WRAP advocates reusing clothing for eco-gains

One such new business opportunity WRAP’s report identifies is retailers establishing ‘buy-back’ schemes. This would enable customers to sell retailer own-brand clothes they no longer want back to the retailer to prepare for re-sale. With more than half of the people WRAP surveyed stating they would sell back items, and over two-thirds saying they would consider buying returned clothes, this type of initiative could provide an additional income stream from a ready customer base.

Liz concludes: “This research clearly shows there are real financial and environmental benefits to be reaped from valuing our clothes more. By building on and encouraging the innovation already undertaken by collectors, re-processors, charities, retailers, brands, designers, suppliers and local authorities, we can help protect precious resources, and save billions in the process. WRAP will be working with industry to do exactly that.”

Lord Taylor, Defra Minister for Environment, said: “Making better use of our resources is integral to economic growth, cutting carbon emissions and building a strong and sustainable green economy.

“This report shows that there is a huge potential for both businesses and households to save money and the environment by thinking differently about the way we produce, use and dispose of clothes.

“Used clothing has a massive commercial value, yet over 430,000 tonnes is thrown away in the UK every year.”

Richard Lochhead, Scotland’s Environment Secretary, said: “Scotland is making huge strides to reduce waste and recycle more both at home and in business. Recycling clothes is a great way to increase our efforts to cut waste – with charities accepting donations and many councils offering textile collections.

"The Valuing our Clothes report highlights to businesses and consumers potential opportunities not only to recycle, but to re-use clothing. This will in turn benefit the environment, as well as creating opportunities to save and generate money.”

John Griffiths, the Welsh Government's Environment Minister, said: "Wales has set ambitious targets to become a zero waste nation by 2050 and clothing is an important part of this agenda.

"As this report shows, recycling is only the start – we need to develop a more sustainable clothing sector by making clothes that last longer and offer greater opportunities for reuse.

"We all have our part to play in reducing the clothes we throw in the bin. By repairing our clothes, donating them to charity or ensuring that items that cannot be reused are recycled, we can all help reduce clothing waste and save money too."

Alex Attwood, Northern Ireland Environment Minister, said: “The results of this research are staggering. £30 billion is an overwhelming amount of money, the fact that in the UK that value of clothing is hanging in our wardrobes shows an urgent need for an attitude shift in this area by all of us.