display

Nuremberg (dpa) - The temptations are omnipresent.

The shop windows in the pedestrian zone advertise the latest fashion and the most modern technical equipment.

Three T-shirts for the price of two, smartphones 16 percent cheaper - there is always some special offer.

Later, two kilos of oranges are on offer in the supermarket, and when you buy five rolls, you get a sixth free of charge at the bakery.

And it goes on at home: Thanks to the internet, we can still go hunting for bargains after business hours.

Even Christof Herrmann finds it difficult to resist.

“It's difficult,” says the 48-year-old from Nuremberg.

"Consumption is around us all the time."

But Herrmann has learned to do without.

He describes himself as a minimalist.

In a blog he describes how this has changed his life.

“I really only own things that I need or use,” he says.

Before he buys something new, he thinks about whether it really has to be.

He never buys something spontaneously, on a whim.

display

This is exactly what the global “Buy Nothing Day” aims to achieve.

Every year at the end of November, this calls for people not to spend any money for a day in order to sensitize people to more sustainable buying behavior.

In the USA, the day falls deliberately on the day after Thanksgiving, "Black Friday", when the Christmas business traditionally begins there and retailers fuel the consumer frenzy with many special offers.

In Germany and other European countries, “Kauf-Nix-Tag” - as the German name is - is one day later, on the last Saturday of the month.

In the opinion of sustainability expert Matthias Fifka, we are still a long way from rethinking.

“We live in a throwaway society,” says the economist from the University of Erlangen.

The production logic is geared towards the fact that something is manufactured, used and then disposed of.

In his opinion, the Corona crisis has not changed anything.

"I do not think that this is an accelerator of consumption cessation."

Shops were closed for weeks in spring.

People had more time to focus on the essentials.

There was more tinkering, cooking, knitting and homemade again.

Even influencers suddenly baked banana bread on YouTube.

On the whole, however, there was no less consumption.

Instead, people just bought more online.

display

"I have the impression that in times of Corona it has become a kind of pastime," says Fifka.

Online retailing in particular is tempting to make quick purchases, which experts find particularly problematic in view of the large number of returns.

"Many returns no longer go on sale because it is logistically impossible."

Or because it is not worthwhile given the low production costs.

Even so, online trading is not inherently bad in terms of sustainability.

"You have to take a differentiated view," says Jan Gimkiewicz from the Federal Environment Agency (UBA).

In a research project, the UBA is currently investigating how online trading affects the environment.

“In doing so, we found that this can also reduce the impact on the environment: an efficient warehouse can possibly save more energy than shops that place great value on the presentation of the goods and a great shopping experience.

In addition, individual trips to shop are no longer required in online retailing. "

Most sustainable, however, is to use things as long as possible - that is, to repair them when they break.

Help can be found in repair cafés such as the one at the FabLab in Fürth.

“It is often not worth repairing by a specialist because of the journey and the hourly wage,” says Sabrina Bohn from FabLab.

Your impression is that many electrical devices break faster these days.

display

"But we are also noticing an increasing demand for repairs," she says.

Especially with music systems, televisions, DVD players, fully automatic coffee machines and other kitchen appliances, those seeking help would come to the Repair Café experts.

However, it is becoming more and more complex to repair technical devices, says Bohn.

“Some of them cannot be taken apart like electric toothbrushes.

You have to send it in or buy a new one. "

But it doesn't always have to be something new, as Gimkiewicz from the Federal Environment Agency emphasizes.

Instead, you can buy or share things used.

Just like the minimalist Herrmann.

For example, he hasn't had an iron for years.

If he wants to iron one of his few shirts, he just goes to a neighbor or a friend.

© dpa-infocom, dpa: 201126-99-468669 / 3

Information about Buy Nothing Day