Clothing and textiles

Fashion is something we all enjoy, but it comes with a hidden cost. The clothing and textile industry is responsible for 8 - 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions - more than the aviation and shipping industries combined.

In the UK, almost half of all unwanted clothing, towels, blankets and other textiles end up in general waste every year. That’s around 35 items per person thrown away instead of reused or recycled.

Donating 

The good news is there are plenty of ways to keep textiles in use and out of the bin:

Donate good-quality clothes and shoes to charity shops or clothing banks. Many charities even offer free doorstep collections.

Major retailers including H&M, Sainsbury’s, Schuh and Dunelm run take-back schemes where you can drop off unwanted textiles (often with discounts on new purchases).

Visit Recycle Now to find your nearest clothing bank.

Selling 

Turn unwanted clothes into extra cash:

• Resell online through eBay, Vinted, Depop or Gumtree.
• Visit Cash for Clothes at the Meteor Centre Retail Park to earn instant cash for clothing, shoes and household items.
• Buying second-hand from these sites also saves you money and reduces waste.

Repairing or swapping

Extending the life of clothes reduces waste and saves money! Why don’t you try:

• one of our repair cafés
• the Museum of Making Clothes and Textile Repair Café
• to repair something at home using free online guides
• to host a clothes swap with friends to refresh everyone’s wardrobe without buying new items.