Save the planet and buy second-hand

The environmental benefits of not buying new are being recognised by more and more consumers. In a recent survey, conducted by the Auction Technology Group, 58% of people interviewed understood that buying second-hand furniture is greener than buying new.

They understand that any emissions from a piece of furniture’s original manufacture can be assumed to have now been “written off”. So, for example the buyer of a wardrobe or dining table might save an estimated 460kg – nearly half a tonne – of carbon emissions compared with buying a similar one new, as that is the amount of carbon emissions produced in making a new one.

The average annual carbon footprint of a person in the UK (which includes all their consumption and travel) is estimated to be about 13 tonnes, so saving almost half a tonne in one purchase is a significant contribution to reducing personal carbon emissions.

It’s a similar story with jewellery because the average carbon emissions to produce a new ring is 0.42 tonnes. This figure increases even higher if you look at the whopping 0.8 tonnes of carbon emissions it takes to produce a new mechanical watch.

The survey also found that the impact of sustainable buying as a reason to purchase used items was more important to women and young people.

The survey found that 18-25s are the most likely to buy used jewellery, watches and clothes and 25-44 year olds are more likely to buy collectables and furniture second-hand than any other age group.

So if you need another reason to justify the purchase of a Rolex you could argue that you are helping to save the planet!