Asda Trials Pop-Up Shop for Unwanted Clothes

Asda Trials Pop-Up Shop for Unwanted Clothes

The supermarket giant Asda is trialling a sustainable clothing initiative in its Milton Keynes store for the next four weeks. In a bid to encourage customers to recycle their unwanted clothes, the retailer is opening an instore charity clothing shop, which it has dubbed ‘Re-Loved.’

Asda wants to reduce the environmental impact of its clothing and operations, and the Re-Loved pop-up shop in its Milton Keynes store will be stocked with donated second-hand clothes from many different brands.

Asda’s director for sustainable sourcing said that in the UK, we throw away far too many clothes. He added that Asda George are committed to doing the right thing by customers and the planet by improving the sustainability of products, making them so they’re built to last, and repurposing or recycling any surplus stock.

The company hopes that the Re-Loved pop-up shop will help find a home for unwanted clothes and encourage people to think again when it comes to throwing them away.

All of the money raised from the pop-up store is set to go to Asda’s Tickled Pink breast cancer campaign and Breast Cancer Now.

Clothes recycling - how does it work?

Clothing sorting

Once collected, clothing is usually manually sorted and classified into three groups: reuse, rags, and fibre. Estimates suggest that about half of all clothing that’s recycled can be reused in some way. Some recycling companies bale up clothing and export it to developing countries, while the rest is sent for processing.

Clothing processing

Most clothing consists of types of synthetic plastics like polyester or natural materials like wool or cotton.

Synthetic materials like polyester are processed differently from natural materials. Any zips or buttons are removed from the garments, then the garments are shredded, granulated, and made into pellets that can be use in industrial and consumer products.

Natural textiles are sorted according to colour and type of material. By sorting them into different colours, less chemical dyes and processes need to be used. The clothing is turned into fibres which are then combined with other fibres which are cleaned and spun. The fibres can then be used for things like padding mattresses and furniture, and insulation.