Humble Sustainability is the hoarder’s hero.
If you are overwhelmed with clutter and don’t know what to do, the startup Humble Sustainability will pick them up for free. There’s no minimum requirement to book a pickup, but founders Niña Mirabueno Opida and Josef Werker recommend pooling them for a single pickup to reduce carbon footprint.
They will take anything—good stuff, broken things, electronics, hand-me-downs, objects that trigger bad memories, literal baggage from exes—and have them reused, recycled or upcycled.
In an email interview, Opida described Humble Sustainability as “a value-driven marketplace focused on sustainability and circularity.”
A “frustrated designer,” Opida and her partner Werker have been advocating sustainability since they met four years ago.
Werker is half-Welsh and half-Dutch, and has been living in the Philippines for the past eight years.
“Josef’s mother is an environmental activist, and we became fascinated with thrift shops,” she said.
The couple did a deep dive into climate change and looked into ways to connect design to sustainability to solve a problem—clutter.
“We realized that clutter doesn’t just take up space and waste money, it also damages our planet due to excessive buying and keeping things we don’t use,” Opida said.
“Cluttered homes cause mental health issues, which is especially relevant right now as the pandemic has highlighted the importance of mental health and making use of what we have.”
Bookings have been regular since they founded Humble Sustainability in 2020, with as many as 250 pickups in a month, Werker said. (See related story on Page C2 on how to book.) The average number of disposed items is 150, but the most they have collected racked up to thousands of pieces and required several trucks!
“Humblers” or clients are a mixed lot. “They are businesses, schools and individuals from all sorts of backgrounds,” Opida said. “Anyone who has access to the internet can book a collection, and anyone with clutter is a potential customer.”
Sustainability tips
But how can one practice true sustainability during the quarantine when online shopping is so convenient and addictive?
“Stop buying stuff!” Opida said. “Jokes aside, overconsumption means more resources are produced and used. Handle waste properly—reuse, recycle and dispose.”
Do these at home, she said: “Unplug phones, switch air-conditioner for an electric fan, turn off TVs and lights.”
She added, “Grow your own food! Follow reuse hacks with straws, mugs, bags, water bottles.”
Tips are also posted on the Humble Sustainability Facebook page.
For fashion, borrow items from family and friends as they might have items used only once. Mend torn pieces before buying more clothes. Look into the new mushroom leather made of mycelium or the vegetative part of the fungus. Sell barely used shoes, bags and accessories. Buy preloved.
Opt for reusable facial rounds in using beauty products.
For cleaning the home, use hydrogen peroxide and vinegar in a spray bottle alternatively, but never mix them. Sprinkle baking soda on the carpet before vacuuming. Boil together cinnamon, cloves, herbs and fruits and use this as air freshener.
Establishments can also offer discounts to shoppers and diners who bring their own bags, cups and containers.
Both vegans, the couple also encouraged restaurants to add plant-based items on the menu, to compost food waste and to ditch single-use utensils and packaging.
Digital carbon footprint
To reduce digital carbon footprint, cut down on email newsletters and delete old Cloud files. Install ad blockers and reduce streaming. Buy secondhand and dispose of gadgets properly.
Electronics are one of the most common items collected, along with furniture, books and clothes.
Werker recalled that the very first item they got was a box of medicines, and they had to research on how to handle it safely—and legally. The secondhand meds were eventually donated to a local community.
“We’ve received saxophones, pianos and some amusing items I cannot even talk about publicly, and you would not believe what people have handed over. Some were in perfect condition!”
Humblers give up valuables, too, like jewelry, for a number of reasons—“mental health, helping the planet, creating space,” Werker said. “Minimalist living has been linked to many mental health benefits.” Clients would feel better “after giving back, taking part in social impact initiatives and practicing kindness”—and they have more space.
Humble Sustainability has also helped families who had to let go of items owned by the deceased, providing them with comfort during dark times and giving new life to the person’s belongings.
Circular living
Through technology, Humble Sustainability made a decluttering service system that connected recyclers, charities and artists in creating the solution of circular living.
Werker defined circular living as “a mentality and a lifestyle in which we extend the life of products in one way or another, a lifestyle that will get us one step closer to a circular economy.”
In a year, the founders’ “fierce passion for social impact” proved to be greater than the fear of just the two of them making insignificant changes.
“We believe that the ‘I’m just one person’ mentality needs to be shifted to ‘I can make an impact,’” Werker said. “Circular living has the ability to change the world, and it really starts with one small step. Be patient and practice sustainability step by step.” INQ Do you have questions on subjects
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