Leave it to the Swedes to establish the first shopping mall selling only repaired or upcycled products. The mall is called Retuna Aterbruksgalleria. It is located in Eskilstuna, Sweden. The facilities contain both a recycling center and a shopping mall. Customers can relieve themselves of items they no longer need, then shop for something new, all in one stop. Dropped off goods are sorted into various workshops where they are refurbished. Products are then sorted into 14 specialty shops: furniture, audio, clothes, toys bikes and gardening and building materials. The mall includes a cafe and restaurant, with emphasis on organic products. Finally, there is a conference and exhibition facility complete with a specialty school for studying recycling.
The center is operated by the local municipality, and has benefited the local economy by creating 50 new repair and restoration jobs and providing space for private start ups and local artisans. The biggest bonus is that the center relieves the local government from the burden of disposing of unwanted goods, while turning potential waste into profit.
Recycling and repurposing items is a great way to products away from landfills. This Swedish town has created a win/win situation. Products are recycled and restored and live to be enjoyed by someone new, and entrepreneurs are given an opportunity to create a new business. Look for more businesses like this in the future.
Friday, July 13, 2018
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