Take-back scheme: The Works and Barnardo’s tick charity and sustainability boxes with new partnership

Ben Sillitoe

In-store take-back schemes have become a popular way for retailers to help find new revenue streams and keep products in circulation and away from landfill – but a new partnership between The Works and Barnardo’s is purely charitable.

The retailer, which sells toys, games, books and stationery items, will this year place collection bins in its 466 stores across the UK to allow its customers to bring back unwanted items. Children’s charity Barnardo’s will collect the goods and resell them through its own shops to help raise money for the good causes it supports.

The Works and Barnardo’s donation scheme begins for pre-loved or new toys, games and books. It is essentially a case of The Works providing further locations for people to drop-off unwanted goods, if they are unable to take the items to a charity shop themselves.

This week’s announcement of the ‘Play it Forward’ initiative comes after a successful trial in 2024.

The Works and Barnardo’s promised any products donated that are not in a resalable condition will be recycled.

Both organisations view the tie-up as part of their sustainability strategy.

Lynne Tooms, chief commercial officer at The Works, commented: “At The Works, we strive to give back to our communities that we are part of, so we’re really proud to be partnering with Barnardo’s this year and help out in essential fundraising.

“Minimising waste and conserving resources are central principles of our environmental commitments. Providing new homes for pre-loved items through circular initiatives such as the Barnardo’s Play it Forward scheme not only fulfils these commitments, but also enables us to achieve significant carbon emissions savings by extending the lifetime of pre-loved products, while generating vital funds to support Barnardo’s essential operations.”

Barnardo’s has reported that 85% of The Works stores have a Barnardo’s charity shop locally, making these stores a relevant part of the charity’s product procurement strategy.

Abigail Birtles, sustainability manager at Barnardo’s, remarked: “All of the items donated will be resold in Barnardo’s shops to raise vital income for the children and young people in need. This great partnership also fits in with our sustainability goals by reusing materials, preserving resources for future generations.”