The World’s First Recycling Mall in Sweden Is a Model of Success
ReTuna Återbruksgalleria is the world‘s first recycling mall, revolutionizing shopping in a climate-smart way. Old items are given a new life through repairing and upcycling. Everything sold is recycled or reused or has been organically or sustainably produced. And the business concept is working: In 2016 the mall had 8.1 million SEK (0.8 million Euro) in sales for recycled products.
The mall, about 100 kilometer west of the Swedish capital city Stockholm, opened its doors in August 2015. It is easy for visitors to sort materials they are discarding into the containers and then drop off reusable toys, furniture, clothes, decorative items and electronic devices in the mall’s depot, called “Returen”. In the depot, the staff performs an initial culling of what is usable and what is not. The items are then distributed to the recycling shops in the mall. Then the shop staff performs a second culling, where they choose what they want to repair, fix up, convert, refine – and ultimately sell. In this way, the materials are given a new life. In addition to offering sustainable shopping and serving as a public educator in relation to environmental issues, ReTuna Återbruksgalleria has generated over 50 new jobs. The concept is now spreading.
Photo: ReTuna
GR 32017
