“Two in seven working people in the UK wear a uniform. 39 million + corporate garments are provided for their use but around 90% – 16,000 tonnes – goes to landfill or incineration each year, wasting resources and causing significant damage to the environment as well as costing businesses money and risking their reputations if items aren’t disposed of securely. Currently only 9% of this is recovered for re-use with an additional 1000 tonnes captured for shredding but this is not recycled Source WRAP Report.
Several factors contribute to the significant waste generated from workwear and uniforms at the end of their life cycle:
Concerns About Liability and Security: In industries where safety and security are paramount, there are genuine concerns about liability if old uniforms are reused, leading to more cautious and controlled disposal methods.
Customization and Branding: Many uniforms bear logos, emblems, or specific designs that identify the company or institution. Removing or altering these could be challenging or costly, making the reuse or repurposing of these items complicated.
No legitimate Market for Second-Hand Uniforms: Due to the specificity of these garments to particular jobs or companies, there is no true market for second-hand “badged” uniforms. This factor significantly reduces the opportunities for simple resale or donation compared to regular clothing items.
Material Quality and Durability: Workwear and uniforms are often designed for durability and safety. These garments are made from materials that ensure longevity and meet specific industry standards. While this is essential for their primary purpose, it can also make them more challenging to recycle or repurpose due to the complexity of the materials involved.
Industry Regulations and Safety Standards: Certain industries, such as those involving hazardous materials or specific safety requirements, mandate workwear that adheres to stringent regulations. When uniforms or workwear reach their end of life, these regulations can complicate the disposal or recycling process because of safety concerns related to potential contamination or the specific materials used.
Lack of Standardized Recycling Programs: There is a clear lack of standardized recycling programs for workwear and uniforms in the UK. Unlike household items or standard clothing, there is no readily available channels or systems for recycling these specialized garments.
Ownership : Companies are not obliged to recover their staff uniforms and most companies appear to be currently happy to let this go to landfill/incineration and not take responsibility for finding a better way. To be fair this may be because there is not easy solution until now.
Good news Second Life Uniforms fixes all of these challenges and goes further than any other service company in the sector
There is NO reason for this to happen ! The materials in Uniforms are all recyclable, or can have their life extended. We have built the process to fix this issue in the UK and are now operational – then the plan is to extend internationally . We have to stop 15,000 + tonnes of waste going to landfill and incineration for no reason other than we don’t have a solution…well we do now!
