Product renewal or sustainability?

Product renewal or sustainability – what can we do to extend the lifespan of our used items?

There are many names floating around these days – repurposing, reuse, renewal, and sustainability. They all seem to mean the same thing – ensuring that we take care of the things and products we already have.

Often, people come to me and ask about various alligator and crocodile products – whether they have value, and what they are. Many have values to preserve or sell to others who want to do so.

 But generally, they are not taken care of and treated.

For example, we take a crocodile leather belt – then we know that a crocodile often lives to be 70 years old (alligator 50 years) – these are the most expensive and best qualities you can get. And such belts last for 10-15 years with careless use. But you can easily extend this – if you give the belt a treatment twice a year with bihoney and use a soft brush - for example, a horsehair brush, will nourish and patina that can turn the leather belt into an heirloom.

Quality shoe can last a long time, but the maintenance is often poor. Do not wear the same pair daily – let them rest a bit and polish regularly. If the sole wears out, a cobbler is the right choice, giving new life to leather and sole.

The starting point for a much longer life is that the product is of good quality. Clothes for example – is it 100 % quality without the involvement of synthetic substances can be reused. Secondhand stores and Fretex are good at presenting products that have a longer life and make a strong effort to raise awareness among people against the endless purchasing pressure from brands. That well-known fashion brands have up to 6 collections per year says a little about how much waste/throwaway and pollution occurs. It is being discussed whether to return to two main collections and perhaps a small extra one – in the spirit of the times. Just like it was during my Levi's years in the 80s.

On Finn, you often find good quality items that are being given away or you can get for free – come and pick up our kitchen furniture for free, furniture and electrical items, often of high quality sold incredibly cheap.

A leather sofa in, for example, aniline - can easily be many years old - and be a beloved piece of furniture, many do not know that it can be renewed by "painting" it again - it was bottlegreen - while today's desire is taupe. No problem. But people often do not "clean" it once a year and give it a little polish to prevent drying out so that it can be done.

We have lived in a welfare society that does not take care of, but uses and discards. When times get tougher, we must change a worldview that takes care of – today's youth have not seen the crises of 1989 and 2008. The desire to have it all – quickly becomes the guiding principle. Cabins, cars, rental extra apartments, etc. have been common. Good incomes for both have created a spending pattern that means that most goes to consumption.

And many have now found themselves in a situation where they have assets but little liquidity. High interest rates, poor rental income, electricity prices, and more expensive food are creating a problem for the first time. 

It's time to think carefully and think anew... take better care of what you already have.