Primark and WRAP are embarking on a new partnership to support the retailer’s commitment to giving clothes a longer life.
Running over three years, the partnership will explore how collaboration and innovative solutions can 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 WRAP, will be contributing its behavioural science expertise, while Primark’s takeback partner, Yellow Octopus, will also be an advisory.
Primark (Sawgrass Mills, Floriday)
The partnership comes as research from WRAP reveals that 1.6 billion items of clothing are sitting unused in wardrobes across the nation 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 that there is still a knowledge gap about how to dispose of clothing – many people are unaware that retailers like Primark offer textile donation schemes.
Primark is committed to offering both affordable and sustainable fashion for its customers and is working with WRAP to find new solutions in this space. WRAP has an ambition to embed Circular Living* in every boardroom and every home.
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. To help give its clothes a longer life, Primark has committed to making its clothes recyclable by design by 2027. Over the past two years, the retailer has embedded circular design principles into some of its clothing collections, and last year launched its first collection of 35 pieces across menswear, womenswear, and kid’s wear made in line with the Primark Circular Product Standard.
Primark has also played a key role in WRAP and Leeds Institute of Textiles and Colour (LITAC)’s Durability Research Project, which is setting standards for prolonged clothing life, recently publishing its Durability Framework to support on delivering enhanced durability across its product ranges. By making the framework publicly available, Primark aims to drive a positive dialogue on the topic among industry peers and partners. The global fashion retailer will also use the framework to help continue to boost the lifespan across its clothing.
Catherine David, Director of Behaviour Change & Business Programmes at WRAP, commented:
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. Without widespread scaling of circular business models which are accessible to people, the world will not be able to achieve vital carbon and water reductions. 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.”
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. 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.”
