Buy Nothing Challenge: 2024 (2024)

Challenging our culture of overconsumption

The past few years I’ve made a gradual shift in my shopping habits, attempting to buy as little new “stuff” as possible. The majority of my recently wardrobe additions are secondhand, or at the very least, from a sustainable and ethical brand, and I generally refrain from buying much else for the home, among other areas.

However, while doing some decluttering around the house over the past week, I had a full-blown panic attack over the sheer amount of “stuff” we’ve accumulated over the years. While sorting through clothes and shoes for donation, I worried about the fate of the items in question. Thrift stores are already inundated, with only a small percentage of items finding new owners. By simply dropping these items at the thrift shop, am I really just sending them to the landfill? Only around 20 percent of clothing donations are actually resold.

“There’s good reason to believe that much of what started out as charitable donations will nonetheless end up in the garbage: Countries that accept large amounts of secondhand textile imports from the U.S., such as Ghana and Chile, now have enormous textile-waste problems of their own.” — The Atlantic

I believe we bear a massive responsibility to care for all the items brought into our possession, which includes responsibly disposing of or finding new homes for things we no longer need.

Recognizing the need for change, and for accountability, I’ve decided to publicly commit to a set of goals for 2024:

1. Buy nothing new.

No new items for the house or office, no new clothes or shoes, no new technology (especially considering the egregious human rights violations happening in the DRC for cobalt and copper), etc. If we find there is something we do truly need, every effort will be made to find that item secondhand — or attempt to repair what we already have. The only exception here is consumables, but that also comes with a caveat…

2. Recommit to being as mindful as possible with consumable purchases.

Most consumables come in packaging, which again, is our responsibility to dispose of properly. While we currently recycle and compost at home, we can make more of an effort in this area to cut down on items purchased in packaging, especially plastic, buying in bulk and at the farmer’s market as much as possible. Essentially, the goal here is to send as little to the landfill as we can.

3. Continue to declutter and find new lives and homes for unneeded items.

Again, this does not mean just filling up boxes with miscellaneous “stuff” and dropping off at Goodwill. This means making a conscious effort to mindfully find a new home for every unneeded item, whether through smaller local thrift shops, the local Facebook Buy Nothing group, taking items to CHaRM, etc. This will likely be the biggest and most time-consuming challenge of the year, especially considering that we are still clearing through a great deal of inherited items.

Amidst the overwhelming scale of global grief, I’ve grappled with how to contribute as an individual. This commitment feels like a small but meaningful step.

Important note: I realize that being able to take on this challenge is an immense privilege. I am fortunate to have the time and resources available to be able to.

Throughout the year, I plan to document my experience and provide monthly updates on the progress of each goal, sharing insights and lessons learned. If you share similar goals or have any insights, please join the conversation. If any part of this resonates with you, I extend a warm invitation to join me on this path. We are stronger in community. A better world is possible!