Primark partners with WRAP ‘to give clothes a longer life’

The three-year partnership will explore solutions to keep clothing in circulation for longer, to help reduce textile waste. This includes looking at the next step for Primark’s textile donation scheme and routes to expand its existing circularity ambitions.

As part of the partnership, Behaviour Change, a subsidiary of non-governmental organisation (NGO) WRAP, will be contributing its “behavioural science expertise”, while Primark's takeback partner, Yellow Octopus, will also be an advisory.

The collaboration will continue to explore “barriers and motivations for donating good quality used clothing to high street fashion stores such as Primark”, said a statement issued by  WRAP.

Lynne Walker, director of Primark Cares said: “Through our Primark Cares strategy, we are committed to becoming a circular and more sustainable business. This partnership with WRAP is an important step in understanding how we can give clothes longer life and reduce textile waste.”

The partnership comes as research from WRAP reveals 1.6 bn items of clothing are unused in wardrobes across the UK and almost half (49%) of all used textiles are disposed of in the general waste. The research found that Primark’s takeback scheme was the fifth most used in the UK in the past year, but only 22% of survey respondents had ever used a takeback scheme. This indicates there is still a knowledge gap about how to dispose of clothing. "Many people are unaware that retailers like Primark offer textile donation schemes", said WRAP's statement.

Walker added: “Combining our expertise will allow us to better understand consumer behaviour, enhance our takeback schemes, and scale our circularity initiatives. We believe that by working together, we can make a meaningful impact in driving change across the fashion industry.”

Catherine David, director of behaviour change and business programmes at WRAP, said:  “We are proud to be continuing our work, which spans many years, with Primark via this new partnership. Circular living is a key business opportunity for this generation so it is fantastic to see a fashion giant like Primark gaining recognition in this emerging area.”

She added: "WRAP’s mission is to embed circular living in every boardroom and every home. We are working in new ways with businesses like Primark, and across the world, to accelerate progress towards our goal of cutting the carbon footprint of the textiles industry in half by 2030.”

In 2016, Primark joined WRAP’s sector-wide Sustainable Clothing Action Plan, and then became a founding member of WRAP’s current industry initiative, Textiles 2030. It has since developed its own Primark Cares strategy and Circular Product Standard.