Buy Nothing New Month

Save your pennies and protect your planet!

Returning for its second year, Buy Nothing New Month was all about moving beyond simply recycling, to reducing the amount of new stuff that we buy, and by extension, the amount of waste that we create. It’s about cherishing the things we already have, repairing things rather than sending them to landfill, and finding new homes for the things we no longer need.

And it’s not just good for the planet. At a time when many are feeling the pinch, it’s an opportunity to save the pennies in our pockets too.

Last year, 65% of those who took part bought nothing new for a whole month, and an additional 31% bought less than they usually would.

Throughout the month, we shared our tips on how to repair, reuse and rehome our things – be they fashion or furniture. We also shared our advice on resisting temptation online.

Why Buy Nothing New?

If everyone on Earth lived like people in the UK, we would need over two and a half planets to regenerate and absorb our waste. As a society, we need to move to a circular economy that wastes less and puts more value on the things we already have.

Last year, two-fifths of participants donated or rehomed items instead of throwing them away, and 37% of those taking part repaired an item rather than buying new. Buy Nothing New Month is an opportunity to turn over a new leaf in the new year, and re-think our resource usage.

The Buy Nothing New Month campaign and the research that underpins it have been made possible thanks to an award from Postcode Earth Trust, a grant-giving Trust funded entirely by players of People's Postcode Lottery.

Buy Nothing New Month is part of a growing, global movement to reduce consumption and create a circular economy, sitting alongside Buy Nothing Day - celebrated internationally in November - and Australia’s Buy Nothing New campaign.

How can I get involved?

You can get involved in Buy Nothing New Month by:

Signing up on your own or as part of a group to join our campaign and receive our weekly Buy Nothing New Month January newsletter jam-packed full of tips to help you on your way.
Following Keep Britain Tidy’s social media accounts and sharing your own #BuyNothingNewMonth tips and ideas in the comments to inspire other participants.
Sharing our posts on social media and encouraging your friends, family, and colleagues to take part, as well as any groups or clubs you belong to.

Am I allowed to buy anything new throughout January?

You will of course have to buy essentials such as food, medicine and toothpaste new. Some people’s version of essential may be different to others. For instance, you may have to buy something new for a child or in an emergency; it’s up to you to decide what this means, and whether it works for Buy Nothing New Month.

For everything else try buying second-hand, pre-loved, borrow or rent. Instead of buying new things for your children, how about getting them on board by getting them involved with ideas for how your family can take part in Buy Nothing New Month? This might help encourage them to embrace the pre-loved route instead.

If you feel tempted to buy things like toiletries that aren’t strictly ‘essential’, think about the waste you might be creating and consider whether there’s an alternative. For example, can you make a DIY face or hair mask, or body scrub from items in your kitchen cupboard. This one will definitely save you money as well!

Are people really buying new things in January?

January is a great time to set new intentions for the year ahead and we’re encouraging people to try alternatives to buying new. Buying less ‘new’ stuff is one action we can all take that is good for the environment and also has the added benefit of being good for our finances at a time when money is tight for millions of us.

I recycle at home. Isn’t that enough?

It’s great that you’re recycling and this is definitely something to keep doing but we need to do more. It’s much more beneficial for the environment to reduce your consumption. This means reusing and repairing items, borrowing and renting, and if you need to buy something, buy it second-hand.

Can I buy something new that will help me repair or restore an item?

Buy Nothing New Month is designed to challenge us to really think whether we need to buy an item new. Even if it will ultimately help us to repair or restore another item, first think about whether you can borrow or rent the tools that you need from a friend or neighbour, or check out Olio, Freegle, Freecycle, or Library of Things.

I’ve messed up and bought something new – what should I do?

If you’ve fallen off the wagon, hop back on. Don’t beat yourself up, just try and get on track for the rest of the month. This is a learning process and there are plenty more opportunities to avoid buying new and trying new things.

What do I get for taking part?

When you take part in Buy Nothing New Month, you’ll feel the benefit of having improved your wellbeing and living in a less cluttered home. You’ll have saved money after changing your buying habits, and you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that each time you reused, bought second-hand, rented or borrowed, you lessened your impact on the environment.