Making borrowing the new buying, a new facility offers items for hire

Fast fashion, fast food, fast turnover. Everything in modern life seems to be about quick fixes but not longevity. Yet with ongoing environmental threats, there is a shift to more long-lasting decisions and saying no to buying new. Borrowing is the new buying and a new type of library has opened in Cyprus. Instead of books, however, this one has… things. The Library of Things in Nicosia aims to beat overconsumption and enhance the circular economy.

In late May, the Library of Things opened on downtown Nicosia’s Liasidou Street, launched by the NGO KyklOIKOdromio.

At the Library of Things, you can check out a variety of items only occasionally needed, such as gardening tools, cleaning supplies and outdoor gear, and return them when you’re done. Instead of buying items you won’t use often and simply hoarding them at home, the Library offers an alternative. Don’t own, borrow and in this way, combat landfill waste, save money and help the circular economy.

Abroad the concept has existed for a while and as sustainability, community engagement and resource sharing become popular, Libraries of Things open in more cities. “Currently, Libraries of Things have been established all around the world,” KyklOIKOdromio said. “It is estimated there are approximately 2,000 formally established Libraries of Things with many more informal ones across 11 different countries including the United States, Canada, United Kingdom and several European Counties such as Germany, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Switzerland.”

Toy libraries have been around since the 1970s, the NGO explained, and around the same time tool libraries also flourished, particularly in the US and the UK. Now, the concept has reached our corner of the world, yet how open are Cypriots to using items that are not theirs?

Convincing islanders to borrow things and make this a habit might take a while, and KyklOIKOdromio knows this. “Cypriots do usually like to own but also buy items and tend to hoard things, even if they rarely use them. This might be related to attachment issues where owning items provides a sense of security and might contribute to individuals’ self-image; to issues of convenience where one has direct and immediate access to items; and a consumer culture where consuming indicates status.”

However, it is not uncommon for locals to borrow items from friends, family or neighbours and a survey conducted in 2023 in collaboration with researchers from the Cyprus Institute on how Cyprus citizens understand the use and purchase of used items did show that many seem to frequently borrow items from people they know. This makes KyklOIKOdromio hopeful that the habit already exists and concerns of economic and environmental crisis might create a shift in attitude.

“Understanding the benefits of borrowing including cost savings, the environmental impact of our behaviours and community building can aid shift preferences towards borrowing items,” the NGO adds. “The impact on the planet from our current consumption habits is unsustainable. Borrowing instead of buying reduces our collective impact on the planet and ensures the amount of waste is kept to a minimum.”

In Cyprus’ case, the country is in dire need of drastic changes to meet global environmental standards. “Cyprus is not performing well on Sustainable Development Goals 11 & 12 as the status of those is below the EU average,” KyklOIKOdromio says. “Cyprus is characterised by high waste generation and at the same time by low recycling rates, while there is strong dependence on landfilling. Average municipal waste generation per inhabitant in the European Union was 505kg whereas, in Cyprus, municipal waste production per capita reached 609kg, which is one of the highest among EU member states.”

In December 2021, the European Commission initiated an infringement against Cyprus for failing to comply with the Landfill Directive and the Waste Framework Directive. What does this have to do with borrowing things? New ways need to be found to reduce waste and overconsumption and create cities that have both environmental and community benefits. More often than not, change starts from the people and their habits.

KyklOIKOdromio launched the Circular Economy Actions for All initiative, inaugurating both the library and the online platform Circular4all where citizens can share items they are not using.

“There are several success stories from borrowers of items from Libraries of Things across the globe,” says KyklOIKOdromio. “Someone managed to fix two doors by renting a planer for £11 after being quoted £245 by a handyman. The 2022/2023 impact report from the Library of Things in the UK, estimated that borrowing led to 124 tonnes of C02 saved, and £326,000 saved by residents by borrowing and not buying.”

Borrowing from Nicosia’s Library of Things is simple. You register for free, choose an item to borrow listed on the website (www.circularlibraryforall.org) and for how long you would like to have it, pay the daily lending fee online and pick it up from the library. So far, the items include outdoor equipment, entertainment and games, DIY and home tools, seasonal items and wellness things. While some items were bought by the NGO to kickstart the process, most are donated used products and the library welcomes donations to add to its collection.

Cultivating a sharing mentality, which subsequently means a mentality of letting go also, is more than just building a community mindset. “A buy-less culture aids the environment by reducing the amount of resources being used to produce materials. Sharing or exchanging assets may not be a new idea, but it is an integral part of the transition to a more circular economy.”

To spread its idea and invite more people to the library, KyklOIKOdromio is planning several workshops including craft activities using recyclable materials, textile recycling, and upcycling workshops for children and adults that aim to promote the different principles of the Circular Economy. Information will be announced on their social media channels.

“Let’s make borrowing, the new buying,” is their motto.

Library of Things. Monday – Friday: 9am-5pm. Tel: 22 667758. www.circularlibraryforall.org