastefulness and plastic pollution, leaving behind a career in fi nance. Debbie said: “I set out to make truly ethically made items that are not only reusable but also beautiful.” Tabitha Eve now has a huge range of homeware, gifts and beauty products, from plasticfree washing up sponges to washable, reusable cosmetic pads. You’ll fi nd beautifully made items for your kitchen to your bathroom, your hair to your skin care regime, and everything in between. This indie business sources the most ethically produced raw materials and takes every step to minimise waste both in terms of its products and by offering ‘imperfect products’ for sale rather than sending to landfill.
checklists.co.uk
Most items are made by hand by a talented team of sewists in Pontypridd, and everything is vegan and cruelty free.
Tabitha Eve encourages everyone to switch singleuse purchases for reusable alternatives and has everything you need to build a greener life.
NeerSol, a UK-brand, provide sustainable products. Their cleaning tablets (all-purpose, glass, and bathroom) offer a sustainable, and affordable way to clean your home effortlessly without trashing the planet. Instead of shipping water they just ship the ingredients to significantly reduce transport emissions. Drop a tablet into any reusable spray bottle and add warm water to make a cleaning solution. The unique selling points and features of the cleaning refills are plentiful. With a goal to operate in a more green and ethical manner, the tablets come in a biodegradable plastic-
free paper strip, packed in a recyclable paper box. The all-purpose tablets are free from ETDA, alcohol, triclosan, ammonia, parabens, VOCs, phosphates, and chlorine bleach. A small dosage of 350 millilitres works with bottles
big or small. The tablets are plastic-free, cruelty free, and nasty fumes-free.
Find out more Find out more Visit tabithaeve.co.uk or fi nd them @tabithaeveco Get 20% off with code CHECKLIST20.
@checklistsocial
To support the project or to avail of the launch offer, scan QR code or visit linktr.ee/neersol. Refills are available for up to 33% off on the RRP of £1.75 per litre, and the Solo cleaning kits are available for up to 23% off on the RRP of £12 per kit. Discount available until 12 November.
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