Hammersmith & Fulham residents have saved more than £80,000 by borrowing from Hammersmith’s Library of Things.
The borrow-don’t-buy hub for useful household gadgets and DIY tools has helped cut more than 15 tonnes of waste – 30 tonnes of carbon emissions – since its launch in June 2022.
With more than 100 visitors and 200 items borrowed from as little as £1 every month, borrowing is up 44 per cent compared to this time last. Our Hammersmith site has become the most popular library of its kind anywhere in the country.
“Our Library of Things goes from strength to strength” said Cllr Wesley Harcourt, H&F Cabinet Member for Climate Change & Ecology.
“It’s a great asset for residents as we work to reduce carbon emissions from the things we buy, use and throw away – which, we know, make up one third of our carbon footprint.”
Make your goods last longer
The community library has found a home at Livat Hammersmith.
The King Street based shopping mall hosts a variety of circular events to encourage repair and reuse and support residents to live healthier, more sustainable lives.
Extending the life of our clothes and goods is good for the planet as well as our wallets. Whether this Circular Economy Week or beyond, here’s how you can get involved in H&F:
Find alternatives to single-use plastic
Plastic cutlery, balloon sticks and polystyrene cups have now been banned from shops and hospitality businesses across England.
Business owners are invited to brush up on the new rules in a free workshop on Thursday 19 October.
Run by H&F Council and Hammersmith BID, it’s the first in a series of events that are set to help businesses implement sustainable improvements in the workplace.
Here are 15 top tips to help you reduce single-use plastic in your home.
Learn how to fix your electricals
Hammersmith’s monthly-run electric repair cafés have helped prevent more than 1,300kg of CO2 emissions since September 2022.
Residents can bring along their slow or broken electronic devices to Livat shopping mall, and the West Central London Fixers will attempt to fix them for free.
There’s still time to secure a final spot at their upcoming session on Sunday 22 October.
Upcycle with the Library of Things
Hammersmith’s successful borrow-don’t-buy hub is inviting residents to join their maker challenge.
Local creators can enter the That’s A Rubbish Idea competition by Sunday 29 October for a chance to win a £200 gift card to spend at the IKEA Re-use and Re-shop hub.
It’s run by Hammersmith’s Library of Things in partnership with Shepherds Bush makerspace Petit Miracles and IKEA Hammersmith to help residents get upcycling.
Give your clothes a new lease of life
According to a survey by ReLondon, Londoners buy an average of 48 new clothing items and discard 44 each year.
Hammersmith’s monthly mending circle helps keep materials in circulation for as long as possible.
Join the next free session on Saturday 11 November at Livat shopping mall to learn how to repair your clothes. No prior experience or equipment needed.
Or upgrade your wardrobe at their regular clothes swap pop-ups. Keep an eye on the Livat Hammersmith website for details.
