Primark collaborates with WRAP to enhance the lifespan of clothing, reducing textile waste.
- A three-year partnership aims to explore solutions for longer clothing circulation.
- A focus will be on Primark’s textile donation scheme and circularity ambitions.
- Behaviour Change and Yellow Octopus offer expertise and advisory roles respectively.
- A WRAP study indicates significant unused clothing and disposal in general waste.
Primark has entered into a collaborative endeavour with WRAP, an environmental organisation, to support its commitment towards prolonging the life of clothing items. This partnership, set to last for three years, focuses on devising solutions to keep garments in use for extended periods. The initiative is largely seen as a tactical move to lessen textile waste and promote sustainability within the fashion industry.
As a focal point of this collaboration, the efficacy of Primark’s textile donation initiative will be scrutinised for potential improvements, alongside avenues to broaden its existing goals in circularity. Behaviour Change, a subsidiary entity of WRAP, brings its behavioural science acumen to the table, whereas the advisory role will be filled by Primark’s takeback partner, Yellow Octopus.
The partnership is underscored by WRAP’s research findings, which reveal that a staggering 1.6 billion clothing items remain unworn in UK wardrobes, with nearly half of all used textiles ending up in general waste. This data highlights an educational gap, as many consumers are reportedly unaware of the availability of textile donation programmes offered by major retailers.
According to Lynne Walker, director of Primark Cares, the coalition with WRAP signifies a significant step toward understanding apparel longevity and waste reduction. The goal is to intertwine Primark’s expertise with the insights of WRAP to elevate consumer behaviour comprehension, enhance takeback schemes, and amplify circularity endeavours within the company.
Catherine David, heading the behaviour change and business programmes at WRAP, asserts pride in the enduring collaboration with Primark. She acknowledges the growing commercial opportunities associated with circular living and commends Primark’s endeavours in this domain. Moreover, WRAP aims to embed these sustainable practices in both corporate and domestic settings, striving towards halving the textiles industry’s carbon footprint by 2030.
This partnership between Primark and WRAP marks a critical stride in confronting textile waste and fostering sustainability in the fashion industry.
