Embracing circular economy via car boot sale

KUCHING: The recent car boot sale held at the Civic Centre, themed “Pasar Orang Lamak Makei Baju Men-sia Marek” plays a crucial role in nurturing a circular economy and instilling thriftiness within the community.

Running from last Saturday until Dec 31, from 4pm to 11.30 pm, the market, centred around the sale of pre-loved items, serves as a platform for individuals to declutter their homes while fostering communal responsibility for environmental conservation through reusing.

It also showcased the growing trend of embracing the circular economy, as sellers offered a diverse range of pre-owned items, from clothing, books to vintage electronics to encourage buyers to opt for second-hand treasures rather than contributing to the demand for new products.

This community-driven initiative not only prevents unnecessary waste, but it also provides the public with a platform to sell items they no longer need, creating opportunities for individuals to generate side income.

The organiser of the car boot sale, Sammos Mustapha, shared insights into the market’s goal of transforming buyers into sellers to create a circular economy.

He revealed that the Kuching Car Boot Sale community currently boasts a membership of around 2,000 vendors, with an eventual goal to reach 5,000 in the next year.

“If we have 5,000 buyers, and only 5 per cent of them return to register and sell their pre-loved items, we will have 250 vendors from the community.

“For next year, plans are underway to host a mega car boot sale, involving at least 300 vendors. However, we are still looking for a suitable space that can accommodate us, such as the Sarawak Stadium,” he told New Sarawak Tribune.

Additionally, he said the car boot sale at Civic Centre here is organised monthly, with this edition marking the first themed sale, focusing on “something from the previous generation.”

The car boot sale can also be found at various locations throughout Kuching, including Majma Mall, Urban Transformation Centre (UTC) Kuching car park, and Kubah Ria.

Among the vendors, Ayu Sulaiman, 35, sees this market sale as an effective means to extend the lifespan of everyday items rather than allowing them to become wasteful or unused.

Participating in the car boot sale for the fourth time, Ayu initially lacked interest to take part, but was pleasantly surprised by the high demand.

“We all have things we no longer use. Instead of throwing them away, why not sell them at a lower price? The funds then can be used to acquire items we currently need.

“We are even giving things away for free, for those who need. Just because we don’t want it to go to waste, and we know that there are people out there who will need it more than we do,” she shared.

She further said most pre-loved items in her collection are sourced from friends and family, with some internationally, particularly from countries like Korea and Japan.

The process involves purchasing items in bulk, sorting them, and then offering them for sale. She said this not only contributes to sustainability but also serves as a means for people to generate income.

Meanwhile, Raihan Abdullah, 22, along with two friends, has also established a booth in the market dedicated to finding new homes for pre-loved items.

Raihan explained that their motivation stemmed from a passion to provide everyone with the opportunity to own quality and branded items.

“Some people are blessed with the means to own branded items, but unfortunately that is not the case for everyone,” he said.

In response to this, Raihan and his friends embarked on a mission to collect branded and preloved items, selling them at affordable prices to ensure that everyone has the opportunity to own branded items.

For those eager to participate in the upcoming car boot sale, reaching out is just a Facebook message away. Interested individuals can contact the organisers through the official Facebook page “Kuching Car Boot Sale.”