A new webshop plug-in by Spark Sustainability lets customers see how much emissions could be saved by buying second hand instead of new. The purpose of the new Carbon Impact plug-in is to inform consumers about which consumption choices actually have the potential to mitigate climate change, and which do not. It is currently being piloted together with Swedish second hand furniture retailer ReFurn.
Spark Sustainability is piloting a Climate Impact plug-in in collaboration with Swedish second hand furniture retailer ReFurn, making it easier than ever before for consumers to see just how much greenhouse gases can be reduced by opting to buy items second hand instead of new.
“For a decade we have been trying to visualize what impact our customer’s purchasing choices have on the climate. The Carbon Impact plug-in gives a first understanding which we believe will be and has to be an important factor for all of us — instead of only looking at the price. Whatever we buy or consume will have an impact on the climate so it is important to learn which choices are preferable for our survival chances on this planet. Using already existing material will always be better than exploiting virgin resources like we do when manufacturing new items like furniture”, says ReFurn’s CEO Maria Thambert.
More and more consumers are asking themselves the same question when browsing online shops: Is this choice sustainable? The new Climate Impact plug-in created by Spark Sustainability and piloted in collaboration with ReFurn gives you an answer in plain, impossible-to-misinterpret-for-greenwashing numbers. The plug-in matches each item in ReFurn’s webshop with an estimate of how many kilograms of CO2-equivalents are saved by purchasing this type of item second hand as compared to buying it new.
“We think it needs to be more obvious in every way which consumption choices have the power to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and which do not. For example, it’s always much more important to consider whether you need an item or not than it is to compare the sustainability of different brands – and when you do purchase something, upcycled or second hand is without exception the better option. This is what we want to make visible through the Carbon Impact plug-in”, says Spark Sustainability’s CEO Amanda Rejström.
Making climate action easy is at the very core of Spark Sustainability’s mission, thus the new product fits well in the roster of tools to help individuals make climate-friendly choices in everyday life while helping the companies that offer them grow.
The plug-in can be used in the context of all vintage- and second hand e-commerce platforms as well as for meat replacement products; emission-free electricity and heating products and emission-free mobility services or staycation services. It also caters to a wide range of circular economy services such as rental services, repair shops and upcycling services. To see it in action, visit ReFurn's website and learn more about the difference climate-smart consumption can make!
Is your company interested in offering your customers information on how much emissions they can save with your products? Shoot us an e-mail at hello@sparksustainability.com and let's talk!
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