The Little Free Library
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Thinking more consciously about the things we use in terms of their lifecycle is a major challenge in society. Most people don’t consider the products that they purchase as once being a raw material sourced from the earth or understand where that item goes when they are finished with it.
Circularity requires us to think a lot more about how we consume, and how we deal with post-consumer waste. Circular economy principles challenge us to maintain our items, and to reuse or repurpose these if they can't be used anymore. Before making a purchase, we are asked to consider if the materials in these items can be taken apart and re-manufactured, or, as a last resort, recycled? This circularity mindset, however, is not yet established as a key feature for all in society.
CSO Ireland figures from 2021 showed that 16% of the 18-34 years age group often bought or received used clothes via online platforms while a further 27% reported sometimes using online platforms to purchase or receive used clothes or textiles. A more recent report has indicated that ‘recommerce’ (the online sale of second-hand goods) is gaining market share with second-hand fashion marketplaces like ‘Vinted’ now selling more clothing in France in terms of sales volume than Amazon.
One way to step towards embedding a circularity mindset in our communities is to reflect on our own thoughts and experiences of using and disposing of items. This is what Third-Year Advertising and Marketing Communications students (TU919) and Marketing Management (TU923) students did when they challenged themselves and others with their project.
Little Free Library
As part of the Green-Campus Open Call 2024, their project Little Free Library was awarded a micro grant to progress the themes:
- Litter & Waste and Biodiversity (Green-Campus themes)
- Waste and Biodiversity (Climate Action Roadmap objectives)
Led by School of Marketing and Entrepreneurship lecturer Hilda Burton, the project aim was for the students to research circularity mindsets through primary and secondary research. They wanted to understand what behaviours and obstacles associated with circular behaviour exist at TU Dublin’s Tallaght campus. The students were challenged to come up with ideas around possible ways to enact change towards better circular behaviour on campus.
The students focused their efforts on two interventions - keeping books, clothes, and everyday items in circulation to divert these items from landfill and building awareness around how one person’s unwanted item could be valued by another.
The purpose of the interventions was to illustrate to others that the second-hand economy is a considerate way to benefit both the environment and the people around us. Through donating, browsing, or taking something home, their project encouraged a mindful, eco-conscious culture on campus and fostered a sense of community among students, encouraging deeper reflection on the importance of keeping items in circulation.
A three-strand approach to circularity on campus
The students worked together to develop three solutions designed to encourage people to reflect on circularity.
The first initiative was an event (Grab & Go) where students, staff and members of the community were invited to bring books and other items to be rehomed - to offer these items to others who might find them useful.
They used the Grab & Go event to launch a more permanent feature called Little Free Library, located on the ground floor corridor in the Main Building. At the Little Free Library people can bring something to be rehomed and take something away that they would like to keep.
Featured alongside the Little Free Library is the Sharing Board where students can post descriptions and photos of items they no longer need — items like bikes and phones, to books and clothing can be advertised – to connect potential buyers with sellers.
Project Impact
Little Free Library has become a normal part of campus life. There is a regular turnaround of items, giving it a fresh look every few days. On the day of the Grab & Go event the shelves were emptied but within a few days people had filled them again. This shows an appetite for this opportunity to act in a circular way. Staff members have commented to the project lead on what a great idea it is. The students involved were really enthused and surprised at what an impact such a simple idea could have and with the engagement they had.
Speaking about the project Hilda Burton says:
Since its launch, there has been great engagement with the Little Free Library on the Tallaght campus. It is located in what we are now calling our circularity corner where we hope to build on the library's momentum with future Grab & Go events. It was great to see such a simple idea resonate with so many on campus.
Shared Impact
At TU Dublin we are committed to progressing the SDGs through collaboration and action. This project addresses targets under SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production. SDG 12 addresses sustainable and efficient use of natural resources, reduce waste and embed sustainable practice.
This project aligns with the Green-Campus theme of Litter & Waste. Under this theme we explore the practical means for preventing, reducing and minimising the amount of litter and waste produced by the campus. As part of our Climate Action Roadmap, we aim to implement circular economy principles by reducing waste, reusing, and repairing products and materials, and to recycle effectively.
Green-Campus Open Call
The Green-Campus Open Call can help bring ideas like these to life by making micro-grants available to selected project ideas submitted in response to the open call. The Green-Campus programme encourages a partnership approach to environmental education and management. To optimise the potential for impact, the Green-Campus Open Call programme encourages project proposals that can be implemented using the Living Lab approach and that include exploration, co-creation, experimentation and evaluation phases. You can read more about the TU Dublin Living Lab and access living lab planning templates here.