M&S is encouraging customers to donate their used clothes via a postal donation bag as part of its tie-up with Oxfam.
The fashion retailer is trailing the option for consumers to send their unwearable clothes from any label using a pre-paid postal donation bag that is left with a local courier that the charity can then resell, reuse, or recycle.
The new initiative sits alongside its existing in-store scheme with Oxfam for wearable items and is funded by a £1m accelerator fund linked to M&S’ ethical project Plan A, that aims to find ways to reduce textile waste.
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The donation bags can be ordered on the Oxfam website and allows for preloved clothing to be separated into two groups – those that are good quality and wearable and those that are unwearable.
The service can also be used for preloved soft furnishings such as bed linen, towels, cushions, tablecloths and tea towels.
M&S head of materials, sustainability and packaging Katharine Beacham 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!”
Oxfam trading director Lorna Fallon said: “We are so excited to be working with M&S as part of this brand-new trial. 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. So, by learning more about the potential of all our clothes and textiles, we can help improve the lifecycle of all of our clothing for the better.”
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