Promoting Sustainable Fashion
Oxfam promotes the circular economy and sustainable fashion by extending the life of used clothing.
The circular economy
In Ireland, it is estimated that 63,000 tonnes of textiles end up in the landfill annually.
The mass production of ‘fast fashion’ is depleting natural resources, polluting the environment and contributing to climate change, putting many of the world’s poorest people at risk. It is estimated that the textiles industry accounts for more carbon emissions than international aviation and shipping combined. However, the circular economy – in which waste is transformed into raw materials for new products – offers a vital solution to keeping clothing in use for longer, conserving resources and protecting the climate.
Why Partner With Oxfam?
Oxfam is a market leader in the provision of excess stock solutions that are both sustainable and transparent, giving companies full oversight of how their stock is managed and re distributed.
The sustainable solutions offered by Oxfam not only support organisational circular economy goals but also support Oxfam Ireland’s programme work in tackling the root causes of poverty and injustice in the communities where we work.
If a key priority for your business is to reduce negative environmental impact then Oxfam Ireland offer an ethical and transparent stock solution that is tailored to meet your organisations specific requirements. By collaborating with Oxfam, manufacturers and retailers increase their collective impact and influence by extending the life of product and diverting from landfill and/or incineration.
Oxfam offer a free collection service for excess stock across the Island of Ireland and most European countries. All stock received into our 22,000 foot warehouse is processed securely and within the guidelines agreed prior to collection. This includes processing of outer and inner packaging and de-branding of the stock.
Also, your employees and occupiers can donate their pre-loved clothes to Oxfam Ireland allowing us to create meaningful change in the lives of others.
Measuring Results
Oxfam Sustainable Solutions for excess stock facilitates Corporate Social and Responsibility planning. Key Performance Metrics are provided for all excess stock received allowing organisations to increase the opportunity to drive business forward with sustainable and progressive business practice.
Full traceability through the Oxfam Ireland ‘s supply chain allows for periodic reporting on all excess stock including weight and item counts, revenue generation and impact.
For a confidential conversation of how Oxfam can add value to organisational CSR goals please contact Mark Sweeney (Island of Ireland) or Niamh Doherty (Europe). Details provided below.
Circular Economy and Sustainable Fashion
Oxfam promotes the circular economy and sustainable fashion by extending the life of used clothing through reuse, re-sale or recycling, helping to close the loop on clothing waste and raise funds to end poverty. We invite consumers to donate unwanted clothing through our 46 shops across the island of Ireland, and promote ‘pre-loved’ clothing as desirable and sustainable, through events such as Fashion Relief and celebrity donations.
Partnering with major companies, including M&S, allows us to develop innovative circular solutions, offer a zero-waste option for excess stock, and enable more people to donate clothing through take-back schemes, textile banks and workplace donation points.
Our Shops
For over six decades, Oxfam’s shops across the island of Ireland have provided the public with a place to recycle their pre-loved goods, diverting them from landfill and reducing their carbon footprint. People who buy or donate through our shops are not only helping to protect the planet, they are also helping the world’s poorest people to lift themselves out of poverty.
Oxfam Ireland has 45 shops across the island, supported by more than 1,000 volunteers. Our fashion stores are stocked with a range of pre-loved and vintage clothes and accessories, with each sale raisings funds for Oxfam’s life-saving development and humanitarian work.
For over six decades, Oxfam’s shops across the island of Ireland have provided the public with a place to recycle their pre-loved goods, diverting them from landfill and reducing their carbon footprint. People who buy or donate through our shops are not only helping to protect the planet, they are also helping the world’s poorest people to lift themselves out of poverty.
Oxfam Ireland has 45 shops across the island, supported by more than 1,000 volunteers. Our fashion stores are stocked with a range of pre-loved and vintage clothes and accessories, with each sale raisings funds for Oxfam’s life-saving development and humanitarian work.
4Good
Oxfam’s 4Good shops sell a range of brand-new fashion accessories and jewellery for women, men and children, including hair accessories, sunglasses, bags, purses, mobile phone accessories and homewares. All the items for sale in the store have been generously donated free of charge to Oxfam Ireland, with profits going to support our worldwide in emergency response, long-term development and campaigning, including projects with women and girls.
The sustainable business model of our 4 GOOD stores gives new life to stock which could otherwise be destined for recycling or landfill. Furthermore, this innovative, forward-thinking business model serves to bolster the donating retailer’s corporate social responsibility and sustainability strategies.
Pop-Up Shops
Shopping second-hand is one way that the public can leave a lighter footprint on the planet while sending a message to retailers that it is their responsibility to slow down the rate of fast fashion. Pop-Up shops are our way of bringing our stores to you. A few rails of brand-new and pre-loved donated clothes, shoes and accessories, offering a more sustainable way to shop, while also supporting Oxfam’s global work to beat poverty.
