According to WRAP, it is estimated £140 million worth of clothing goes into landfill each year, which makes up 90% of professional clothing, whilst less than 1% is reused for new clothing.
This highlights an enormous opportunity for procurers to divert waste away from disposal by promoting better care for professional clothing and alternative management options, extending the lifecycle through enhanced care, reuse and recycling.
Companies with security or privacy concerns incinerate and landfill unworn stock to protect their brand image, as opposed to reusing or recycling. Greater investment in collection and disposal systems along with a more coordinated effort in the supply chain is required to overcome the security challenge.
Collaborating with thought leaders
PCIAW® is a proud Founding Signatory of Textiles 2030, WRAP’s expert-led initiative dedicated to accelerating the textiles industry’s move towards circularity in the UK, which successfully launched in April 2021.
The ambitious national voluntary agreement aims to transform UK textiles from a take, make and dispose culture, to a circular economy in which goods are produced sustainably, used longer, and reused or recycled into new products.
Calling all buyers
The PCIAW® is calling on end-user buyers from both the public and private sector to place greater value on sustainable credentials like recycled materials and factoring-in life cycle costing, into the procurement process.
This year, the Uniform Buyers’ Network is offering an exclusive closed-shop digital networking event titled ‘Buying Uniforms in the Age of Net Zero,’ in partnership with Business in the Community (BITC).
Register now to attend the leading buyers’ event of the year!
