Will you be taking part in Second Hand September?
Second Hand September was an initiative originally set up by Oxfam in 2019 to highlight the environmental and social impact of fast fashion. Now we use it across the sector to highlight how charity shops support sustainable fashion and can try to counter the damage made by fast fashion.
Fashion has become one of the most polluting industries on the planet
Textile production, particularly dyeing and finishing, is a major source of industrial water pollution. The industry uses vast amounts of water and releases toxic chemicals into waterways, affecting ecosystems and human health.
The fashion industry contributes significantly to global carbon emissions, both through energy-intensive manufacturing and transportation. It’s estimated to be responsible for 8-10% of global carbon emissions, according to the Economics Observatory.
Globally, approximately 92 million tonnes of textile waste are sent to landfills and incineration each year, with the fashion industry accounting for a significant portion of this waste, according to the UN Environment Programme and Waste Managed. In the UK specifically, around 350,000 tonnes of clothing ends up in landfills annually, despite much of it still being wearable.
This represents over 30% of the unwanted clothing from UK households ending up in landfills
So, by recirculating our clothes – buying, wearing and donating second hand – we can help to reduce the demand on fast fashion. And this can help to reduce the damage to our planet.
By donating items to our charity shops, you’re saving it from going to land-fill, but also helping us stock our shops, to increase the money we make to help the most vulnerable local animals.
By shopping in charity shops, you’re more likely to find unique pieces that will make you stand out.
It’s also better for your purse strings as it’s much easier to bag a bargain from a charity shop!
We also work with local schools and the South Thames College to recycle even the clothing that is unfit for us to sell. If an item is stained or torn, we donate to educational institutions who use them for projects, like the South Thames College’s ‘Sustainable Fashion’ project where students can learn how to re-purpose clothing to create something original and beautiful!
So please get involved this September, and beyond! And commit to more sustainable fashion, for your bank balance, our local animals, and the planet! Come and visit us in one of our shops soon:
Crystal Palace shop: 14 Westow Street, SE19 3AH
Tooting shop: 71-73 Upper Tooting Road, SW17 7TW
Croydon shop: 267 Lower Addiscombe Road, CR0 6RD
RSPCA South London - For Every Kind Of Creature 