The clothes that are collected will be sold at TRAID stores in London and Brighton. Any clothes that are torn or stained are used to customise one off items of clothing and sold under the designer label TRAID Remade.
Initially the recycling banks will be present at the Croydon, Southampton and Peacehaven branches of the Co-op, but the scheme could be expanded if successful.
 TRAID patron Wayne Hemmingway, TRAID chief executive Maria Chenoweth (standing) and Becky Toal of the Co-op |
Commenting on the agreement, Co-operative Group environmental programme manager Becky Toal said: “We are delighted to have formed a partnership with TRAID and want to encourage as many people as possible to recycle.
“Placing TRAID clothing banks on Co-op sites, enables our customers to act loyally and make a positive contribution towards helping two global problems – the environment and the world's poorer nations – simply by dropping off their unwanted clothes when they come to shop,” she said.
Profits from TRAID's collection and sale of second-hand clothes is used to fund projects to help children and young people in developing countries.
Wayne Hemmingway, TRAID's patron said: “It makes perfect sense for TRAID to join forces with the Co-op as both organisations share such similar values; an interest in local community action, protecting the environment and wider global issues.
“This fantastic initiative will help the organisation to collect more textiles, divert more from landfill, sell more high-quality clothing in its shops and raise more money for much-needed development projects overseas,” he added.
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