Skip to content

Going Green

Go 'Shwopping' at Marks and Spencer to help Oxfam and reduce landfill waste

by Adrian Bishop 26 Apr 2012
Go 'Shwopping' at Marks and Spencer to help Oxfam and reduce landfill waste

When you go shopping, first go shwopping - Clothes shopping image via Shutterstock

UK retailer Marks & Spencer has commenced a new 'Shwopping' campaign to support Oxfam and help reduce clothing waste being sent to landfill. Marks & Spencer is inviting shoppers to become shwoppers by donating unwanted clothing each time they buy new items.

Clothes donated through the shwopping campaign will go to Oxfam to be sold on or recycled to help the poor. It is hoped that 350 million items of clothing will be given each year. None will go into landfill.

The innovative campaign is being backed by actress Joanna Lumley, the global ambassador for Marks and Spencer's (M&S) Plan A, which is designed to position M&S as the world's most eco-friendly retail chain.

Joanna Lumley said: We're asking people to open their hearts, their minds and their wardrobes. Remember we used to just throw away plastic bottles. Now we recycle them without even thinking about it. We need to do the same with clothing. Bring in something old; buy something new. Swap and shop. It's that simple."

Shoppers wanting to take part in the scheme will be able to donate any brand of unwanted clothing. They simply deposit the items in Shwop Drop cardboard boxes that will be by tills in M&S branches across the UK. Each shop will have at least two drop-off points. M&S Simply Food shops are not included.

Those donating can register details about the shwop by text and enter a monthly draw or can do so through the M&S Facebook page.

The donated clothes that are unsold will go to needy people around the globe - lighter clothing to Africa, warmer clothes to Eastern Europe - or will be recycled into new clothing or furniture fabrics.

The shwopping scheme was officially launched by Joanna Lumley, who is fronting the campaign advertising, and Marc Bolland, CEO of M&S in Dray Walk, East London, filled with 9,500 discarded clothes to represent the number that go into landfill every five minutes.

Each year, one billion pieces of clothing end up in landfill - a quarter of all items sold.

It is hoped that 'Shwopping' will encourage UK shoppers to adopt a new 'buy one, give one' attitude.

Mr Bolland says the store is pioneering a permanent change in the way people shop.

Chief Executive of Oxfam, Barbara Stocking, says the campaign will help raise millions of pounds for the charity and will help them transform poor people's lives.

M&S previously worked with the charity in 2008 on the Oxfam Clothes Exchange when customers received a £5 vouched in exchange for clothes donations. The scheme, which has so far seen 10million items of clothing donated, will continue.

In conjunction with the shwopping launch, the Centre For Sustainable Fashion at the London College of Fashion is opening a Shwop Lab until 9 May at the Old Truman Brewery, Brick Lane, East London.

The pop-up area examines the future of fashion through links between leading UK players in sustainable design and fashion.


Trending Eco-Friendly Clothing

Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Love My Planet women's eco-friendly relaxed fit hoodieSize Guide Centimeters 8 10 12 14 16 18 Bust 84 88 92 97 103 108 Waist 66 70 75 80 85 91 Hips 91 95 99 104 109 116 Bust: Measure around the fullest part of...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Penguins Hate Push-Ups men's eco-friendly pullover HoodieSize Guide Centimeters XS S M L XL XXL Height 171 175 179 183 189 195 Chest 86 93 99 104 116 129 Waist 71 76 81 89 99 112 Chest: Measure all round your chest just below...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Lightning Bolt kids eco-friendly long sleeve t-shirtSize Guide Centimeters 3-4yrs 5-6yrs 7-8yrs 9-10yrs 11-12yrs Height 98 112 125 136 147 Chest 60 66 70 75 84 Chest: Measure all around your chest just below your armpits. Height: Your natural height If you fall between...
£18.00
£18.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Union Jack eco-friendly colour tote bagProduct Specification Organic Cotton Tote Bag. Twill Weave (170gsm). 37 x 42 cm (7cm gusset.) Made in India / Designed on the Isle of Wight. Wash Cool, Hang Dry.
£16.00
£16.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Prev Post
Next Post

Eco-Friendly Shop

Women's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Women Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable women’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Men's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Men Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable men’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Kids Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothes for Kids Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable kids clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies and jumpers. Our garments...
Shop Now
Someone recently bought a
[time] ago, from [location]

Thanks for subscribing!

This email has been registered!

Shop the look

Choose Options

Earth Times
Sign up for exclusive updates, new arrivals & insider only discounts

Recently Viewed

Edit Option
Back In Stock Notification
this is just a warning
Login
Shopping Cart
0 items

Before you leave...

Take 20% off your first order

20% off

Enter the code below at checkout to get 20% off your first order

CODESALE20

Continue Shopping