Maybe you buy a backpack for your new camping hobby, then discover you hate camping. Or there's a two-year-old jacket in your closet that you hardly ever wear because it looked better on you in the store. Maybe you received a better bike light as a birthday gift, and now your old one's gathering dust.

Enter a caption (optional)

All of these things took resources to produce, and there is a real wastefulness to letting them remain unused--or worse, in landfill. Thus first Patagonia and now REI have launched used goods initiatives, whereby you can trade in "gently used" clothing and gear for store credit. You can also, on the flip side, purchase used goods from them at reduced prices.

If you're looking to buy, Patagonia's WornWear website is well-stocked with both men and women's clothing.

Patagonia has yet to get their Gear section up and running, as they're currently working on the intake phase. If you've got used Patagonia gear that you're looking to trade for credit, bring it to one of their stores.

Enter a caption (optional)

Though REI launched their version of the initiative after Patagonia's, their Used website features men's and women's clothing and also has a well-stocked gear section.

Enter a caption (optional)

I browsed through it and the prices are attractive: As one example, this Cycliq HD Camera/Bike Light is going for $195 (it was $279 new).

Enter a caption (optional)

Kudos to both of these companies for allowing us, as a society, to wring greater utility out of unused mass-produced goods. It's better for us as consumers and it's better for the planet.