ATTENTION: The Compact has NOTHING to do with the magazine Compact!
In the New York Times supplement of yesterday’s Süddeutsche Zeitung, there is a report on a group that has decided not to buy anything new for 6 months. The goals of the group, which calls itself The Compact, are as follows:
- Going beyond recycling to counteract the negative global environmental and socio-economic impacts of the throwaway and consumer society and to support local companies and farmers
- Reduce the clutter and garbage in your home
- Simplify your life
There are two principles to achieve these goals:
- Don’t buy new products of any kind from stores, websites, etc
- Borrow, exchange or buy used
There are exceptions, of course you can buy personal things such as laundry, toothpaste and toothbrush, and of course you have to buy something to eat. It is also allowed to spend money on intangible things such as music or sports. It’s not about castigating oneself, but about reflective consumption.
In addition to the financial savings, the participants say they get more time that had previously been lost due to shopping and its effects.
The group’s action turned into a global movement. More information can be found in the Yahoo! group, of which there is now also a European counterpart, as well as a blog.
For me as a gadget addict, this is both a nightmare and a relief, and I have several questions:
- Can I bring surprises from long journeys to my loved ones at home?
- Can I buy a new battery for my computer if the old one is flat?
- What about software?
Apart from these questions, I will start today. And I will report on it. 6 months.