The University of Manchester has launched a preloved marketplace for students powered by the innovative Hazaar app as part of its commitment to boosting sustainability on campus.
As the apps utilises university email addresses, all students are welcome to use it to sell their preloved items or purchase unique finds at budget-friendly prices. Gone are the days of queuing to post sold items too, as students can simply exchange their items on campus – saving carbon, time and hassle.
Items on the app range from toasters and textbooks to sports kits and fancy dress, with students welcome to sell homemade items too. The marketplace has already drawn in 2,400 sign-ups, and it is only expected to grow in popularity as the tide continues to shift towards affordable, sustainable shopping. Hazaar will support students to sell their homemade and pre-loved items at four pop up markets across the year.
Professor Jennifer O’Brien, Academic Lead for Sustainability Teaching and Learning, commented: “We are building on the incredible work of our Halls of Residence teams who are passionately committed to reducing waste. This is a student led innovation that addresses a long-standing sustainability challenge, as part of a cross-university partnership that enables students to earn whilst they learn in a cost-of-living crisis. To my mind that is socially responsible teaching and learning, in action.”
The collaboration between Hazaar and the University came about as a way of dealing with the masses of waste left behind in halls of residences at the end of each academic year.
Led by Dale Pullin for the past two years, alongside Give it Don’t Bin it, The University of Manchester set up donation drop-off zones around accommodation buildings. Items were collected by the facilities team and sorted by students who created preloved university starter kits for incoming students.
The pilot was a success and contributed to the diversion of 7kg of waste per student accommodation bed on average. The scheme was subsequently rolled out to nearly all university-owned halls, and the successful collaboration was recognised with a prestigious CUBO Business Partnership of the Year Award.
Harriet Noy, CEO of Hazaar, said: “As a Manchester-based startup, our partnership with The University of Manchester is especially meaningful. At Hazaar, we often say we help students be sustainable ‘by accident’—we make it so easy, affordable, and appealing that even those who aren’t actively focused on sustainability naturally engage with the university’s circular economy. The entire Hazaar team and I are thrilled to see where this partnership will take us.”
The startup was created by students and continues to be run by students too, with four students currently employed by Hazaar as ambassadors. While it is still in its early stages, the University has high hopes for the app and welcomes any creative ideas to help improve and grow its offering.
Students and staff at The University of Manchester can download the app here:
