Marks & Spencer has launched a tie-up with online marketplace eBay and anti-poverty charity Oxfam to sell second-hand school uniforms.
The initiative, part of Marks & Spencer’s established Shwopping waste reduction and circular economy campaign, will enable people to buy good quality ‘pre-loved’ uniforms as the cost-of-living crisis continues to take a toll on many and the back-to-school period nears.
M&S has installed dedicated Shwopping boxes in 200 branches for customers to donate old school uniforms, which will then be sold through an eBay store and Oxfam shops, raising funds for charity in the process.
M&S is the market leader for school uniforms and has frozen their price for the third year in a row in recognition of its status as an essential product.
Kidswear director Alexandra Dimitriu said: “At M&S, our clothing is too good to waste. We know our customers frequently hand down our school uniform to friends and family, and this season we’re encouraging them to drop school uniform, which they no longer need, into one of our new Shwopping boxes.
“It’s one of the many ways we’re trying to make our best-in-class school uniform accessible to all families, however and whenever they choose to shop.”
eBay head of pre-loved fashion Lucy Peacock said: “Every parent should be able to have access to a school uniform for their child at any age, which is good-quality and fit for purpose.
“The cost-of-living crisis has created greater education poverty and an ever-increasing need for school uniforms. We are proud to be able to pilot an ecommerce solution to help parents get access to pre-loved school uniforms.”
Oxfam retail director Lorna Fallon said: “Donating pre-loved school uniforms through the scheme is not only better for the environment since it gives garments a longer lifecycle, but it also raises funds for Oxfam’s life-saving work and helps parents here in the UK who may be struggling with the cost of kitting their children out for school.”
Since launching Shwopping in 2008, M&S has collected more than 36 million items, contributing an estimated £23m to Oxfam’s work.
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