The Idea, the mission, and the vision
Our global communities struggle with the growing challenges of waste management and environmental degradation. In response, a lot of the communities around us are focusing on creative waste management technologies and approaches such as reuse, repair, proper waste segregation, and composting. These efforts assist us in lessening our negative environmental footprint and instilling a sense of responsibility not only on a personal level but in the businesses we run and operate.
As a business, we need to advocate for the elimination of harmful practices and focus on solutions that help us all contribute to a healthier environment around us. To assist Plume in this quest, we would like to introduce you to a newly created platform, #PlumeStrong Zero Waste Platform, that will allow Plume employees to donate unwanted or no longer used products, like clothes, jewelry, sports equipment, tools, electronics, artwork (etc.) to our colleagues, allowing for others to not only enjoy and experience the items we no longer want or need, but also help out in the lessening wasteful practices in the communities where we live and work. These in-kind donations, resulting in sales of these goods on our platform, will generate dollars to assist #PlumeStrong in raising money to combat and narrow our negative environmental footprint and help each of us to become more responsible corporate citizens.
How does it work?
#PlumeStrong Zero Waste platform works as an auction site. All the items on the #PlumeStrong Zero Waste platform are put on auction for exactly two weeks with the possibility to extend for another week.
Charitable donations
All the auctioned items are in-kind donations made by Plumians, friends, and family, for the items they no longer need or want. All the proceeds from selling the items will be donated to the #PSCC24 charity cause.
Note for the US citizens: It is possible to obtain a proof of donation, issued by Street Child (501(c)(3), classified as a public charity). As indicated on the Stripe invoice, please reach out to Anna at anna@street-child.co.uk.
What kind of items should be donated?
Any item you no longer want or use - be it sports equipment, attire, jewelry, tools, electronics, toys, art pieces, etc. Please note that the items donated should be in good condition. The #PlumeStrong team reserves the right to decline any donated items, if we believe it’s not appropriate or well-suited for these purposes.
Before donating please inspect each item carefully and designate the condition of the items using the simple definitions below:
A - new, unused
B - in great condition, used a few times
C - in good condition, used
D - still works, there are signs of usage
E - vintage/not working, but a nice piece
How to make an in-kind donation?
The items are being uploaded on the #PlumeStrong Zero Waste platform by the #PlumeStrong team, and to do so we are inviting you to fill in this Google form and give us as much information as possible about the item(s) you are donating.
The role and responsibility of #PlumeStrong, The Seller and the Buyer
The Users hereby acknowledge that the #PlumeStrong Zero Waste platform is a platform with which #PlumeStrong facilitates the in-kind donation exchange and promotes sustainability. The role of #PlumeStrong shall be limited to acting as an intermediary between the Users. To that end, #PlumeStrong shall not act as a reseller of the items and shall not become the owner of the items at any point, we remain purely as a ‘helpful party’ to facilitate the specified in-kind donations via an auction for charitable purposes and donation. Each User shall act, at all times, for and on its own behalf and shall never act as an agent or representative of #PlumeStrong. #PlumeStrong shall not be a party to the contract of sale between the Buyer and the Seller and hereby does not assume any liability for such a contract or for its consequences.
#PlumeStrong shall not check whether the item or the description of the item in the auction meets the Buyer’s expectations. Therefore, #PlumeStrong does not guarantee that the Buyer shall find the item satisfactory, whether from an aesthetic point of view or from a practical point of view, as to its use. Participation is voluntary and we rely on everyone’s honesty and integrity.
It is up to the Seller to respond to any claim or complaint regarding the item(s) that they have donated to the #PlumeStrong Zero Waste Platform, their description and the comments of any User about the item(s), and/or the dispatching and delivery of the item(s) by the Seller, and any claim or complaint of this kind shall be referred to the Seller, which shall hold all responsibility while release Plume, Inc or any relevant liability.
This is a platform where #PlumeStrong is purely a facilitator of the aforementioned exchange while promoting sustainability and encouraging charitable contributions. #PlumeStrong does not guarantee the quality of the items sold (guarantee remains the sole responsibility of the Seller). #PlumeStrong does not assume, organize, or facilitate the packing and or shipping of the item once sold, all the relevant responsibility of the donated items becomes the Buyer’s sole responsibility. Local transactions are encouraged to ease the burden of costs and negative impact on the environment (i.e. packing supplies, shipping costs, etc.). The Buyer needs to cover all the costs of shipping, relevant taxes, eventual duties, import/export costs, customs, etc.
When an item is put on the #PlumeStrong Zero Waste Platform for an in-kind donation, otherwise referred to as an auction, the description will contain who the ‘Seller’ is, their contact details, and the geographic location of the item. Once the item is sold the Buyer receives a push email notification. From this point forward the duty of physically acquiring the item is assumed by the Buyer.
How to get the item bought?
When an item is put on the #PlumeStrong Zero Waste platform for donation/auction the description contains:
● Name of the Seller
● Seller’s contact details
● The broader location of the item
● Accurate description of the item and rating category, identified earlier
Once the item is sold the Buyer receives a push email notification. From this point forward the duty of physically acquiring the item becomes the responsibility of the Buyer. In no more than 5 business days the Buyer needs to reach out to the Seller stating they acquired the item and proposing the appropriate, green delivery.
In case the Seller does not respond to the Buyer, or does not handover/ship the item within 14 days from the purchase (except if the Users mutually agreed to extend the handover/shipping period), the Buyer should reach out to #PlumeStrong team via zero.waste@plume.com and the reimbursement process will be triggered. The reimbursed funds should be paid back within 14 days after making the claim.
Please note that the idea behind this platform, apart from charitable endeavors, is sustainability and we strongly recommend buying the products locally.
Dictionary of Terms:
Seller - the person donating the item.
Buyer - the person whose bid won the auction for a selected item.
User - the Seller and/or the Buyer.