What Goes Into Making Everyday Items?

Natural resources needed to make the items are either extracted from the earth or grown and harvested for our use through agricultural production.

This initial step requires mining and agricultural equipment, fuel, and chemicals.

The resources are then transported to manufacturing facilities. Transportation requires trucks, trains, and ships, and the fuel to operate them.

The manufacture and packaging of goods often involves multiple steps and resources. These steps require machinery, chemicals, and trees or other fiber sources, and fuel to power the industrial plant.

Finished goods are then transported to distribution centers, retail stores, and finally to the customer's home.

Final transportation requires trucks, trains, shops, and cars, and, again, more fuel.

Reuse Saves Resources and Money.

Each time you donate an item to a reuse business or resell it through a yard sale, you help save all of the resources needed to extract, transport, manufacture, and package everyday items.

And by shopping reused, you can also save money! Previously owned items cost less because the first owner absorbed most of the production costs. But the quality may be as good as new!

Wool-lined Canvas Field Coat

Basic Resources needed:

• Wool, cotton for fabric
• Plastic for buttons
• Metal for zipper

Saving Money with reuse:

• New coat: $100
• Very good condition coat from local consignment shop: $50

More About Reuse - Page 3