UK retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S) and Oxfam have launched a scheme to encourage consumers to recycle unwanted clothing with the charity via a new postal donation service.
For the first time in partnership, M&S and Oxfam are asking the public to donate their unwearable clothing, alongside their wearable but unwanted items.
The tie-up is part of the ‘ACT Project’ led by the UK Fashion and Textile Association (UKFT), which is working to to develop a new framework towards a UK-based automated-sorting and pre-processing facility that will recycle clothing unsuitable for re-sale to make new clothing which can be sold in the UK to create a completely circular system.
Consumers looking to take advantage of the new recycling opportunity are encouraged to order a pre-paid postal donation bag from the Oxfam website. The bag allows for preloved clothing to be separated into two groups – those that are good quality and wearable and those that are unwearable – before they are returned.
To help consumers navigate what preloved clothing can be donated, M&S and Oxfam have worked together to create a simple ‘how-to’ guide, which will be enclosed in the pre-paid donation bag.
The initiative – currently in trial mode – has been funded through M&S’s Plan A Accelerator Fund, which will see M&S become more innovative in how it looks to tackle several issues around sustainability over the coming years.
Katharine Beacham, head of materials, sustainability & packaging at M&S, said: “At M&S, 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, added: “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.”
Adam Mansell, CEO at UKFT, continued: “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 towels, cushions, tablecloths, bed linen and tea towels.
Ensuring no confusion with existing pre-loved clothing schemes, M&S confirmed its in-store Shwopping programme continues to be for wearable, hand-me-down quality clothing only.
[Image credit: Green Retail World]
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Whom do I contact for a bag to recycle textiles?