Innovations in waste management in Moldova:
bazaar with free used clothes, recycled paper and textile pads
bazaar with free used clothes, recycled paper and textile pads
“FreeShop” free bazaar in Moldova. Photo: Ecovisio
The fashion industry today is one of the main sources of environmental pollution: it accounts for 10% of greenhouse gas emissions and 20% of global wastewater. To make one T-shirt 2,700 liters of water are required, which is equivalent to the volume of drinking water needed by one person for more than 2,5 years.
“FreeShop” free bazaar in Moldova. Photo: Ecovisio
“FreeShop” free bazaar
In order to validate already existing things, “FreeShop” appeared in Moldova in 2018. This is a unique bazaar where the “good” is used clothing that people bring. Anyone in need can take an item for free, regardless of whether they donated something in return or not. Nothing is sold, bought or exchanged in “FreeShop”. Everyone can give and take what they want, in the spirit of reuse and intimacy between people.
Activist Clara Abdulla borrowed this idea from a bar in Bucharest and brought it with her to Moldova.
Activist Clara Abdulla borrowed this idea from a bar in Bucharest and brought it with her to Moldova.
“I wasn’t sure what the local public’s reaction would be to the appearance of “FreeShop”. Fortunately, the idea was received brilliantly, and from the very beginning a small community rallied around the “FreeShop” movement,” says Clara.
Clara Abdulla. Photo: Ecovisio
Today, she and people who believe in the “FreeShop” philosophy no longer call clothes second-hand, but “pre-loved”!
“FreeShop” is not a charity event and is open to absolutely everyone who wants to give or receive something, regardless of social status or purchasing power. Essentially, this removes the traditional authority frame where the recipient is in a lower financial position. “FreeShop” is one of the few social projects in which all people have equal rights and opportunities to purchase goods.
“FreeShop” is not a charity event and is open to absolutely everyone who wants to give or receive something, regardless of social status or purchasing power. Essentially, this removes the traditional authority frame where the recipient is in a lower financial position. “FreeShop” is one of the few social projects in which all people have equal rights and opportunities to purchase goods.
“For myself, I felt the success of the first free bazaar when I saw a diplomat from Ukraine browsing clothes from “FreeShop”, side by side with a woman washing dishes in a local cafe. Both found things to suit their taste.”
People bring shoes, accessories, toys or cosmetics, books, household items or decor to the “FreeShop”. Photo: Ecovisio
Clara says that Chisinau residents need systematic services for the collection and reuse of used clothing:
“Almost everyone who came to FreeShop came with clothes that they had kept at home for a long time, not knowing where to give them so as not to throw them away.”
People also bring shoes, accessories, toys or cosmetics, books, household items or decor to the “FreeShop”.
“Almost everyone who came to FreeShop came with clothes that they had kept at home for a long time, not knowing where to give them so as not to throw them away.”
People also bring shoes, accessories, toys or cosmetics, books, household items or decor to the “FreeShop”.
Photo: Ecovisio
One of the principles of the initiative is that the bazaar can be organized by anyone and adapted to any conditions. After the launch of the model in Moldova, other people took up the idea and organized “FreeShop” in their school, village, neighborhood or traditional fairs.
After the launch of the model in Moldova, other people took up the idea and organized “FreeShop” in their school, village, neighborhood. Photo: Ecovisio
“I recycle paper so trees don’t get cut down for art!”
The story of Natalya Loshmanskaya, who launched the “Memory on Paper” initiative, began with her love for trees. In April 2019, she arrived at the office, leafed through stacks of papers left over after filming a useful video, and it dawned on her: “Why are there so many of them?! How many needlessly cut down trees am I holding in my hand?!” After all, every year from 4 to 8 billion trees turn into paper, and if we do not reduce the production and consumption of new paper, then in less than 100 years we risk being left without tropical forests on the planet.
Natalya Loshmanskaya. Photo: Ecovisio
Natalya realized that she could use the paper to the maximum, write on both sides. Photo: Ecovisio
Having thought about the problem, Natalya realized that she could use the paper to the maximum, write on both sides... But the sheet would still end up in the trash. A quick search on YouTube led her to a video about recycling paper at home.
