Full response from OXFAM re Red Editor comments

Thank you for your email about the Editor’s letter in this month’s
issue of Red magazine.
Oxfam does not turn away clothing donations, and Oxfam shops
work hard to sort, price and sell as many donated items as
possible.
However, as you say, some of the items that shops receive may
not be saleable in the UK market because they are damaged or
worn out.

Clothes and shoes that fail to sell in Oxfam shops are collected
and taken to Oxfam Wastesaver, Oxfam's own fully integrated
processing operation in Huddersfield. A specialist team of
trained and experienced sorters at Wastesaver grade the clothing
by quality, fabric composition and garment type.

The sorters are always looking out for gems such as retro and
vintage items, which have the potential to raise money
in the UK: they are set aside for specialist Oxfam shops
and stalls at music festivals.

The clothing that is good enough to be worn again is sold
for export. There is a global trade in second-hand clothing,
just as there is in new garments. Wastesaver operates in an
ethical and sustainable way, following Oxfam Export Policy, and
sells only to accredited companies, based in countries where
second-hand clothing is freely available, and where it can
be demonstrated that there will be no negative impact on local
manufacturing.

Clothing that cannot be worn again because it is ripped, torn
or worn out,is sold for its fibre content and is shredded for
uses such as mattress filling or industrial wiper cloths.

The proceeds from these sales fund Oxfam's projects in more than 70
countries around the world.

I hope this has given you sufficient information in answer to
your query,but if you do have any further questions, please do not
hesitate to contact us again. We are happy to see this email
published on your blog.

Finally, we would like to thank you for the valuable support that you give
to Oxfam’s work in over 70 countries around the world.

Kind regards,

Giulia Biasibetti
Shop Support Team Advisor