The mission of Het Goed, with 32 thrift stores across the Netherlands, is to create work through reuse. They achieve this by giving used items a second life. All the used items that arrive daily at the thrift stores are carefully sorted. This includes products such as clothing, blankets, shoes, household goods, furniture, bicycles, toys, books, and electronics. Striving for a circular economy and an inclusive society is more relevant than ever. Het Goed works on this mission with great enthusiasm every day.
Holland Circulair, a subsidiary of electronics processor Holland Recycling, collects discarded white goods across the Netherlands. Until recently, these white goods were processed into secondary raw materials, but they’re often still perfectly repairable. That’s why Holland Circulair started training white goods technicians. In addition to collecting discarded white goods, Holland Circulair also began testing, repairing, and refurbishing washing machines and dryers. Wear-and-tear parts are also preventively replaced, so new users can enjoy their “new” washing machine or dryer for years to come. Holland Circulair naturally also provides a statutory warranty on the machines it refurbishes.
Cooperation between Het Goed and Holland Circulair formalised
The missions of thrift store Het Goed and Holland Circulair align well in terms of circularity, sustainability, and inclusivity. On top of that, consumer demand for used electronics and white goods is very high. In early March, both parties — Ad Vogels on behalf of Het Goed and Milko Steer on behalf of Holland Circulair — signed an agreement. Holland Circulair supplies refurbished washing machines and dryers to thrift store Het Goed, exclusively in well-known brands.
Washing machines and dryers that until recently would have gone through the shredder to be processed into raw materials are now “saved” from the shredder and given a “new” life.
A firm handshake for a great initiative
The cooperation between thrift store Het Goed and Holland Circulair was contractually sealed by Mr. Vogels and Mr. Steer. Naturally, that called for a firm handshake and a nice cake.
This circular partnership between thrift store Het Goed and Holland Circulair creates room for growth. We naturally hope that this initiative will also encourage other companies to develop circular initiatives of their own. Many discarded products can get a second life after an upgrade, modification, or repair. Manufacturers also have an important role to play here. Recycling is good, but reuse is always better — especially when it contributes to an inclusive society.
