Published
Sep 28, 2020
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M&S 'shwopping' recycling drive returns post-pandemic

Published
Sep 28, 2020

Marks & Spencer is bringing back its clothing donation scheme with Oxfam after a six-month hiatus.



The programme was temporarily paused in March to allow M&S staff to focus on putting in place health and safety measures during the Covid-19 lockdown.

Starting again this Thursday, 1 October, the ‘Shwopping’ initiative provides a platform for Marks & Spencer customers to donate their unwanted clothes, shoes, bras and accessories to Oxfam, the charity fighting global poverty.

Customers can donate their lockdown wardrobe clearouts of any brand or condition in nearly 290 M&S stores.

All items will be sent to Oxfam to be resold in one of its shops or online, to be reused via its social enterprise in Senegal or to be recycled into new materials, which are used by businesses for purposes such as M&S’s mattress filling. 

In line with government guidelines, donated items will be quarantined for 48 hours before being sent to Oxfam. 

Carmel McQuaid, head of sustainable business for M&S, said: “Our goal is to source all our products with care and ensure nothing we make goes to waste. We want our customers to be confident that the clothes they buy at M&S are made to last, but if they finish wearing their old favourites, we make it easy to give them a new purpose through Shwopping. 

The clothes recycling programme has helped raise nearly £23 million from the sale of donated items since it was launched in partnership with Oxfam in 2008.

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