Climate action group Green Football’s Great Save campaign has kicked off for a third year, with stars of the sport donating items to charities to raise awareness of kit waste.
According to Green Football, every year an estimated 100,000 tonnes of sportswear ends up in UK landfills. If distributed to a packed crowd at Wembley Stadium with 90,000 people, each person would receive more than 2,500 pieces of clothing, highlighting the size of the problem.
With that statistic in mind, Green Football has brought together current professionals and ex-footballers to donate kit to their local charities and communities in an effort to highlight how people can keep unwanted sports kit in circulation for longer.
Charity retailer The Salvation Army is one organisation involved in the Great Save campaign, and between 11 March 11 and 2 April it is calling for donations of pre-loved sportswear at its 260+ strong Salvation Army shop portfolio across the UK, as well as by free post.
Kelly Castelete, head of communications at Salvation Army Trading Company (SATCoL), said: “Through our reuse and recycling schemes, we can lessen the impact on overflowing landfill sites by extending the useful life of sportswear items an minimising waste.
“We are always on the lookout for good quality stock for our shops and sportswear is popular all year round.”
Green Football shines a light on climate change and aims to unleash the power of football, the UK’s national game, to rally fans and the general public to take action.
Sarah Jacobs, co-founder of Green Football, commented: “This year fans, clubs, schools and leagues across the UK are coming together for Green Football’s Great Save to save kit from landfill by donating, selling or reusing kit instead of throwing it away.
“With over 260 Salvation Army shops accepting donations, it has never been easier to have a clear out and pass on any sportswear that has been relegated to the back of the wardrobe and give it a second life.”
It is not just SATCoL involved in the scheme this year. British Heart Foundation in Cardiff has already received kit from local player and Welsh international midfielder, Aaron Ramsey, while Bright Heart Foundation in Liverpool was presented with an England World Cup shirt worn by former Liverpool defender and now Sky Sports pundit, Jamie Carragher.
[image credits: The Salvation Army]
