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Compacting
In today’s modern world, it is easy to get caught up in the idea of needing to buy new, and buy more. But there is a movement that is designed to reduce the stress on the environment, and also on people’s hip pockets. It’s called Compacting.
The Origin of Compacting
Compacting originally began in Northern California, in San Francisco, but is now spreading all over the world. The name “The Compact” comes from the Mayflower Contract, the 1620 social contract that was drawn up by the Pilgrims. Originally intended to be just a local group, the movement has exploded and there are members all around the world – in England, Europe, and many Asian countries.
What is Compacting?
What exactly is compacting? The Compact is basically a group of people that have pledged to never buy anything new. The only exception to the rule is food, drink, health and safety necessities. For example, toilet paper and new underwear is acceptable. Everything else should be sourced secondhand. To gain the items that they need for themselves or their home, members of the Compact barter, borrow or buy secondhand.
Why Compacting?
The premise behind compacting is to go beyond recycling. Compacters are trying to counteract negative global environmental and socioeconomic impacts of the disposable consumer culture. Rather, they prefer to support local businesses and producers. Why have something shipped to you from far away when you can take the time to source it in your own backyard? Compacters also aim to reduce the amount of clutter and waste in their homes. Finally, compacters wish to simplify their lives.
Compacting also has an important social aspect. It is a group and, as such, the members will offer advice, moral support, and help you to source needed items as well as partners for a secondhand shopping expedition.
How to be Involved in Compacting
A lot of the things that you throw out turn out to be the same thing that someone else is looking for. It follows the old saying, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure”. By forming a Compact, you can often find a taker for what you don’t need any more, thus keeping what would have been rubbish out of the landfills. You’re also saving the resources that would have been required to make the item new.
Compacting is also about gaining control over consumerism. Rather than just popping down to the shops and picking up an item, you are making the effort to source it secondhand. This reduces you buying things that you don’t need, saving you time and money, and saving the environment as items are not made unnecessarily.
Secondhand shopping is the main tenet of compacting. You can use eBay to your heart’s content, as long as the items are not used. Flea markets, op shops, “freecycling” websites, friends, family, neighbours…all of these are easy ways to be involved. Starting your own Compact is as easy as grouping together a few like-minded people and going from there. The more people that are in your Compact, the more easily you will be able to find suppliers and sources for the items that you need.
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