Declutter and donate unwanted clothes
Checked your wardrobe recently? On average, 30% of what’s in our wardrobes hasn’t been worn for over a year - some items don’t fit anymore, some are fashion ‘blasts from the past’ and some we think we will wear but never do!
Over the next two months, sort through your clobber and send what you no longer want to charity for reuse or to the nearest waste recycling centre textile bank for recycling. Whatever you do – don’t bin any clothes!
Feel good factor
When you have decluttered, not only will a breath of fresh air swish through your wardrobe, finding your #OOTD will be a breeze!
You will also feel good knowing that your clothes haven’t ended up in landfill and have instead gone on to be loved by someone else.
Your preloved could also become someone else’s new love.
Shopping for preowned clothing is extremely popular. There are currently 11,200 charity shops in the UK2. Have you noticed how busy your local charity shops are?
Resources
Reusing clothes and recycling textiles saves resources and raw materials and reduces the environmental impact of clothing.
The carbon footprint of clothing in use in the UK has risen to 26.2 million tonnes CO2e in 2016, up from 24 million tonnes in 2012. This is due to a combination of relatively low prices and increased population.1
Helping charities
Charities make money from the clothes you donate, simple.
Every year charity shops raise over £270m for a range of causes in the UK.4 Support your favourite charity by donating your preloved clothes for someone else to love.
£270
Global Goals
In September 2017, an historic agreement was signed by UN member nations agreeing to work towards 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development by 2030, otherwise known as the SDGs.
Achieving these ambitious goals will require action from governments, businesses, NGOs, and individuals alike. We can - and must - all play our part.
By making the 'Clothes call' pledge, you are contributing to the following SDG targets:
12.5: By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse
12.8: By 2030, ensure that people everywhere have the relevant information and awareness for sustainable development and lifestyles in harmony with nature
13.3: Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning
Success Stories
5,420
Pledges
in total
128,634kg
CO2
pledged