Tearfund – Great Fashion Fast poll

Survey reveals environmental concerns are a low priority when buying clothes

Fewer than one in four UK adults (23%) have cited concern for the environment as the main reason why they would buy fewer clothes. And the majority of us (57%) own new clothes we have never worn
Most people gave saving money (54%) and getting the most value out of existing clothes (43%) as the main reasons they would abstain from new purchases. Only 11% said a preference for ‘pre-loved’ clothing kept them from entering the fast fashion cycle.
People are most likely to donate their clothes when they no longer wear them, with over two thirds selecting this option (68%). A third (34%) recycle them, and approximately a quarter give them to friends or family (24%) or sell them (23%). Just one in ten (11%) don’t do anything with them.
Women are more likely than men to donate clothes they no longer wear (74% vs. 62%), whereas men are more likely to recycle them (40% vs. 29%)
Almost twice as many people say they have a preference for mending clothes (40%) as opposed to a preference for buying new clothes (22%).

Date Published: 15/02/2022

Categories: Public and communities | Retail & Consumer | Social | UK

Client: Tearfund

Methodology

Savanta ComRes interviewed 2,314 UK adults aged 18+ online from 28-30 January 2022. Data were weighted to be representative of population by age, gender, region, and socio-economic characteristics such as social grade. Savanta ComRes is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. Full tables at www.comresglobal.com.