CIRCULAR economy startup, Humble Sustainability, has tied up with cloud logistics platform provider, Locad, to support the warehousing, fulfillment and shipping requirements of its online shop called Thrift.
With its passion for thrifting and sustainable second-hand shopping, and a mission that includes changing the mindset of habitual buying of new things and just throw them away later, Humble Sustainability advocates picking up and sorting things from “thrifters,” or people, who discard items that are no longer in use, to restore them in several ways, as well as large-scale enterprises getting rid of their appliances or communities removing their old furniture, its news release said.
Luckily, cofounders Josef Werker and Niña Mirabueno Opida found a reliable, innovative logistics partner, who could keep up with the pace of time and be open to the novelty of the products they deliver.
“[Besides] Locad’s efficiency, speed and reliability, we are thankful that they are essentially bringing our items back into circularity. The items we collect from businesses, they help us collect things and bring it to end-users,” Werker said.
According to him, their restoration involves various processes.
“We could resell things, upscale them into something quirky and artistic, recycle them, or break them down into usable raw materials,” he explained.
Locad’s expertise come into play by streamlining Humble’s operations and deliveries.
Its distributed fulfillment network in the Asia-Pacific and regional experience have also made it familiar with the requirements of groundbreaking companies like its social-enterprise partner and address them with agility.
“Anything that we decide to sell on Thrift is sent to Locad,. When someone orders, we do not have to worry about the product. It gets delivered and we see a real-time, updated report,” Werker said of Locad’s immediate dashboard and fulfillment options.
In the near future, the Humble cofounders plan to use tech to measure quantifiable impacts like carbon footprint reduction from recycling or upcycling secondhand items.
Opida underscored that Locad will continue to be a “valuable part” of their journey, ensuring that thrifters are satisfied with their experience as preloved goods are brought back into the market, the news release said.
“What we are trying to achieve in Humble resonates with both of us. We are essentially helping people put their items back in circularity. In the process, we also want to involve people who may not have opportunities in this new ecosystem we are trying to connect,” she said.
Together, both parties will create “a platform that can help a community of people learn, interact and engage with each other about living mindfully and sustainably,” Werker added.
“Locad and Humble are purely acting as the catalyst hopefully inspiring people to take their first steps. This is how sustainability can be achieved in a mass wave. Small steps from everyone working together count as one,” he pointed out.