Think Before You Buy – Rabat’s Unbought Store

The main message of our action is: 

The most sustainable product is the one that is never bought.  Instead of counting leftover waste, we count waste that was never created.

Our action will take place as follows:

1.   Launch:  Whole School Assembly by Eko-Skola Committee

Eko-Skola committee members ask all pupils:

·       Have you ever bought something that you did not really need?

·       How long did the excitement last after you got it?

·       How many toys, shoes, water bottles OR pencil cases do you own?

 Then, they reveal the challenge:

“Before buying something, STOP and THINK”

Main messages shared during the assembly are:

1.Use what you already have

1. • Do I really need it?
   • Can I do without it?
   • Do I have something similar?
   • Can I still use it?
   • Can it be repaired?

      2.      Share it / borrow it

      3. Care for your belongings

      4. Collect memories not just things

       5.Small, good choices make a big difference

 2.  Family Challenge – all Primary students

Send home a simple online form to be filled in by students, titled ‘I Almost Bought It!’. It includes four short questions that encourage them to think about something that they want and how they can avoid buying it.

            I wanted to buy: ________________

Why did I want it?

Did I really need it?

What did I do instead?

□ Borrowed one

□ Used what I already had

□ Repaired something

□ Shared with someone

□ Changed my mind

 All students fill in the form with their families.  The data is collected by the EWWR coordinator.  The data of each class is given to each respective class teacher.

3. Classroom Discussions

Teachers conduct an activity/lesson which involves discussing the following issues: 

·       Needs vs Wants

·       Prioritising needs

·       Making the right choices

·       Environmental impact of their choices

This is where the real learning happens.

Each class discusses the students’ replies to the online form. Ideas are shared among students.  Emphasis is made on the amount of resources saved and how this impacts the environment.

 4.  Impact Wall

 Using the data collected from the online forms, create a giant display saying:

“Look What We Didn’t Buy!”

Count:

• Number of pupils involved
• Number of families involved
• Number of items not purchased
• Most common category avoided
• Alternative actions to buying a product

5.  Parents

Invite parents – during parents’ day (27th November) – to see this wall

6.  Video

A video is created.  A number of students talk about this project and discuss what surprised them and what they learnt.

 The video is disseminated on social media and on school TEAMS.

This project focuses on:

✅ Consumer choices

✅ Behaviour change

✅ Family involvement

✅ Waste prevention

✅ Long-term thinking

✅ Measurable impact

Most importantly, children learn that being sustainable is not only about what we throw away, but also about what we choose not to buy in the first place.

School slogan:

“Think Before You Buy”