In Luxembourg, but also in most other European countries, that’s the average length of use of a new drill over its lifetime! Twelve minutes. For most of them, that’s the time it takes to fix to the wall the shelf on which… you’re going to leave the drill for the rest of its life!And it’s the same to most new tools sold in DIY stores, or in supermarkets that offer power tools, usually battery-powered, at extremely low prices.
Bearing this in mind, and given the enormous waste of resources this represents, Facilitec, in partnership with Ëmweltberodung Lëtzebuerg asbl (EBL), launched Luxembourg’s first used tool lending point – Gutt Geschier – in January 2023.
Conceived by EBL, the principle behind Gutt Geschier is simple: collect tools that are no longer used by their owners, but are still in working condition, and give them a second life by lending them free of charge.
Since January, no fewer than 130 tools of all kinds (manual, electric, workshop, garden, etc.) have been collected and made available to everyone at Facilitec’s participative workshop. They come either from the SIVEC recycling center, or from private individuals or local businesses, and all have in common the fact that they are no longer in use, even though they are still usable.
To date, over 200 people have registered on the guttgeschier.lu website, and as many tools have been borrowed. The impact of the initiative is beginning to be felt in a modest way. Over a 10-month period, Gutt Geschier users have not purchased a dozen new tools.
The success of the initiative means that new lending points will soon be opening. The first will be located at Bildungszenter Matgesfeld in Belvaux, and will specialize in gardening equipment. In addition, a number of organizations have expressed interest in setting up other lending points in Luxembourg. The relay of users is important to encourage other players, associations or local authorities to consider similar initiatives. So don’t hesitate to spread the word.
Finally, Transition Minett is preparing to extend the concept to the food sector and more. A library of kitchen objects is currently being set up, and will soon enable you to borrow a raclette machine, a food processor or a plancha for a special event, without having to buy a new one that will only be used a few times in its lifetime…
Fewer new appliances purchased means fewer resources consumed for a short-term use.