5 Ways That Buying Antiques Can Help Our Earth
With the toothless Cop26 just closing off and the ever increasing, and necessary, spotlight been shone onto the fragility of our planets environment now seems a good time to highlight some sustainable practices. Practises that could be adopted into our buying behaviour from the perspective of the antiques world.
There can be no doubt that upcycling, reusing and repurposing are all methods that we should be integrating into our everyday lives. Our consumptive behaviour is destroying us and we have to change tack if we want to continue enjoying any quality of life. For us, and the other lifeforms that we share our world with. Let’s look at some sustainable behaviour that we as individuals could do to ease some of that pressure off the earth.
1. Antiques Are Green
Antiques Are Green is the name of an amazing initiative founded back in 2009 to promote the green credentials of buying antiques. In a case study their report details how a new chest-of-drawers has a carbon impact up to 16 times higher than an antique one. Antique furniture has never been cheaper, it is better made and the raw materials are exquisite compared to their modern day mass produced counterparts. Which are often many times more expensive as well. Really, it’s obvious when it comes to furniture. There is so much out there from Georgian to mid century modern that there is something for all tastes.
2. Support a Local Business
Chances are if you buying an antique you’re not buying from a colossal multinational corporate. You’re staying in your hood, supporting somebody’s livelihood and the item probably wasn’t transported halfway around the world just last week.
3. Support an Artisan
Buying antiques supports an entire network of conservators, restorers and other skilled workers. This is an expertise that is rapidly, and tragically, vanishing with the globalisation of our world. We don’t need mechanised mega factories spewing out more toxic junk, rather we desperately need these vital masterful people as part of a sustainable future.
4. Old is Gold
Buy quality, buy for keeps and enjoy how ones possessions improve with age. Mass produced products are not designed to age, they are designed to be thrown away and quickly replaced. Owning a two hundred year old piece of furniture means it will just get better with age if it is looked after. We need to ask ourselves certain questions before we purchase something new. How was this piece made? What is it made from? How long do I intend to keep it? Where is it from? Can it be recycled after I’ve finished with it? And so on.
5. Be Conscious
It’s hard to change long term ingrained behaviour. Like giving up smoking or cutting out sugar. We know these things are bad but they feel so good in the moment. Like everything our behaviour has long term consequences but it doesn’t need to be difficult to change. They are merely habits, not rules not carved in stone. It just requires a shift in perspective and a different way of thinking. A more sustainable, conscientious way of living should the goal for all of us. There is already so much out in the world that we can reuse or repurpose without putting any more strain on the earth.
Here at iValuations you’ll find experts in over 50 categories of art, antiques and collectibles that are waiting to give impartial professional, affordable and in-depth valuation reports in a timeous and easy to use manner.
