Primark has announced a significant partnership with WRAP to enhance clothing longevity and reduce textile waste.
- The three-year collaboration will explore solutions for keeping clothes in circulation longer, supporting sustainable fashion.
- Through its Primark Cares strategy, the company aims to transform into a more sustainable business with circular initiatives.
- Behavioural science experts and takeback partners will examine the barriers to and motivations for donating used clothing.
- Despite existing donation schemes, many UK consumers remain unaware of how to properly dispose of textiles.
Primark has formed a notable alliance with WRAP (Waste and Resources Action Programme) in a bid to extend the life cycle of clothing items. This three-year partnership aims to tackle the pressing issue of textile waste, which is an increasing concern within the fashion industry. Both parties are focusing on enhancing clothing circulation to promote sustainable fashion practices.
As part of this initiative, Primark seeks to build on existing schemes through its Primark Cares strategy, aspiring to embrace circular business practices more fully. The collaboration draws on WRAP’s knowledge and behavioural science expertise to understand consumer habits better and address challenges in the donation of pre-worn clothing to retail outlets like Primark.
Research by WRAP indicates a staggering 1.6 billion items of clothing lie unused in UK wardrobes, with almost half of all disposed textiles ending up in general waste. This reflects a significant gap in consumer awareness regarding textile recycling opportunities. With only 22% of survey respondents having utilised takeback schemes, Primark’s donation initiative—though among the top utilised—highlighted the necessity for greater public education and engagement.
Lynne Walker, director of Primark Cares, reiterated the company’s commitment to sustainability, stating the partnership is ‘an important step in understanding how we can give clothes longer life and reduce textile waste.’ Both Primark and WRAP expect that by merging expertise, they can drive substantial changes across the fashion sector.
Catherine David, WRAP’s director of behaviour change and business programmes, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership, emphasising the opportunity for growth in circular living. WRAP aims for broad adoption of these practices, aspiring to halve the carbon footprint of the textiles sector by 2030.
The collaboration between Primark and WRAP marks a proactive step towards a more sustainable future for the fashion industry.
