RESEARCH reveals that a staggering amount of plastic is unwittingly sent to landfill each year in the South of England.
And it’s not just plastic bottles that are the problem.
School uniforms are too, when they become too small and are thrown away.
Discarded uniforms contain mostly polyester and contribute to the mountain of unnecessary waste we accumulate each year.
It’s a national problem, but families in the South of England throw away the highest number of items.
630,000 outgrown but still wearable school uniforms are discarded in the South every year.
That’s the equivalent of 157 tonnes of plastic to landfill.
The figures come from research conducted by Censuswide on behalf of My Nametags.
2000 parents were asked how often they replace their child’s outgrown school uniform and how they dispose of the too-small items.
The amount sent to landfill was calculated using the average polyester content (32 percent) of a boys’ school uniform (aged 10) from leading supermarket brands consisting of polo shirt, sweatshirt, and trousers.
My Nametags has commissioned a series of images to highlight the problem of our throw-away attitude to clothing.
Lars B. Andersen, Managing Director at My Nametags, comments:
“With more clothing made from synthetic fibres such as polyester, this throwaway attitude to children’s clothes is having a significant impact on the environment.
“To put this waste problem into perspective we have calculated what it would look like stacked up against one of the South’s most recognisable landmarks, Stonehenge.
“We hope everyone will think twice before needlessly throwing away items of clothing.
“We have also gathered our top tips to help families live more sustainably throughout the school year.”
To see these tips, visit the MyNametag website blog.
