More Canadians are embracing a shift toward thrifting, according to a new study from Habitat for Humanity, with Atlantic Canada leading the trend.
The survey shows 70 per cent are planning on thrift shopping within the next 12 months compared to the national average of 60 per cent.
In Nova Scotia, CEO Donna Williamson says, the impact is significant with Habitat for Humanity diverting roughly 15 million pounds of waste from landfills each year with more people donating used items instead of throwing them away.
“We have high grocery costs, our power bills are high, we have one of the highest rents. So, I think people are just trying to find ways to save money and thrifting is a great way to do that. You can still come in and get things that you want, but you’re not paying retail prices,” she explains.
Habitat for Humanity in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. PHOTO: NATALIE CHIASSON/ACADIA BROADCASTING
The organization sells used goods in ReStores that are in roughly 100 locations across the country with eight in Atlantic Canada – four in New Brunswick, one in P.E.I and Newfoundland and Labrador and two in Nova Scotia.
ReStores have seen a huge spike in revenue between 2020 and 2023, and according to Williamson, the organization brought in $1.7 million in 2025.
However, she says, many people still aren’t aware of the options available to donate usable items, from ReStores to local furniture banks and other community organizations.
“I wish people were more conscientious about how they dispose items that they no longer need or want, that there are so many other great organizations in our community that could use those.”
Williamson says there is also a growing awareness of the environmental impacts of reuse, but that more progress is needed.
“I see my neighbors and they have really nice furniture out to go in the garbage and I’m like, nooo, there’s so many people that could use that.”
“Habitat is a social enterprise store, and it is the marketer if you’re looking to get rid of anything, we do pickups, or you can drop things off here, and then your items continue to live on. We really need to come together as a community and make this happen.”
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