Fast fashion has become an increasing problem, with the churn of new styles and cheap items meaning new clothes lie around unwanted or even chucked in the bin after only a few wears.
More than 300,000 tonnes of textiles are estimated to end up in landfill each year.
A host of shopping giants have decided to play their part by incentivising customers to return underused, unwanted or even worn-out garments so they can resold or recycled as mattress fillers and the such.
Andy Webb, host of the Cash Chats podcast, offered tips to his listeners on how to "get extra discounts on new clothes by recycling or donating your old clothes".
The personal finance journalist said: "If you do need to buy something new, this may be a nice little way of getting that little bit of an extra discount that you need to make it more affordable.
"If there are things that you need to get rid of because they don’t fit anymore... or you definitely need something new, then these schemes at some big, big high street stores are definitely worth taking a look at."
What stores are offering money for old clothes?
Here is a look at some of the household names offering money off your shopping in exchange for donations.
H&M
For a bag of old garments, fashion chain H&M is offering a £5 voucher off a £25 minimum spend.
But as Mr Webb explains, only one voucher can be used per purchase.
“You can’t stack them together. If something is £50, you can’t get £10 off," he told podcast listeners.
"Take a bag of clothes there, they’ll give you that voucher as part of the H&M garment collection programme.
"It doesn’t have to be H&M products in there. Any kind of textile, curtains, socks — all these things are recycled here, they are not put into a charity store."
According to H&M, if clothes are still wearable then they can be marketed as second-hand clothing.
Others items not suitable for wearing again will be turned into products such as cleaning cloths, while others will be shredded to use in insulation.
The global chain said that in 2020, it collected 18,800 tonnes of unwanted clothes and textiles through the programme — the equivalent of 94 million T-shirts.
M&S
Oxfam and Marks & Spencer have what they call a “shwopping” agreement whereby donating to the charity gets generous givers a voucher for the popular British high street chain.
As explained on Oxfam’s website, those having a clear out can bring in unwanted clothes to one of the charity’s stores and in return receive a £5 M&S voucher off a £35 spend on clothing, home and beauty products in the store.
There is a condition on this offer though, with the bag of clothing needing to have “at least one item of M&S labelled clothing or M&S soft furnishings”.
These items cannot be sale or clearance items from M&S either. Oxfam then either sells the donated clothes in their shops, online or at festivals.
Alternatively, if they aren’t suitable for resale, the garments will be sold in bulk to reprocessing companies to be reborn as mattress filling or carpet underlay.
There is another instant reward you can get by handing in old clothes — and this time they can be from any retailer.
Dropping off textile items at an M&S store will allow you to scan a QR code to receive a free treat via the M&S Sparks loyalty scheme, according to Mr Webb’s website, Be Clever With Your Cash.
The donations can be anything from clothing to shoes, handbags, belts, hats, scarves and things like bedding, towels and throws as well.
M&S says most of its clothing stores offer the deal and the Sparks treat is available once every 30 days.
Donors have been known to be eligible for things like a free pastry from the in-store bakery but offers are said to be tailored to each person.
John Lewis
That monolith of UK shopping, John Lewis, has also got in on the act with its FashionCycle scheme.
The store asks customers to bring in five items of pre-loved clothing which can be resold or recycled.
“We'll give you £5 off your fashion or homeware purchase that day when you spend £20 or more to say thank you,” John Lewis says on its website.
The deal is only available to My John Lewis members, a scheme which is free to join. The £5 voucher can also only be used in store, not online or over the phone.
Most clothing items can be returned, including shirts, t-shirts, jumpers, trousers, shorts, dresses & some children's wear.
The following is not accepted as part of FashionCycle: underwear, lingerie, socks, tights, accessories, footwear, hand bags, swimwear, baby vests, baby grows, towels, bedding and nightwear.
Schuh
Shoe store Schuh has a similar scheme but this time solely for what goes on your feet.
The ingeniously titled scheme “Sell Your Soles” allows shoppers to take in any pair of shoes from any brand to exchange for a £5 off a £25 spend voucher.
The deal is valid on full-price shoes either in store or online. Donors will receive one voucher per pair of footwear taken in to be recycled.
