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Description
The main aim of the project "Library of things" is to facilitate consumer movement from goods to services.
To reduce the amount of waste created and energy spent on producing and transporting goods, the society will be invited to overthink and change their consumption habits. Instead of buying brand new things, two alternative will be promoted - 1- rental services for things that are being used only few times in their lifecycle and 2-rental services of repaired, upcycled and second-hand things.
With the help of various activities non-governmental organisation Zero Waste Latvija will cooperate seek cooperation partners among companies in Latvia to begin the path towards second-hand goods normalisation, facilitation of rental services and explaining why buying new things is not a sustainable choice. To increase the capacity of the NGO, an employee will be hired to gain focus on relationship building and defining various forms of cooperation with companies, whose operations are aligned with the values of Zero Waste Latvija. During the project a code of ethics will be created to help evaluate potential cooperation partners sustainability.
Summary of project results
Strengthening financial independence, including raising non-project funding, establishing cooperation with donors and long-term partners, as well as the possibility of taking legal persons as members, became increasingly necessary to achieve their long-term objectives in the field of environmental protection and public engagement.
As part of the capacity project, the association targeted cooperation with various activities with different Latvian companies and organisations, the objectives of which are consistent with the activities planned by Zero Waste Latvia in the long term. The association is pleased that during the project it managed to attract a number of companies widely known in Latvia, through which activities and ideas could successfully launch the sustainability path of these companies, raising awareness of day-to-day actions among company employees and consumers. The project has resulted in a significant increase in the number of Zero Waste Latvia partners and legal members, who are well acquainted with the possibilities of the associations and their competencies and greatly appreciate the extensive expertise of THE experts OF THE ZWL, as shown by the positive feedback after cooperation.
Also during the project, lectures and practices were organised for several companies, resulting in an increase in the number of employees of Latvian companies who are educated about the reuse or re-use of goods, waste reduction, sorting and on the principles of circular economy in general, while the association was allowed to raise additional resources to achieve their goals.
The opening of communication with companies took longer than initially expected, as it was important to explore the specific environment and needs of business. Although after the project there are many examples, which are still only in the early stages of development, there is a sense that there is an excellent basis to spring from, in order to convincingly continue to address Latvian entrepreneurs on sustainability lines, including reducing the purchase of goods and moving towards services.
“The ideas and beliefs supported by the association will certainly be positively influenced by the future,” – the association''s representatives say at the end of the project.