Sustainability platform records 45% rise in new users following national awareness campaign
Sustainable parenting platform, YoungPlanet, has recorded a 45% increase in app sign-ups during the six weeks of their latest awareness campaign, CirculaTED, which saw an intrepid teddy bear travel the length and breadth of the UK to raise awareness of the circular economy. The app is used by families across the UK to give and receive pre-used children’s items for free, helping parents to prevent unnecessary landfill waste.
Total app users have now surpassed 140,000, with a record-high boost of over 17,000 during the campaign, which ran throughout June and July this year.
There are typically over 1,500 children’s items listed on the app at any one time, and it has helped British families save over £1 million in parenting and children’s items.
The influx of growth comes as more families across the country continue to be introduced to the circular economy; a consumer practice that could make a major impact on reducing carbon emissions through reusing unwanted goods. Families are also seeking new ways to mediate the unprecedented rise in the cost of living, and are specifically looking for solutions that are both green and immune to inflationary pressures.
YoungPlanet provides a free, ‘cashless’ platform based on a sharing economy model. Parents can list or request a range of different children’s items; from books and clothes to toys and baby equipment. The app incentivises a circular system of sharing; prioritising those who have donated more items in the past so that parents are motivated to become as sustainable as they can be.
Jason Ash, co-founder of YoungPlanet, comments:
“It’s wonderful to see more UK families become enthusiastic about the opportunities presented by the circular economy. Our CirculaTED campaign was all about encouraging families to embrace simpler and more sustainable ways of living. Rather than sending pre-loved toys and other items directly (or indirectly) to landfill, we wanted to encourage families to give them another chance by embracing the circular economy and finding unwanted items a new home.
“On average, children have at least four toys they’ve never even played with - and 1 in 3 parents have thrown away toys that are in perfect working order. This pattern continues when we look at adult consumer behaviours. We’re now buying 60% more clothing than we did 15 years ago - and millions of tonnes of textile waste is going to landfills.
“This is resulting in a landfill emergency which is putting our national climate goals at risk. We hope the adventures of our second-hand bear will continue to inspire families and communities across the country to reevaluate their consumer habits and participate in the circular economy consistently.”
The YoungPlanet app is available from the App Store and Google Play Store to download for free.
