When we think about the 3R’s (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle), we immediately recall recycling and the efforts cities make to enforce this practice. Although, there are many practical and effective solutions, the 3R’s don’t receive equal attention. Typically recycling is made easy by providing receptacles to separate paper, aluminum, glass, plastic and even tires.

We are also mindful to reduce our consumption of water, electricity, paper products, adopt walking, biking and opt for public transportation.

But one R - Reuse tends to be overlooked. Consumers participate by using grocery totes, reusable water bottles and by donating items to charities. But these facilities have limited space, and many items are not accepted such as furniture, exercise equipment, textbooks, encyclopedias and electrical fixtures. Much of this never ends up back in circulation even though it could be used by others.  

Tradepal’s mission is to make reuse as easy as recycling. The online service   encourages reuse by simplifying the process so users can list items with images in less than a minute and seamlessly broadcast their virtual sale to their networks. No need for classifieds or to compete with power users to generate visibility. All users’ items are displayed on their profile complete with image, price, condition and description.   

Tradepal offers an online network that engages buy, sell, barter and giveaway with trusted users while helping the environment. Through tradepal’s peer-to-peer marketplace, consumers have a timesaving tool to reduce their estimated $7,000 in unused household items sitting around and put them back into circulation in just 1-click.

Planning a yard sale, but dreading the summer heatwave? Moving and in need to sell or giveaway some items rather than storing them indefinitely? Just visit tradepal and list all your items and share, and the offers will come to your inbox.

This past week I held a moving sale on tradepal and generated hundreds of views and valid offers. As a result, my personal carbon savings increased to 951 kg of CO₂, the equivalent to the carbon sequestered by 24 tree seedlings grown for 10 years. 

Here is a summary of the items that were recommerced to four users: 

• Couch   200 kg
• Bedroom Set   430 kg
• Antique make-up table   270 kg
• Electronics   700 kg
• 4 Dining room chairs  750 kg
• Housewares   400 kg
• Art   100 kg
• Clothing   30 kg

The total amount of carbon savings from these users was a combined savings of 2,880 kg, or 2.9 tons of CO₂ by choosing my recommerced items listed on tradepal rather than new. 

Contributor: Tamar Burton

This Earth Day we unite in support of a healthy planet by inspiring change. As part of the 2012 theme Mobilize the Earth, and the upcoming United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSDA) in Rio de Janeiro, Rio +20  we encourage everyone to proactively engage in ways that will create a quantifiable outcome by organizing events, volunteering and promoting renewable energy initiatives, and finally pledging support to a Billion Acts of Green. Now with over 997 million acts pledged and counting, our actions today will help to develop a comprehensive plan for sustainable development while inspiring the change necessary to get our world leaders to take bold energy action. 

In honor of Earth Day, we at Tradepal, suggest that you evaluate your carbon footprint and the many ways you can help the environment by reducing, recycling and reusing. To the many supporters of collaborative consumption, we encourage you to quantify the carbon savings your actions generate in changing users’ behaviors with services such as bike, car and ride sharing, swapping and trading. 

Senator Gaylord Nelson, the originator of the Earth Day holiday in 1970: 

“The economy is a wholly owned subsidiary of the environment, not the other way around.”

Tradepal users save money and the environment when trading on our platform. They also have access to a dedicated calculator that quantifies their carbon savings derived from all their trading on the platform. It is surprising to discover the exact amount of carbon savings you have accumulated while trading and giving items away. 

Gamification Feature:  The Carbon Savings Calculator

It might seem trivial initially, but watching your carbon savings increase with each trade  is truly fulfilling. According to my Tradepal user profile, I have accumulated 354 kg of carbon savings over the past six months. While not sure what it exactly meant, I simply plugged my Tradepal Carbon Savings amount into the EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator. 

