Save money and reduce waste: Introducing the St. George Borrowing Centre!
Start borrowing on October 31
Have you ever needed a tool for a quick fix but didn’t want to spend money on something you’ll rarely use? If that sounds like you, you’ll be excited to hear about Regenesis’s brand new Borrowing Centre! The Borrowing Centre is a free initiative designed to save students money and reduce waste, by letting students borrow items instead of buy. By reducing the need to purchase seldom-used products, the Centre can save you money, and by keeping items in use, the Centre reduces waste.
What you can borrow
The Borrowing Centre offers a wide variety of items, with a focus on those that are purchased infrequently or for events. Some of our top categories include:
Tools, like drills
Appliances, like vacuums
Event materials, like folding chairs, tables, bowls
Board games and costumes
You can filter items on our website by category and campus, or search for an item at the top of the page. If you need an item we don’t have, email us at borrowingcentre@regenesis.eco to request it. We may not be able to provide every request, but we’ll try our best, and are always looking to expand our catalogue.
How it works: free borrowing
Borrowing from the Borrowing Centre is an easy, three-step process. The Centre operates on a deposit-return system, meaning borrowers make a deposit of one-third of the original price, and get a full refund when the item is returned. The deposit ensures items are returned, and the net cost to you is zero dollars.
1. Register and browse
To get started, create a free account on our borrowing website. Then, browse our item catalogue and click “Borrow or reserve” on the items you want. The website includes items from all our chapters, but you can filter items to the St. George Campus. You can select a time to pick up the items, and they’ll be ready in at least 24 hours.
2. Deposit and borrow
Once the item is ready, you can pick up your item and make the deposit. The items are free for you to use for one week.
3. Return and get a refund
Once your loan is complete, you can return your items at the Centre and receive a full refund on the deposit, meaning the total cost is free!
Environmental benefits of borrowing vs. buying
The Borrowing Centre reduces unnecessary purchases, overconsumption, and waste. It operates on a circular economic model, rather than linear. In the traditional linear economic model, materials are extracted to make a product, a consumer buys and uses the product, and the product is thrown away at the end of life, creating waste and pollution. In the circular economy, the product lifecycle becomes a loop. Consumers use the product over and over again, preventing waste and early disposal.
One example would be fast fashion vs. thrifting. Fast fashion uses the linear economic model, where clothes are produced from new fabric, and consumers buy the clothes and then throw them out. Thrifting uses a circular economic model, where users donate or resell their old clothes to second-hand stores. This keeps the clothes in circulation and out of the landfill.
Like thrifting, the Borrowing Centre operates on the circular economy model. Borrowers use products and return them when they’re done, which keeps trash out of landfills and prolongs the use of materials. The Borrowing Centre also reduces demand for new products, decreasing the energy and materials needed to manufacture and ship those products. Next time you need something, consider borrowing instead of buying!
Save money, live sustainably: Start borrowing!
The St. George Borrowing Centre is a great way to reduce unnecessary purchases and eliminate waste. Our wide array of items and our borrowing process makes it easy to save money and the environment.
Check out the Borrowing Centre website on October 31 to get started. Happy borrowing!