The Salvation Army and Tesco join forces with regional donations trial to drive reuse and recycling
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The Salvation Army has a longstanding commitment to reuse and recycling, particularly the challenge of unwearable clothing and household linens. To address textile waste, the Salvation Army Trading Company Ltd (SATCoL), the charity’s commercial arm, has partnered with the supermarket giant Tesco for a regional trial that encourages customers to donate worn-out textiles to specially designed collection banks.
SATCoL’s relationship with Tesco includes an in-store takeback scheme and more than 2,000 clothes banks in Tesco car parks. This new initiative seeks to further reduce textile waste in collaboration with ACT UK (Automatic-sorting for Circularity in Textiles), led by the UK Fashion and Textile Association. ACT UK consists of brands, retailers, recyclers, clothing manufacturers and academic institutions working together to pioneer automated sorting and pre-processing facilities. These could divert thousands of tonnes of textile waste from landfills each year.
The six-month trial involves 18 new textile collection banks at Tesco recycling sites, as well as additional banks at two household recycling centres in the East of England. Donors will be asked to separate clothing and home textiles into two types – ‘wear again’ for any reusable items and ‘worn out’ for non-reusable items. Clear instructions will guide donors on the textiles that can be deposited.
#RuinedNotWasted
To promote this initiative, a media campaign titled #RuinedNotWasted will be launched to engage, inspire and empower citizens in the 20 communities participating in the trial. The campaign will feature content showcasing common mishaps with clothing and household linens to emphasise the importance of sorting textiles and donating them to the ‘wear again’ and ‘worn out’ banks.
As part of the trial, SATCoL will analyse donations to gain insights into donor motivations and behavioural changes. Donors will still be able to contribute good-quality clothing to the ‘wear again’ banks, supporting donations and fundraising efforts for The Salvation Army. SATCoL operates around 9,000 clothing banks and over 240 charity shops across the UK on behalf of The Salvation Army, reinforcing its commitment to supporting the charity’s mission.
This innovative partnership between SATCoL, Tesco and ACT UK represents a significant step toward sustainable textile management. By encouraging the public to donate worn-out textiles, the initiative aims to mitigate the environmental impact of textile waste and foster a more circular economy. Through strategic collaboration, it sets the stage for broader adoption of automated sorting and recycling technologies, potentially revolutionising how textile waste is handled in the UK.
Trial Sites in the East of England
- Tesco Superstore 71 High Street, Kidlington OX5 2DN
- Tesco Extra Copdock Interchange, Ipswich IP8 3TS
- Tesco Superstore Brook Retail Park, London Road, Clacton-on-Sea CO15 4EF
- Tesco Superstore Thorpe Road, Melton Mowbray LE13 1SQ
- Tesco Extra Church Street, Lichfield WS13 6DZ
- Tesco Extra Power Station Road, Rugeley WS15 2HS
- Tesco Extra 1 Armada Way, Royal Dock Road, Beckton E6 7FB
- Tesco Extra Bridge Road, Dover Corner, Rainham RM13 9YZ
- Tesco Superstore Cedars Link Road, Stowmarket IP14 5BE
- Tesco Extra Cygnet View, Lakeside, Grays RM20 1TX
- Tesco Extra 15-18 Viking Way, Bar Hill CB23 8EL
- Tesco Superstore Cambridge Road Industrial Estate, Cambridge Road, Milton CB24 6AY
- Tesco Superstore London Road, Tring HP23 5NB
- Tesco Narborough Road LE3 5LH
- FCC Environment Fengate HRC, Dodson House, Fengate PE1 5XG
- Grantham HRC Alexandra Road NG31 7AH
- Tesco Extra Oakley Road, Corby NN18 8AL
- Tesco Superstore Ropes Drive, Kesgrave IP5 2FU
- Tesco Extra Anson Road, Martlesham Heath IP5 3RU
- Tesco Superstore Lakeview Drive, Bicester OX26 6WA
Find out more at satcol.org/nrt
