New data from Cotton Incorporated reflects how the local charity shop remains a beloved part of British culture.
In a comprehensive global survey, the not-for-profit research and marketing company representing U.S. upland cotton found that 43 percent of U.K. consumers donate and 31 percent recycle clothing they have stopped wearing.
Cotton Incorporated said this is a “significant contrast” with the global average of 31 percent and 29 percent, respectively.
When asked what U.K. consumers do with clothing they no longer wear, “donate” and “recycle” were the top responses. The survey also found 22 percent of U.K. consumers give to friends and family, 19 percent sell, 14 percent repurpose, 13 percent keep and 10 percent return clothing they no longer wear.
Globally, Cotton Incorporated said only U.S. consumers choose to donate more than U.K. consumers with 46 percent stating they donate clothing they no longer wear. When it comes to recycling, German and Italian consumers surpass the U.K., with 47 percent and 32 percent of people, respectively, stating they choose to recycle clothing they no longer wear.
“We spoke to nearly 10,000 global consumers in China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, U.K. and U.S., and are thrilled to see U.K. consumers leading the way in donating and recycling clothing they no longer wear,” said Andrea Samber, director of brand partnerships for Cotton Incorporated.
While Cotton Incorporated’s U.K.-based Cotton Lives On program encourages brands to provide consumers with recycling solutions, the survey results support its overall goal to divert textiles away from landfill.
In general, the new data found U.K. consumers are rejecting throwaway culture. The survey found that 22 percent of U.K. consumers said they throw away clothing they no longer wear, which Cotton Incorporated notes is “well below” the global average of 26 percent.
In contrast, the bad habit is prevalent in Japan and France where 56 percent and 53 percent of consumers, respectively, said they throw away clothing they no longer wear. In Japan, 6 percent of consumers said they donate unwanted clothing and 12 percent said they recycle it. In France, 7 percent of consumer said they donate, while 14 percent recycle.
In the U.S., the survey found that 27 percent recycle, 23 percent throw away or give to friends, 24 percent and 18 percent sell or repurpose.
