Marks & Spencer rolls out new service to help shoppers recycle unwanted clothing without leaving their homes

The retailer has teamed up with Oxfam to give customers the option to donate unwearable but 'too good to waste' clothing items.

Shoppers simply order a pre-paid postal donation bag from the Oxfam website where they can sort their clothes into wearable and unwearable but 'too good to waste'.

The parcels can then be returned for free via a local courier where they will go to Oxfam to be resold, reused or recycled.

Customers will be able to donate clothing from any retailer, as well as bed linen, towels, cushions, tablecloths and tea towels.

This is in addition to M&S' in-store 'Shwopping' scheme which allows customers to donate wearable, hand-me-down quality clothing to branches.

New research on behalf of M&S found a third of Britons do not know what to do with unwearable items, with 30 per cent even disposing of these in their household waste bin.

Head of materials, sustainability and packaging at M&S Katharine Beacham said: “At M&S, we’re focused on making good quality, durable products which are made to last.

"In 2008, we launched Shwopping to support customers to give a second home to their preloved clothing, and we’re now expanding our partnership with Oxfam to trial a free postal service which enables customers to clear out their pre-loved clothing that they no longer need. Whether it is wearable or unwearable - we want it all."

Trading Director at Oxfam Lorna Fallon added: “We are so excited to be working with M&S as part of this brand-new trial.

"As well as continuing to encourage customers to donate their preloved, wearable clothing to Oxfam and help raise vital funds to tackle poverty around the world, this trial allows us to give unwearable clothes a second chance of life too.

"By recirculating our clothes, buying, and wearing second hand, we can help to reduce the demand for new clothes, which could in turn help to reduce the damage to our planet.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS

• Sainsbury's shoppers rejoice as price of popular Cadbury's treat drops to lowest point since 90s
• 'Don't eat it!' Tesco issues urgent recall as popular dessert may contain plastic or metal
• Aldi shoppers race to stores as supermarket brings back 'sensational' condiments

"So by learning more about the potential of all our clothes and textiles, we can help improve the lifecycle of all of our clothing for the better.”

Last year, Marks & Spencer rolled out paper bags that are more sustainable than plastic ones.

Supermarkets and retailers often make changes in stores to become more sustainable and help shoppers to recycle.

Aldi recently introduced fully recyclable flat wine bottles for the first time, with the launch removing 42 tonnes of bottle weight from shipments.