Ruth Croft looks into the charity foundation’s choice to support Textiles Action Week in the name of sustainability.
The British Heart Foundation has been at the core of UK society for over sixty years. In every town, you will most likely find the charity organisation, which has researched and raised funds for the awareness of heart and circulatory problems ever since it’s inception. Now, despite a tough eighteen months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the British Heart Foundation has revealed plans to support Textiles Action Week in an attempt to boost sustainability amongst high street clothing brands.
The British Heart Foundation announced their intention on their website, stating, “We are appealing to retailers with surplus stock to make sustainable choices and donate items to us, as WRAP launches Textiles Action Week.”
WRAP, which is an initialism for The Waste and Resources Action Programme, has recently launched the action week as a part of their Textiles 2030 voluntary agreement. This was officially revealed in November 2020, in the hope of intertwining the future of UK fashion and modern textiles companies. Through doing this, WRAP believes that it will increase the progression towards a brighter, more eco-friendly and ethical economy within the industry.
The British Heart Foundation has made their intent clear. They wish to assist fashion brands into making better choices for themselves in regard to the sustainability of their clothes. They are searching for ways to keep designs in circulation for longer, in particular. The British Heart Foundation manages a brand partnerships programme, working with Marks and Spencer as well as many other profitable retailers. This ensures both parties a greater possibility of raising funds towards the charity, with suggestion that this year they will make the £8.6 million mark.
The chief executive at the British Heart Foundation, Dr Charmaine Griffiths, had this to say, “This Textiles Action Week we want to encourage others to join the Textiles 2030 initiative, so together we can build a more sustainable and circular UK textiles sector. Although strong strides have been made towards improving practices within the textiles industry, there’s more to do. We want to continue to collaborate with other fashion and textile brands who can support the British Heart Foundation’s vital work by simply donating their unwanted stock. Doing so will help reduce waste, raise vital funds for research and take us a step closer to creating a truly circular economy.”
