Marks & Spencer has partnered with Oxfam to introduce a pioneering postal donation service, encouraging the public to donate not only wearable but also unwearable clothing. This initiative addresses the estimated 1.6 billion unworn clothing items in UK homes that could be recycled or reused.
Recent research commissioned by M&S revealed that a third of UK residents are unsure of how to dispose of unwearable clothing, with 30% admitting to discarding such items in household waste. To combat this issue, from today, consumers can order a pre-paid postal donation bag from the Oxfam website. Made from 100% recycled plastic, these bags allow individuals to categorise their preloved clothing into wearable and unwearable items, which can then be sent for free to Oxfam via a local courier for resale, reuse, or recycling.
The challenge of distinguishing between ‘wearable’ and ‘unwearable’ clothing was highlighted by the findings that one in five consumers are confused by these categories. WRAP, the climate action NGO, clarifies that wearable clothing must be clean, dry, and in good condition, whereas unwearable clothing includes items that are torn, stained, faded, or stretched.
To assist consumers, Marks & Spencer and Oxfam have developed a straightforward guide included with each donation bag. Katharine Beacham, Head of Materials, Sustainability and Packaging at M&S, emphasized the company’s commitment to quality and durability, noting, “Whether it is wearable or unwearable – we want it all!”
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Lorna Fallon, Trading Director at Oxfam, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “This trial allows us to give unwearable clothes a second chance of life too. By recirculating our clothes, we can help to reduce the demand for new clothes and the damage to our planet.”
The initiative is part of the ‘ACT Project’, led by the UK Fashion and Textile Association (UKFT), which aims to establish a new framework for a UK-based automated sorting and pre-processing facility that will recycle clothing unsuitable for resale. Adam Mansell, CEO at UKFT, commented on the urgency of the project, “We need to ACT now to tackle the staggering amount of textile waste that ends up in landfill or incinerated each year.”
Consumers can use the service to donate any item of preloved clothing from any retailer, as well as soft furnishings such as bed linen and tea towels. M&S’ in-store Shwopping scheme continues to cater to wearable, hand-me-down quality clothing only.
Those interested in the postal donation service can find more information and order their donation bag here.
