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Eco babies: reducing a parent's ecological footprint with second-hand consumer goods

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  • Emma Waight

Abstract

This paper argues for the direct reuse of products as the most sustainable form of consumption, over and above recycling and the use of greener technology. Baby clothes, toys and equipment are perfectly suited to entering the second-hand market as their useful life often extends beyond the needs of one family. One in five parents have acquired a greater number of second-hand items for their children since the onset of the 2009 financial crisis; therefore, parents are engaging in sustainable consumption practices. This empirical study investigates the extent to which mothers engage in second-hand consumption practices and the environmental impact this has. Thirty mothers were recruited for in-depth interviews. Whilst primary justifications were almost universally found to be financial, participants showed a strong ethical desire to reuse items which, by their very nature, had not reached the end of their useful life before being made redundant by the family.

Suggested Citation

  • Emma Waight, 2013. "Eco babies: reducing a parent's ecological footprint with second-hand consumer goods," International Journal of Green Economics, Inderscience Enterprises Ltd, vol. 7(2), pages 197-211.
    • Handle: RePEc:ids:ijgrec:v:7:y:2013:i:2:p:197-211
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Martha A. Starr, 2015. "The Economics of Ethical Consumption," Working Papers 2015-01, American University, Department of Economics.
    2. Michalak Szymon & Bartkowiak Paweł & Ankiel Magdalena & Olejniczak Tomasz & Stachowiak-Krzyżan Magda, 2022. "Motives for the Usage of Collaborative Fashion Consumption Online Platforms," Marketing of Scientific and Research Organizations, Sciendo, vol. 44(2), pages 41-66, June.
    3. Yulia Hristova & Michal Stojanov, 2024. "Income Elasticity and Trends in Second-Hand Goods Sales," Economic Studies journal, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences - Economic Research Institute, issue 7, pages 119-141.
    4. Nistor Laura & Bálint Gyöngyvér, 2022. "Second-Hand Clothing Shoppers’ Motivations. An Exploratory Study among Ethnic Hungarians from the Szeklerland Region of Romania," Acta Universitatis Sapientiae, Economics and Business, Sciendo, vol. 10(1), pages 49-76, September.

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