Sustainable Summer Bazaar in Banovići: Circular economy in action

Following the success of similar events in Breza, Živinice, and Ugljevik, the Banovići bazaar continued the tradition of encouraging a more sustainable lifestyle through a simple voucher-based exchange system. Visitors brought up to four clean, gently used items—whether clothes, shoes, accessories, books, or toys—and exchanged them for new items. The event offered a practical way to reduce waste while embracing the values of reuse and resourcefulness.

Banovići is one of the communities participating in the BiH SuTra project that adopted a sustainable transition plan in June this year. This will strengthen the municipality's long-term efforts for growth and development. Assistant to the Mayor of the Municipality of Banovići, Selmet Husanović, stated: “The Sustainable Summer Bazaar is a reminder that small steps, like reusing and reducing waste, can lead to big changes. The bazaar encouraged environmentally responsible habits and showed that every community has the power to shape a more sustainable future. Events like this bring the community together and inspire us all to take action.”

Events like these show that local communities are more than ready to embrace circular practices. These bazaars may seem modest, but they send a powerful message: change doesn’t always start with policy — it can start with people. "I sincerely hope that we are entering an era where we reevaluate how we consume clothes and things in general. The current waste paradigm, where we are slaves to fast fashion and throw clothes in the bin after a few uses must stop. That is why we in the BiH SuTra project believe in a circular economy and organise swapping events such as the summer bazaar in Banovići. These swapping events reduce our environmental footprint and the bonus is that we also save money by reducing our overall consumption and we foster a community of practices that promotes real sustainability. So to the residents of Banovići and nearby communities I want to say: Thank you for joining the BiH SuTra summer bazaar in Banovići!" - Saša Solujić, BiH SuTra Project Manager.

Items that weren’t exchanged at the bazaar didn’t go to waste. Unexchanged clothes and toys were donated to families in need through the Red Cross Banovići. This thoughtful redistribution extended the event’s positive impact far beyond the day itself, helping the community in meaningful ways.

The BiH SuTra project is funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) in Bosnia and Herzegovina and implemented by the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI). The BiH SuTra project aims to enhance the country's capacity to implement environmental and sustainable transition policies at the local level.

By giving a second life to clothes, books, and toys, the Sustainable Summer Bazaar in Banovići helped reduce waste and fostered a culture of reuse and environmental responsibility. Most importantly, it reminded everyone that a greener future is possible — and that it can also be fun, festive, and community-driven.