A shopping center where everything has already been used but can come back to life. Sweden truly believes in the philosophy of recycling and reuse. Proof of this is ReTuna, a large shopping center that sells only recycled products and is the first mall of this type in the world
Don't store avocado like this: it's dangerous
A shopping center where everything has already been used but can come back to life. Sweden truly believes in the philosophy of recycling and reuse. Proof of this is ReTuna, a large shopping center that sells only recycled products and is the first mall of its kind in the world.
In our cities, there are more and more shopping centers. Crowded, sometimes chaotic places, where people struggle in search of clothes, shoes, accessories and where the circular economy is certainly not at home.
The city of Eskilstuna strives to be an ecological role model. In his development work related to the environment, the idea of opening a shopping center with real shops but with a range of reused products was born.
In ReTuna Recycling Gallery only recycled products can be found. Inside it houses 14 shops, a restaurant, an exhibition area and has an educational program under its belt so that interested Swedes can learn how to recycle even more.
ReTuna Återbruksgalleria is the world's first recycling mall and promises to revolutionize shopping in an environmentally intelligent way. Here old objects are given a new life through repair and upcycling. Furthermore, everything that is sold is recycled or reused or has been produced in a sustainable way.
The mall opened its doors in August 2015 and is located next to the Retuna Återvinningscentral recycling center. It is managed by the municipal company Eskilstuna Energi och Miljö (EEM).
Visitors can bring what they do not use into the mall's warehouse, called “Returen”, from toys to furniture, clothes, decorative items and electronic devices. In the warehouse, the staff carries out an initial collection of what is usable and what is not. The items are then distributed to the shops in the mall. The staff of each store then makes a second selection, in which they choose what they want to repair, convert, refine and, finally, sell. In this way, the materials have a new life.
And the idea is working: in 2016, ReTuna Återbruksgalleria sold 8,1 million SEK of recycled products, equal to 830 thousand euros.
“ReTuna is more than just a market. It is also meant to be an educational moment. Organize events, workshops, conferences, thematic days and more, all focused on sustainability. There are also conference rooms. Café Returama offers organic lunches and dinners " it is read on the official website.
READ also:
- USED CLOTHES, #SHAREWEAR IS BORN IN SWEDEN: HERE'S HOW TO SHARE THE CLOTHES YOU DON'T WEAR ANY MORE
- PASSAMANO: THE “FREE” STORE WHERE YOU DON'T PAY
- SMALL SHOP, THE 'NON-STORE' WHERE TO EXCHANGE CLOTHES AND ITEMS FOR FREE
Not last. The ReTuna shopping center has generated over 50 new jobs.
We would like one in every city, don't you think?
Francesca Mancuso
