In the UK, it is estimated that 11 million items of clothing end up in landfill every single week*. Fast-fashion churns out clothing at rapid rates, and single-use clothing is on the rise: items worn once before being left to gather dust in the back of a wardrobe or thrown in the bin.
Whether you’re in need of a new year declutter, a chance to help some furry friends or wanting to do your bit for the environment, PDSA charity shops are eagerly waiting your donations.
Here’s three reasons why you should vet your clothes:
Reason one: Helps pets in need
The funds raised in our charity shops go directly towards supporting our veterinary services. With 48 Pet Hospitals across the UK, every penny raised in our charity shops helps us treat 370,000 pets and support 320,000 owners each year, who are in need and have nowhere else to turn. Many of whom are elderly, disabled or living with a serious health condition, and their pet often provides vital companionship. Shopping at a PDSA charity shop will help us, help them.
Reason two: Protect the planet
It’s estimated of the 100 billion garments produced throughout the world each year; 92 million tonnes end up in landfills**.
Shopping second-hand is sustainable, it increases the number of owners an item will have, which gives new life to items that were once forgotten about. This lowers the impact of the items we consume as we’re reusing something that has already been through the production process, and it also prevents items from going in landfills.
We can buy almost anything second-hand now too. Not just clothing, but also books, toys and games, home accessories to electronics - there’s plenty to find in a charity shop.
Reason three: Cost-saving
The ever-increasing cost of living crisis is causing many of us to watch what we’re spending and save where we can. More people are turning to shopping for pre-loved items, over brand new, whilst saving money and supporting great causes.
By supporting your local charity shop, you are not only putting money back into the community, helping keep jobs and the local economy thriving – you’re also able to spend less.
There’s plenty of bargains to be found in charity shops, and often, lots of hidden gems in need of new homes too! With over 100 PDSA charity shops throughout the UK, there’s bound to be a store near you.
#VetYourClothes runs from 1st January to 18th February, supported by several celebrity ambassadors. For those who wish to donate items, the below map highlights the locations of our charity shops or you can visit our Vet Your Clothes page to find out more.
*Oxfam, 2019, https://www.oxfam.org.uk/mc/wk76b9/
**Earth.Org, 2023, https://earth.org/statistics-about-fast-fashion-waste/#