Unlocking Community Resources: Solving Scarcity from Surplus Closets

The alarming reality of waste

We are living in an era where materialism has reached an all-time high, yet the resulting surge in waste has reached alarming proportions. Humanity currently generates some 2.3 billion tonnes of municipal solid waste annually, spanning everything from food and electronics to textiles. According to the Global Fashion Agenda, the world produces approximately 92 million tonnes of textile waste each year. The fashion and textile sector now accounts for between 2 per cent and 8 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions and is responsible for 9 per cent of annual microplastic leakage into the oceans. The industry’s environmental footprint is equally staggering: it consumes an estimated 215 trillion litres of water - equivalent to 86 million Olympic-sized swimming pools. Furthermore, approximately 15,000 different chemicals are utilised in textile manufacturing, some of which can persist in the environment for decades. The crisis extends beyond apparel to food security. The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) reports that households worldwide wasted over 1 billion meals daily in 2022, even as 783 million people suffered from hunger and over 30% of humanity faces food insecurity. Global food waste is estimated at US$1 trillion annually, with South-east Asia accounting for 25 per cent of the total, according to the Country Representative of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) in Vietnam. Behind these staggering figures lies a sobering social reality: while food rots in landfills and clothes sit forgotten in closets, many low-income workers and families are struggling to navigate the rising cost of living.

Redefining ownership through the circular economy

In the face of climate change and global economic headwinds, “sustainability” must evolve beyond merely reducing plastic use. The most pragmatic solution lies in optimizing product lifecycles through reuse. Sharing used items is not just an act of charity, but one of the most effective forms of recycling. An item that one person no longer needs may be something another person is looking for, even a lifeline to help them get through a difficult time. Beyond their material utility, the provision of clean meals and upcycled goods offers the underprivileged workforce something far more valuable: a sense of respect and human connection. This circulation not only reduces pressure on the waste disposal system and saves resources, but also contributes to solving social welfare problems. Instead of hoarding items that are no longer needed, returning them to the “consumer flow” is the quickest and most practical way to support vulnerable groups. This represents a fundamental shift from “private ownership” to “community sharing,” where an item’s value is measured by its utility rather than its time spent in storage.

A tech-driven approach to community sharing

The chọcho platform leverages technology to address household waste by facilitating a “give-and-receive” network through a voluntary gifting model. The practicality of “chọcho” lies in encouraging users to share even the smallest things, such as leftover clean meals, a few children’s toys, or finished books. Instead of letting items become household waste, the app is designed to promote a new life cycle for products. This not only helps donors declutter their living spaces but also provides practical value to those who truly need it. A key differentiator for chọcho is its short-video functionality, which allows users to authenticate the actual condition of items, providing recipients with greater assurance of quality. Operating on a voluntary giving model rather than a commercial framework, the platform fosters transparency; item descriptions remain authentic and realistic, devoid of the promotional ‘embellishments’ typically seen in conventional e-commerce. The streamlined giving-and-receiving process involves just a few simple steps, aiming to integrate the act of sharing into the fabric of modern daily life. More than a mere transactional platform for giving and receiving, chọcho seeks to cultivate a sharing community, dissolving the divide between surplus and scarcity to integrate all participants as partners within a singular socio-economic ecosystem. The platform has prioritised rigorous data protection protocols, placing user privacy at the forefront to effectively mitigate the social stigma often associated with receiving aid. This approach fosters a connectivity framework that is both transparent and discreet. As urban centers grapple with rising inequality and waste management challenges, platforms like chọcho are pivotal in driving sustainable development. They champion conscious, responsible sharing as a viable alternative to continuous production. By extending the lifecycle of pre-owned goods, chọcho dismantles the barriers of waste, paving the way for more resilient and civilised communal values.

Experience and connect with chọcho at: Website: https://chocho.global/

About chọcho

Chọcho is a community-driven technology platform that enables the direct sharing of surplus resources (clothing, household items, food, etc.) through authenticated photos and videos. Unlike commercial marketplaces or traditional charitable models, Chọcho focuses on extending product lifecycles and fostering a culture of dignified sharing.

This press release was published as it was received from our partner, without any editing from The Business Times (BT) team.

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