The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation - Sweden's Second Hand Profile 2021

- "We are very happy about the award and it is especially warming because both our local associations and our national office have worked for a long time on these issues. It is a nice signal to our members who over the years have put a lot of effort into organizing Clothes Swap Days, says Karin Lexén, Secretary-General of the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation.

Through the Sweden’s Second Hand Profile award, Erikshjälpen Second Hand wants to celebrate and encourage people and organisations that are role models and make a good impression when it comes to promoting second hand and reuse. At a time when it is vital for society to change, all good forces are needed to help people live more sustainably.

- "The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation is a strong force and does great work at many different levels in society. It feels great to be able to give the Sweden’s Second Hand Profile 2021 award to such a worthy winner," says Anette Alm Gustafsson, Executive Director of Erikshjälpen Second Hand.

The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation is Sweden's largest environmental organization, which spreads knowledge, forms opinion and influences decision-makers both locally, nationally and globally. Since 2010, the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation organizes the Clothes Swap Day around Sweden.

- We are in the midst of a climate crisis. In Sweden, we live as if we had four Earths. We need to change in all areas, including how we consume. With the Clothes Swap Day, we wanted to create an arena and a fun context to get more people to choose second hand and become part of the sharing economy," says Karin Lexén.

On Clothes Swap Day, people can bring some nice clothes that they no longer wear and swap them for clothes that someone else has brought. Since 2019, there has also been a Toy Swap Day, where toys, leisure items and things for the home and kitchen change hands. Interest in the Clothes and Gadget Swap Day has grown every year.

- I think that doing something concrete and fun for the environment is the reason why it has become so popular. The last time we did a big national Clothes Swap Day, in 2019, 58,000 garments got a new owner, just in Sweden," says Karin Lexén.

On December 9, Karin Lexén will receive the Sweden’s Second Hand Profile 2021 award at an event in Erikshjälpen Second Hand's new city store in Gothenburg.

Motivation Sweden's Second Hand profile 2021

When society is in urgent need of a transition to more sustainable development, initiatives are needed to help people make the right choices. Through Clothes Swap Day and Product Swap Day, the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation provides a fine example of how everyone can do something to create change. Together, we can reuse our things to a much greater extent than we do today - and it is important that more of us start doing so.

With great knowledge and strong commitment, Sweden's largest environmental organization, the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation, contributes to a more sustainable world both locally, nationally and globally. With the Clothes Swap Day and the Plastic Swap Day, Sweden’s Second Hand Profile 2021 has shown that everyone can contribute to a more circular society by starting small.

Author: Sofia Denzler