Shopping second-hand is one way that the public can leave a lighter footprint on the planet while sending a message to retailers that it is their responsibility to slow down the rate of fast fashion. Pop-Up shops are our way of bringing our stores to you. A few rails of brand-new and pre-loved donated clothes, shoes and accessories, offering a more sustainable way to shop, while also supporting Oxfam’s global work to beat poverty.
Our online Tech Shop
Oxfam’s newest arrival is the Oxfam Tech Shop. Here shoppers will find a wide range of the latest Tech from phones, audio, computing, gaming and much more. Each month 100s of new products are added. Oxfam Tech offers customers Amazing deals and Big Discounts with up to 40% of RRPs. Just click below to see all the great deals on our Tech Shop because when it is gone, it really is gone!
Second Hand September
Millions of items of clothing end up in landfills across the country every year – that means tens of thousands of tonnes of textiles decomposing in the ground, destroying the environment. Throwaway fashion is putting increasing pressure on our planet and people – it’s unsustainable.
But there’s something people can do to help. They can set themselves a personal challenge and join us for Second Hand September as we say yes to pre-loved clothes by giving them a new lease of life! We launched #SecondHandSeptember in 2019, amid growing demand from shoppers wanting more sustainable and ethical clothing and the campaign has already been hugely successful.
Our Oxfam Home store offer a superb range of furniture and homewares to suit every budget and home. As well as helping raise vital funds for our work with communities affected by poverty, buying from Oxfam Home means you’re helping the environment too by recycling furniture that was destined for the local landfill. If you’d like to visit our Home shops to see the great items in-store, then below is everything you need! Our expert staff and volunteers in Dublin can help you to find your dream piece and put you in touch with delivery companies to get those large-scale items to where they belong – your home sweet home.
Key Contacts
Niamh has over 25 years’ experience in market research and business development across many European countries, in sectors ranging from homeware and fashion, to food and drink. Back in 2005, she started a fact-finding mission with Oxfam Ireland to identify potential textile donors in the European fashion retail sector.
Fashion retailing has changed dramatically since then, as has Oxfam Ireland’s textile sustainability journey. Niamh has accompanied the organisation on a journey that has led to Oxfam Ireland becoming a partner in the sustainability strategy of key European fashion retailers. She has enabled the environment for change in corporate attitudes to fashion waste, helping to extend the lifecycle of millions of fashion products, and assisting Oxfam Ireland to deliver increased circularity in the textiles sector. Having lived and worked in France, Germany and Italy over the years, Niamh has developed a strong network of corporate partnerships throughout continental Europe, including C&A, Beeline, Zara, Miroglio and Calzedonia. She has been instrumental in the development of the 4Good sustainable fashion brand, ultimately raising funds for Oxfam Ireland’s development work overseas.
Niamh believes that in order to solve issues of inequality, poverty and climate change, organisations like Oxfam must align with good business to create value that benefits all stakeholders at all levels of the supply chain.
For all enquiries relating to participation in the 4Good sustainable fashion brand, corporate stock donations, retail fashion circularity, and fashion take-back schemes in continental Europe, please contact Niamh at niamh.doherty@oxfam.org or on +39 334 3821756
Supply Chain & Business Development Manager
With more than 25 years' experience across the retail sector, spanning photography, technology, fashion and charity retail, Mark Sweeney leads Oxfam Ireland's donated goods strategy, supply chain development and business partnerships.
As Supply Chain & Business Development Manager, Mark is responsible for developing innovative ways to increase the flow of donated goods into Oxfam Ireland's retail network while helping businesses embrace more circular and sustainable approaches to managing surplus stock. He led the development of Oxfam Ireland's first of its kind PostBack postal donation programme, creating a convenient national solution that enables people to donate quality clothing directly from their homes.
Mark works closely with retailers, brands, manufacturers and organisations across Ireland and Europe to develop practical reuse solutions for unsold stock, customer returns, samples, end of line products and other surplus goods, helping extend product lifecycles and maximise social and environmental impact. He is also leading a range of circular economy initiatives, including donation infrastructure, textile collection programmes and strategic partnerships that make reuse more accessible within communities throughout the island of Ireland.
As an expert in reuse and the circular economy, Mark represents Oxfam Ireland across a range of industry groups and regularly contributes to discussions on textile reuse, sustainability and responsible resource management. His work focuses on creating practical, scalable solutions that benefit businesses, consumers, communities and the environment alike, while influencing behavioural change . Mark is a member of the Textile Advisory Group which has helped shaped the direction of circular economy in Ireland, as well as advise on textile waste and the introduction of the Extended Producer Responsibility for Textiles in 2028. He also serves as chair for Chairty Retail Ireland , a representative body for charity retail on the island of Ireland.
Mark is available for media interviews, conference speaking engagements, panel discussions and industry events on topics including the circular economy, textile reuse, sustainable retail, charitable reuse and innovations in donation and supply chain development.
You can contact him directly by email at mark.sweeney@oxfam.org.
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