Consumption. The portable mini fan and the hand fan, these essential summer items

It has won over a large number of users, especially during the heat waves that hit France in June and July... The portable mini fan seems to have become the essential object of summer, whether in the street, on public transport, on terraces, in unair-conditioned offices, or at home. On social networks, everyone is revealing it: in different colors, with USB cable charging, combined with misting functions, there are several models.

And it's not just France that has succumbed to this trend: in the United Kingdom, 7.1 million mini fans were sold in 2024, according to a study by the NGO Material Focus, a British association that launched a campaign called “Recycle Your Electricals”.

However, it's a consumer reflex that's taking a heavy toll on the planet. The energy-intensive mini-fan is part of what's known as "FastTech," meaning the rampant consumption of small, inexpensive electrical appliances with a short lifespan. They cost next to nothing: a few euros at Action or Temu, around ten on Amazon or Hema. "The equivalent of 55% of items purchased each year are now thrown away or put away, forgotten in a drawer," Material Focus points out. Of the 7.1 million mini-fans purchased last year, 3.4 million ended up in a trash can or a closet.

"FastTech is growing as rapidly as fast fashion and will have a similar negative impact, ending up in landfills and having a detrimental effect on the environment," said Cathrine Jansson-Boyd, a professor and consumer expert, quoted in the British NGO's study.

"I've been buying two of these every summer for three years," says one TikTok user, commenting on a promotion for a pink handheld mini fan. "Be respectful of nature and use fans," replies another. Because this season's other star is this cousin that works by hand, without any electronic components.

Centuries old, it remains the simplest, most economical, and above all, the most ecological solution for cooling off. Personalized, made of wood, fabric, paper, or bamboo, it is now seen at festivals, weddings, and on public transport. In contrast to the , this more glamorous tool symbolizes more responsible... and silent consumption.