Sainsbury’s extends Newlife clothing returns tie up to all UK stores

Following a trial, Sainsbury’s is rolling out its partnership with UK charity Newlife to all supermarkets.

Newlife focuses on recycling, reprocessing, and reusing clothing to support 1.1 million disabled and terminally ill children in the UK.

Since Sainsbury’s partnership with the charity first began in 2019, the retailer has donated 65.5 tonnes of unsellable clothing returns and faulty garments.

With the partnership now rolling out across all UK stores, any of Sainsbury’s Tu clothing range that is not fit for resale in store will be recycled or resold by Newlife to help fund its work and support Sainsbury’s commitments within its sustainability strategy, Plan for Better.

The money raised from reselling clothes in one of Newlife’s nine stores around the UK will help fund loans of sensory play equipment, grants for disability equipment, as well as emergency equipment loans for families.

Charity shop sales also help to fund the nurse run national helpline, which provides support for families with disabled and terminally ill children.

All Sainsbury’s clothing returns and faulty garments which cannot be resold by Newlife will be broken down into raw materials so that they can be recycled or reused for a variety of different purposes such as car insulation and dog bed stuffing.

Stephen Johnson, Director of Technical & Ethical at Sainsbury’s, says: “We are committed to taking action to protect the environment and to supporting our local communities.”

“We’re pleased to be rolling out our partnership with Newlife across all of our supermarkets and are incredibly proud of what we have achieved together so far.”

“Not only does our partnership support the charity’s vital work in assisting so many children across the UK, but it also helps us to deliver our commitment to support local communities, whilst helping our planet too by protecting resources and reducing waste."

Stephen Morgan, Newlife’s Operations Director, says: “We are so pleased that our trial with Sainsbury’s went well and that the new partnership will be rolled out to all Sainsbury’s stores on a long term basis.”

“By working together we are making a huge difference to the planet and people and it means we can help more families in need.”

Green retailStaff WriterNewlife, Sainsbury's, Charities, Recycing, Green retail, Sustainability, Stores, SupermarketsComment