That day Natalya returned home with a stack of sheets under her arm, having enlisted the support of her husband.
They shredded the paper, placed it in water, a day later they took two frames and began to drain the moisture. The couple put a wet and soft A4 sheet of paper to dry. The next day, after slowly peeling it off the frame, Natalya received her first home-recycled paper.
That day Natalya returned home with a stack of sheets under her arm, having enlisted the support of her husband.
They shredded the paper, placed it in water, a day later they took two frames and began to drain the moisture. The couple put a wet and soft A4 sheet of paper to dry. The next day, after slowly peeling it off the frame, Natalya received her first home-recycled paper.
Paper recycling process. Video: Ecovisio
But the process was not always easy: The sheets turned out either too thick or too thin. It took Natalya some time to find the perfect recipe. She currently makes A4 craft paper and recycled cards.
Kraft paper and postcards made from recycled paper. Photo: Ecovisio
Recycling paper has become our heroine's new hobby. She devotes all her free time to it, even though she does not have much of it: Natalya is raising her daughter and working as an SMM manager part-time. But when she has a moment, her bathroom turns into a laboratory for experiments. There, the blender acquired a new purpose: it grinds sheets perfectly. The process of tearing paper and turning it into something new is a whole therapy, Natalya admits.
Soaking paper before shredding. Video: Ecovisio
“I don’t know what can be made from one ticket for trolleybus travel, but several will make a new sheet,” she says. “From the used sheet you can then make a smaller sheet, and so on a maximum of 5 times. That's all: it is impossible to recycle indefinitely.”
With each processing, cellulose fiber loses its quality and gradually becomes unsuitable for use or recycling.
Shredding paper in a blender. Video: Ecovisio
“Through Memory on Paper, I want to create a community of sustainable artists and just happy and knowledgeable people who use recycled paper as raw material. I recycle paper so as not to cut down trees in the name of art,” says Natalya. “Art should be sustainable, no matter whether you write or draw.”
Video: Ecovisio
“Munatex” textile reusable pads
Single-use menstrual products create a huge amount of waste. Over the course of a lifetime, every woman uses 11,000-15,000 tampons or pads.
With an eco-friendly and healthy alternative comes “Munatex”, which offers a wide range of reusable textile pads that are free of toxins and plastic. The idea belongs to the young Oksana Spiney, a professional clothing designer who wanted to continue working in her field, but in order not to harm the environment with production, and also to please the women of Moldova!
With an eco-friendly and healthy alternative comes “Munatex”, which offers a wide range of reusable textile pads that are free of toxins and plastic. The idea belongs to the young Oksana Spiney, a professional clothing designer who wanted to continue working in her field, but in order not to harm the environment with production, and also to please the women of Moldova!
“I started from the idea of doing something focused on production in the consumer goods industry, but not increasing the volume of non-recyclable waste. The production of textile hygiene products is an ideal option,” says Oksana.
Oksana Spiney. Photo: Ecovisio
Textile pads are a relatively new phenomenon in the country. For a long time, this type of intimate hygiene was known only to a narrow circle of people who were more environmentally oriented. Over the past few years, several entrepreneurs have emerged who create and popularize reusable alternatives, and Oksana Spiney is one of them.
“Munatex” textile reusable pads. Photo: Ecovisio
Moreover, making textile pads saves women the money they spend every month on single-use menstrual products.
In addition to environmentally friendly cotton pads, “Munatex” also offers textile diapers. Oksana can be found both at local environmental fairs and on the brand’s Instagram page.
In addition to environmentally friendly cotton pads, “Munatex” also offers textile diapers. Oksana can be found both at local environmental fairs and on the brand’s Instagram page.
According to Oksana, more and more people are aware of and want to try eco-friendly alternatives, be it absorbent pads, menstrual panties or menstrual cups. This is a sign that more initiatives can be launched to offer these products to women in Moldova.
Environmental activist Gabriela Isak demonstrates reusable menstrual products for women. Photo: Ecovisio