Interview: Circular economy platform YoungPlanet on why “second hand isn’t second best”

On Day 9 of Bdaily’s 12 Days of Christmas, we hear from Jason Ash, co-founder of London headquartered circular economy platform YoungPlanet.

The app, which is being used by families across the UK to give and receive second-hand parenting and children’s items for free, has enabled over 30,000 children’s items and toys worth over £1m to find new homes, rather than being thrown away. Read on to find out more…

How does YoungPlanet use the circular economy to save its users money?

YoungPlanet utilises circular principles by enabling the giving and receiving of pre-loved items for free; it’s a great way for consumers to reduce the cost and waste involved in raising a family and running a household.

Our platform is specifically committed to helping families source parenting and children’s items for free - from clothing and toys, to buggies and changing stations.

Since children tend to tire of toys or grow out of garments far before these items become careworn and redundant, we’re effectively digitising and scaling the concept of ‘hand-me-downs’ to allow parents to save valuable money and source items sustainably.

By helping parents and users across the country connect with one another via the platform, we’ve actively saved over £1m worth of items from going to waste.

How will the platform help gift givers this Christmas?

Adults across the country are seeking new ways to mediate the cost of living crisis, particularly with Christmas fast approaching. However, with the festive season being one of the most wasteful periods of the year, families are also becoming more conscious of their carbon footprint and landfill contributions.

That’s why pre-loved shopping has seen a huge surge in popularity in the UK, and why our platform has experienced a spike in the number of families that are turning to YoungPlanet this winter.

Our platform gives users the opportunity to find high-quality gifts for others, for free. Second hand quite often isn’t second best - especially when you factor in the environmental cost of new manufacturing and its inevitable waste - and there are plenty of perfect pre-loved gifts out there for people to access.

We’re incredibly proud to spread the joy of second-hand sharing between communities across the UK, and we hope to inspire as many people as possible to turn to long-term, eco-friendly habits in the new year.

What was your favourite toy or game growing up?

As a child, my favourite toy was a wooden tractor. I vividly recall spending endless hours playing with it and, now that I have children of my own, I look back on those moments with fondness and nostalgia.

It’s been incredibly heartwarming to watch my three sons grow up and have just as much fun as I did with their own sustainable toys. Even in a vastly digital age, classic toys remain timeless and just as entertaining for younger generations.

Every child should be able to experience the excitement of letting their imagination run free, and this is partly why we created YoungPlanet. By allowing families to access toys at no cost, we hope to unlock a new world of creativity and possibility for children, something that will - at least, in my own experience - stick with them throughout their lives.

In what ways has the current economic climate enabled YoungPlanet’s growth?

Given the current economic pressures, families are searching for new ways to save money and cut down their weekly budgets. People are also becoming more conscious of discarding expensive and useful items when they could find a new and loving home.

However, despite the steep hike in bills and food during recent months, parents still want to provide their kids with good-quality clothing and toys, especially during the Christmas period.

YoungPlanet offers a solution that is both eco-friendly and immune to inflation, offering an amazing array of children’s items at no cost whatsoever. That’s why, over the last 8 week period, our platform has experienced a 45% increase in app downloads as more families learn about the circular economy.

What can you tell us about plans for the platform ahead of the new year?

Looking ahead, we’re aiming to become the world’s best, most loved, (and free) circular economy platform. We’re committed to reducing both the environmental and financial impact of parenting - both in the UK and international markets! We’re hoping to launch overseas next year, so watch this space.

Educating children on building sustainable habits is also a key focus for us in 2023, and we are thrilled to be able to announce our partnership with Ecover and Mr. Men. They’ve recently launched the new Little Miss Sustainable book, which aims to help parents educate their children on the importance of acting sustainably.

We’re delighted to support this initiative and will be digitally offering the book, free of charge, to our online platform.

By Matthew Neville – Correspondent, Bdaily

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