Oh Polly joins The Salvation Army to combat throwaway fashion

Oh Polly has become the first brand to join The Salvation Army's new scheme to help e-commerce supercharge charity donations.

The scheme allows consumers to receive a free packaging label to send unwanted to clothes to The Salvation Army, in exchange for a discount on their next Oh Polly order.

Launched by The Salvation Army and returns experts ReBOUND, The Online Clothing Bank gives shoppers the option to support the charity sector. It aims to combat fast fashion, which sends 300,000 tonnes of textiles to landfill annually.

The Online Clothing Bank is the latest step in the retail sector’s push towards sustainability, which has seen a rise in donation bins placed in physical stores.Adding the online feature enables shoppers to donate around the clock instead of relying on store opening hours.

Alix McShane, Head of Customer Service at Oh Polly, said: "Oh Polly is delighted to be the first brand on board with the Online Clothing Bank.

"It's the time of year when many customers start to make space in their wardrobes and this initiative offers a convenient way to clear out old clothing for the season ahead, provide vital support to charity and do their bit for a happier, healthier planet.

"Our shoppers are all too aware of the harmful impact that throwaway fashion has on the environment, so we’ll be encouraging all Oh Polly customers to bank rather than bin unwanted clothing.”

Emily Cotterill, Head of Sustainability at ReBOUND, added: "The pandemic has rapidly accelerated retail’s approach to selling online and it makes sense to bring the donations process into this digital transformation. The Online Clothing Bank is the next step towards a more sustainable, circular retail economy to benefit consumers, retailers and, most importantly, good causes."

The scheme is open to all retailers selling online and its sign up is free.