A brand-new website has launched: the School Uniform Reuse Network.
This simple, easy-to-use platform lets your school upload its uniform reuse data and instantly receive tailor-made statistics on the carbon and waste saved.
Join the growing community by signing up your school in just two minutes.
Why join the network?
Every year in London, more than 33,000 tonnes of textiles are thrown away. Many of these items are still in good condition, including school uniforms.
Taking part helps your school community to:
- save families up to £348 a year on uniforms
- reduce the amount of clothing going to landfill
- cut the environmental impact of school uniforms by extending a garment’s life
support fairness, affordability and sustainability
Uniform swapping and reuse also helps prevent 1.4 million items from going to landfill each year. You'll have instant access to valuable resources too.
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How it works
Create a personal account on the website. Then you can:
- Upload your uniform reuse information
- View instant statistics on carbon savings and waste prevented
- Take part in a growing London-wide community reducing textile waste
Here is an example of the certificate you can download once you have uploaded data to share with the community:
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Sign up today
You can sign up your school in two minutes by visiting the website.
www.schooluniformreusenetwork.org.uk
Want to educate your students about textile waste? Visit our Education Hub to find a sequence of learning on textile waste.
Why wait? Follow these 7 easy steps to get started:
Gather a team of parents, carers, and school staff to organise and run the shop
There are plenty of jobs to go round when running a school uniform exchange, from sorting the donations to working at the shop (and packing away). Make a list of tasks and assign roles as needed.
Locate storage area for stock and space to run the shop
Preparing for lots of donations is a great way to get ahead. Speak with the senior management team and site staff at your school to identify a space to store your stock. Choose an easily accessible location for your shop near to where children are picked up at the end of the day. This will help it to be seen and may encourage families to shop with you.
Source equipment
Rails, hangers, storage etc can help with the organisation of running the shop whilst also ensuring the school uniform remains in good condition ready to reuse. Create a wish list of equipment you need and reach out to the school community to source this. Using swapping groups on Facebook or sites like Freegle and Freecycle may also help in sourcing much needed items.
Start collecting uniforms
Using a labelled container (we recommend a laundry basket!), label it clearly with the sticker we will provide to ensure only donated uniforms are placed in there. This will make dropping off donations simple for families and your team. Make sure to promote the donation’s container to families, its location, and the list of items you are happy to accept.
Running the shop
Decide a suitable date and time to run your exchange shop. You can either run a regular monthly event on a set day of the week, or you can run a one-off event.
Record your numbers and share with us!
Once you have signed up to the School Uniform Reuse Network, you can easily keep track of the number of items being reused. After each shop, upload your data online and get instant statistics including the weight of textiles saved from waste and the amount of carbon emissions prevented.
Join the network of schools across the boroughs
Find out what other schools are doing, share success stories and more with The School Uniform Exchange.
Any questions? We would love to hear! Email education@nlwa.gov.uk