The following highlights some significant equivalents of my savings: 

• Carbon sequestered by 9 tree seedlings grown for 10 years 
• CO₂ emissions from 14 propane cylinders used for home BBQs
• CO₂ emissions from 39 gallons of gasoline consumed 

Additional Reading:

Trendsetting Women Leading Peer-to-Peer Marketplaces

Just in case you have been procrastinating on your spring cleaning, ButtonedUp has created a list to assist you and offers advice on hosting a virtual yard sale. While Tradepal provides a great service when de-cluttering, it is also useful when:

• moving
• selling art 
• reducing your fashion collection
• upgrading to the latest electronics
• reducing your collection of videos
• trading baby items, and much more

The best features include the ability to list a variety of items, share them with connections who, by the way, use their ‘real identities’, and this process requires only a minute from loading the image to completing the listing. Yes, only a minute!

As varied as the items offered by each user, are the variety of ways for users to transact. While the traditional buy and sell transaction is one option, users may also offer giveaways. For users seeking a trade, they may barter for items by selecting Make Offer to entertain a trade for items listed within their tradepal profile, or maybe a trade plus cash. It’s up to the two parties to decide and the transaction is done privately via their tradepal dashboards.

To read the list, visit ButtonedUp offers 10 easy spring-cleaning shortcuts

(Source: tradepal.com)

The New Consumer is seeking to gain a sense of fulfillment by simplifying their lives and taking a holistic approach about their consumption habits.  In 2010, Andrew Benett and Anne O’Reilly launched a study highlighting the permanent shift in peoples’ perceptions about themselves as consumers. According to Euro RSCG’s New Consumer global survey, consumers are embarking on a re-discovery of the basic ideals that were the building blocks of society. As a matter of fact, 70% of the respondents surveyed admire people who live simply, while 71% were actively trying to improve who they are as individuals.

It appears that the New Consumer is focused on limiting their environmental impact while reducing their spending. Indeed, 64% of respondents feel good when making environmentally friendly consumption choices and 70% feel great about saving money. The undeniable trend is that the new consumer is rejecting hyper-consumption in preference for more sustainable alternatives.

One encouraging statistic in this survey is 48% of respondents have stated that they will not revert back to their old consumption habits - even after the economy rebounds. This proves a permanent state of change has occurred in the mind of the New Consumer. 

The New Consumer has made a conscious effort to shift priorities and revolves most decisions around their communities. They want to better themselves, their families and their future. 

Will collaborative consumption become the economic model of the New Consumer as they transform the way they shop and spend? Will they adopt the latest trends in transportation (sharing and renting car and bikes), accommodation (peer-to-peer short term rentals), travel (car pooling), space (workspace, storage, and parking sharing), neighborhoods (tool rental, swaps, garage sales) and work (workspace sharing, part-time tasking)? 

To review the survey, visit Euro RSCG’s New Consumer

TRADING ON TRADEPAL:

SENDING A TRADE OFFER ON TRADEPAL:

Did you miss National Regifting Day last week?

Ah, yes it really does exist… While regifting has been growing trend as many Americans felt their wallets tighten due to the slowing of the economy or job changes, it isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

The pressure to finalize holiday purchases is growing and each day we read about the challenges that plague Americans such as a recent article that mentioned, “50% of Americans not able to shop for the holidays this year as they could not afford it…” This is a startling number given that the average U.S. household harbors over $7,000 in unused items. This excess could be sold, traded for other items or even better, given away.

Many of us will be receiving a few new gadgets this year, maybe an Apple iPod Touch or iPad, or Let’s Rock! Elmo for the kids. Whether you receive the latest Kindle Reader, a camcorder, flat screen television or surround sound system, there is the old model that is destined for the Island of Misfit Toys now that it has been upgraded.

Were you wondering what to do with this outdated item …. or maybe items?

Here’s an idea! Since most of us are connected to our friends and family on our social networks already…. How about creating a Tradepal online garage sale and list these items for sale, trade or as a giveaway?