Spring Clearing Maybe it’s the turn of the season, maybe it’s Marie Kondo’s mission to ‘spark joy’ amongst the masses, or maybe it’s just because flats in London are too damn small, but we’re all on a mission to declutter. Whether it’s your wardrobe, your workspace or your brain getting a tidy, take a look at our top tips for sustainable and ethical spring cleaning.
TRAID YOUR OLD CLOTHES Let’s start with a shocking statistic; 23% of Londoner’s clothes are unworn. Chances are, there’s at least something in your wardrobe that falls into this category. Now, there’s nothing groundbreaking in suggesting a charity shop, I know. TRAID however, is a charity working to stop clothes from being thrown away. Your unloved gems are sold in their charity shops, but any waste is turned into funds and resources to reduce the environmental and social impacts of our clothes. https://www.traid.org.uk/
UPCYCLE YOUR BRAS I’m yet to meet a woman that doesn’t still have an ancient bra or two lingering in the bottom of her underwear drawer. Thanks to Bras for Breast Cancer though, there’s no excuse. Their bra recycling scheme takes unwanted or unloved bras to raise vital funds for pioneering breast cancer research. Textile recovery programmes support the distribution of bras in parts of African countries, where bras are can be too expensive to produce locally. Find your local bra bank using the link below. https://www.againstbreastcancer.org.uk/recycling/bra-recycling/
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MAKE YOUR SUITS WORK HARDER Wardrobe full of blazers and work pants? By donating your unworn work clothes, you can support unemployed women find the perfect job. As well as boosting self confidence with new outfits, Smart Works also provide interview training so good, that 1 in 2 women they help get the job. They’re always in need of interview appropriate clothing in all sizes, particularly in size 16 and upwards. Find your local Smart Works donation point below. https://smartworks.org.uk/get-involved/donate-clothes/
OXFAM YOUR OLD PHONE One person’s trash, is another person’s povertybusting, cash-raising, life-changing treasure. Old electricals can be a nightmare to dispose of, however at Oxfam, you can recycle old iPods, tablets and more either in store, or online. https://www.oxfam.org.uk/donate/other-ways-to-donate/ recycle-with-us
GIVE YOUR CHILDREN’S BOOKS A SECOND LIFE Based in West London, the Children’s Book Project distribute thousands of new and gently used books to children and their families across the city. If your little ones have grown up or moved on, clear a space on your bookshelf for someone else to enjoy. Every book donated is cleaned and sorted by age and topic before being selected for distribution.
BAG IT UP We all know the damage that plastic bags can do, but did you know that most supermarkets recycle plastic bags, alongside other plastic wrapping and films? Recycle Now is an excellent site that allows you to search products by postcode, detailing how and where they can be recycled. https