We went to the Ressourcerie on Thursday, January 11th to discover a new way for recycling, we saw a lot of vintage, second-hand objects and the volunteers explained to us how the Ressourcerie works, to make us aware about recycling. Furthermore, we learned about linear and circular economy. A linear economy is about buying a new object, using it and throwing it into the trash while a circular economy is buying an object, using it and giving it a second life.

There is pollution everywhere. We can not forget it because it touches the world and everyone is responsible. Each action can count, mostly the bad ones, that’s why its impact cannot be neglected. Our visit to the Ressourcerie showed us that a tissue takes up to 3 months to degrade, a bank card and polystyrene in 1000 years, a lighter in 100 years, a newspaper in 3/12 months, a plastic cup/bag in 100/1000 years, a match in 6 months, a paper towel in 2/4 weeks, a cigarette in a 1/2 year, a can in 200/500 years. Finally, a glass bottle degrades in 4000 years.

The Ressourcerie : a circular economy
The circular economy is a model of production and consumption which involves products and materials that are supposed to be kept in circulation by using the 5 Rs (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Repair, Repurpose). This way materials can never become waste and nature is regenerated. This kind of economy tackles climate change, reduces the annual greenhouse gas emissions and other global challenges such as biodiversity loss, waste and pollution. The 7 pillars of this economy are renewable materials, energy, water stewardship, biodiversity, society or culture, health and value.
Barnier Emma, Nina, Thibaut and Flore & Emmie 204

Before selling something, employees weigh objects and write them on a list and then send it to the town hall of Vaison every year. All this weight allows them to save money for the town hall because they don’t have to put those objects in the junkyards. With this money they can pay the Ressourcerie.

Did you know ?

• To make a pair of jeans, it takes 10,000 liters of water due to the planting of cotton to make the product.
• Fast Fashion releases 4 billion tonnes of CO2 per year.
• 20% to 40% of clothes are unsold.
• Fast fashion is the sixth sector that uses the most water.
• The worker’s salary represents only 0.6% of the final price of the t-shirt while 68% of the price goes to the major corporation.

Quizz !
On average, how many new collections are offered each year by fast fashion shops ?

• A. 2 B. 24 C. 52
  What percentage of clothes produced by the fast fashion industry will never be worn ?
• A. 20% B. 40% C. 60%
  How many million tonnes of textiles, new or used, are thrown away in Europe each year ?
• A. 2 millions B. 4 millions C. 6 millions
  According to the NGO Oxfam, how many times is an average garment worn before it is thrown away ?
• A. 2 to 3 times B. 7 to 10 times C. 20 to 25 times
  Which two of these countries have become known as the “rubbish dumps of fast fashion ? ”
• A. China B. Ghana C. Brazil D. Chile
  
  Poppy & Tom 204

The employees of the Ressourcerie
At the Ressourcerie there are 7 employees and around 30 volunteers. This job is based on ecology to limit pollution and overconsumption. Volunteers give their time to preserve the planet.
After people’s donations, employees and volunteers sort them, distribute them and if necessary, they display them in the store. They can also make deliveries to accommodate people who don’t have time to come pick them up.
We therefore invite you to come and drop off any objects or clothing that you no longer use so that it can be used by someone else in order to limit waste and save their pockets ! (expression for saving money)

Fast Fashion

• What is fast fashion ?
  • Fast fashion is cheap clothing produced rapidly by mass-market retailers in response to the latest trends. Major players in the fast-fashion market include Zara, H&M Group, Uniqlo, Gap, Forever 21, Topshop, Esprit, Primark, Fashion Nova, Mango, Shein and New Look. Many companies are both retailers and manufacturers, though they often outsource actual production of clothing.
  • Where to find eco-responsible clothing ?
  • This Wednesday we visited the Ressourcerie in Vaison la Romaine and we found recycled and eco-responsible clothes at a very low price ! It was a great and eye-opening experience.
    
    Emma Blouvac & Lalie 204

When ?
The Ressourcerie is open on Tuesday and Friday from 10am. to 5pm. and on Wednesday and Saturday from 10am to 6pm.
To drop off objects and clothing is from 2pm to 4pm on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday at the tip (waste disposal facility, only for the municipalities of the CCVV).
To be delivered by the Ressourcerie it is only on Thursday from 9am to 5pm.

5 tips for a more sustainable lifestyle

• Reduce your water consumption (spend less time in the shower, take a shower instead of a bath, do NOT buy fast fashion).
• Repair objects rather than throwing them away (phone, sew, bicycle, kitchen robot).
• Repurpose unwanted objects (sell it on Vinted, give it).
• Throw in compost to make the food rot.
• Refuse buying new out items.
• Transport that doesn’t make CO2 (walk, take bicycle, electrical transports).
• We really enjoyed our visit to the Ressourcerie because we have discovered this place. We didn’t know this concept and this is a great idea to recycle and to buy reusable items, which are not expensive.
  
  201 students

I had the great opportunity to check out the Ressourcerie in Vaison-la-Romaine with the students from Lycée Stéphane Hessel. The volunteers introduced to us new information regarding fast-fashion and how it’s harming our environment. It has inspired me to start shopping at thrift stores (Ressourcerie in American English) for clothing, home decor, appliances and other things that one might need or want. I’m sure this has also enlightened the students to find creative ways to find eco-friendly ideas for our planet. So please ! Buy second hand items, give away the items you no longer use and meet the team at La Musardière AKA the Ressourcerie in Vaison-la-Romaine and become a volunteer !