Marks and Spencer hands Brits the chance to give pre-loved clothing a second life via Oxfam postal donation tie up
M&S is calling on the public to donate their unwearable clothing, alongside their wearable clothing, through the trial of a free postal donation service, in partnership with Oxfam.
It is estimated that UK homes contain 1.6 billion items of unworn clothing which have the potential to be used, re-used or recycled.
However new research conducted on behalf of M&S found that one third of the UK doesn’t know what to do with clothes that cannot be re-worn – with three in yen consumers admitting to disposing of unwearable clothes in their household waste bin.
The bag, which is made from 100% recycled plastic, allows for preloved clothing to be separated into two groups - those that are good quality and wearable and those that are unwearable - but equally too good to waste - and return them for free via a local courier where they will then go directly to Oxfam to be resold, reused, or recycled.
Katharine Beacham, Head of Materials, Sustainability and Packaging at M&S, comments: “We’re focused on making good quality, durable products which are made to last.”
“In 2008, we launched Shwopping to support customers to give a second home to their preloved clothing, and we’re now expanding our partnership with Oxfam to trial a free postal service which enables customers to clear out their pre-loved clothing that they no longer need. Whether it is wearable or unwearable - we want it all!”
Lorna Fallon, Trading Director at Oxfam, says: “We are so excited to be working with M&S as part of this brand new trial.”
“As well as continuing to encourage customers to donate their preloved, wearable clothing to Oxfam and help raise vital funds to tackle poverty around the world, this trial allows us to give unwearable clothes a second chance of life too.”
“By recirculating our clothes, buying, and wearing second hand, we can help to reduce the demand for new clothes, which could in turn help to reduce the damage to our planet. So, by learning more about the potential of all our clothes and textiles, we can help improve the lifecycle of all of our clothing for the better.”
The trial forms part of the ACT Project, which is being led by the UK Fashion and Textile Association (UKFT).
The UKFT is working to develop a new framework towards a UK-based automated sorting and pre-processing facility (ATSP) that will recycle clothing unsuitable for re-sale to make new clothing which can be sold in the UK.
Adam Mansell, CEO at UKFT, comments: “We’re delighted to be working with Marks & Spencer and Oxfam to give old clothing a second chance at life. We need to ACT now to tackle the staggering amount of textile waste that ends up in landfill or incinerated each year.”
“Through this trial, we’re aiming to encourage people to separate their items so that in future, worn-out clothing can make its way to an automated sorting facility and then be recycled into new textiles and garments here in the UK.”
Consumers can use the service to donate any item of preloved clothing from any retailer, as well as soft furnishings textile waste such as bed linen, towels, cushions, tablecloths, and tea towels.
M&S’ in-store Shwopping scheme continues to be for wearable, hand me down quality clothing only.
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