200,000 'wearable' school uniforms a year binned
Parents in the West Midlands unnecessarily threw away nearly 200,000 school uniforms last year despite the fact they were still in good condition.
Label manufacturer My Nametags says they made up 17 per cent of the 1.4 million binned nationally.
Its study found more than one in 10 simply throw uniform items away once their children have outgrown them, even though they are still in a wearable condition.
When it comes to damaged items, more than half of parents in the region would prefer to throw a garment away than attempt to repair it.
The survey also found more than half of families in the West Midlands own brand new garments they have never worn.
When it comes to purchasing new clothes, the study shows the vast majority – 81 per cent – of parents always buy their children’s school uniform new.
When asked why they don’t shop second-hand, the main reason parents in the West Midlands gave was they don’t like the thought of their children wearing previously owned clothing – 38 per cent.
A third of parents, 34 per cent, also suggested it is easier to buy new, and a fifth of mums and dads said they wanted their children to always have the latest things.
Of those who are happy for their children to wear pre-owned clothing, the majority would prefer these to be hand-me-downs from older siblings.
Lars Andersen, managing director at My Nametags, said: “The data shows there is a stark disconnect between our efforts to reuse and recycle clothing by donating it to charity shops, and our attitudes to buying clothing second-hand.”
