The Buy Nothing Project is a worldwide network of community groups that began in Bainbridge Island, Washington, in 2013. It promotes sharing or reusing items and services, which are called "gifts of self," instead of buying them through regular stores.

The goal of the Buy Nothing Project is "to build strong communities where the real value is the relationships between neighbors." It started as a Facebook campaign and now operates on Facebook and as a separate app. The project has grown to include local groups in the United States and other countries, with more than 4,000 volunteers and 7.5 million members.

Controversy

In late 2025, the Buy Nothing Project began using its trademark rights, which caused many independent Facebook gifting groups that used the name "Buy Nothing" to close. The group explained that it was protecting its rights to the name, even though it had already released an app with a paid feature in 2022. As a result, many of these groups changed their names to keep running on their own. Some groups were allowed to continue by Facebook after changing their names.

Global and local impact

On a local level, Buy Nothing Project groups may help reduce waste by encouraging people to share or reuse items instead of buying new ones. However, studies or measurements showing how much these groups actually help reduce waste have not been done yet.

The project’s website explains that the map used to show where groups are located was based on neighborhood boundaries. These boundaries were shaped by past unfair practices, such as redlining, which led to unequal treatment of different communities. Because of this, the map showed areas that had unfair advantages or disadvantages. In 2020, the project made changes to improve fairness and create more diverse local groups. A leader from a group in Minneapolis, Minnesota, said, "It has been difficult to make groups more diverse because neighborhoods in Minneapolis are not mixed, and groups often reflect the people in those areas."

Globally, the Buy Nothing Project has been covered in print and online media in the United States, the United Kingdom, Asia, and Australia. It has also been featured in video reports, such as a story by CBS Mornings titled "Buy Nothing Project groups offering more than just gifts." With the introduction of a mobile app, people can now join the project from anywhere in the world. This means that geographic boundaries no longer limit participation for travelers who want to take part in groups outside their usual area.

Organization and goals

The Buy Nothing Project helps local communities improve their neighborhoods by keeping groups small and local. This reduces the distance people travel to pick up items. The project does not directly criticize buying things, but its goals are to save money and reduce waste. The project's co-founders, Rebecca Rockefeller and Liesl Clark, explain that it is not just recycling. Instead, it helps people give and receive items without spending money and strengthens community connections.

Members must follow the project's rules and mission. In some cases, group leaders on Facebook may adjust the rules to better fit their local community's needs. Membership is only available to people who are legally allowed to join based on the laws in their area.