Mamas & Papas has announced a trio of new environmental, social and governance (ESG) commitments, including a clothing take-back scheme in partnership with global charity Oxfam.
The nursery retailer is introducing clothing take-back scheme collection points in its standalone stores as it looks to help stem the tide on the number of garments finding their way into landfill each year.
Unwanted baby clothing can be dropped into store by customers, and Mamas & Papas will deliver what is collected to the Oxfam recycling warehouse in Leeds, where products will be sorted into what can be resold or recycled. Oxfam promises that no item goes to landfill – if it can’t be resold, the materials are used to make other products or broken down and disposed of responsibly, it says.
Mamas & Papas chief operating officer, Nathan Williams, described the move as the retailer’s first step on a “circularity journey”, adding that clothing collected and sold second-hand will help the charity’s quest to raise funds that go towards tackling poverty.
Asos, Joules, Marks & Spencer, and Superdry are among the retailers already working with Oxfam in various different ways as part of their respective recycling and greener business agendas. Williams called the Mamas & Papas-Oxfam tie-up a “long-term partnership”.
Mamas & Papas also said today that it has provided financial sponsorship to conservation charity Woodland Trust, to help protect native woodland in the Northern Forest and fund a new woodland grove in the trust’s Smithills Estate in Bolton.
Additionally, the retailer has become a member of the Ethical Trading Initiative’s (ETI) code of labour practice, which aims to improve and safeguard the human rights of overseas workers across its global supply chain. The code addresses issues such as wages, hours of work, health and safety, and the right to join free trade unions.
The high street nursery brand has promised the moves will “underpin and accelerate its ESG strategy”.
“Through our Oxfam partnership, we want to make it easy for our customers to donate items they no longer need, increasing circularity, reducing landfill and raising vital funds to tackle global poverty,” Williams explained.
He added that supporting the development of woodland in the north of England will allow it to be visited and enjoyed by “families now and for generations to come”.
Williams continued: “The challenges over the last couple of years have confirmed our resilience as a business and our receptiveness to change. This is all about looking forward – working with the right partners to ensure our ESG strategy delivers a meaningful and measurable impact on our communities and stakeholders.”
Commenting on the clothing take-back scheme, Lorna Fallon, retail director at Oxfam GB, said: “We’re excited to partner with Mamas & Papas to help people donate clothes to Oxfam, which will raise vital funds to fight poverty around the world.”
Read an exclusive interview with Nathan Williams on Green Retail World later this week, as part of our new Seeds of Change series, where we talk to retail movers and shakers looking to drive meaningful environmental strategy.
[Image credit: Mamas & Papas]
