Protecting the environment is a perfect fit for The Zip Yard, therefore, we’re on a mission to extend the life of clothes and minimise the waste created by the clothing industry.

Consequently, in 2019 we became the first clothing alterations chain to sign up to the UK’s Waste and Resources Action Programme’s Sustainable Clothing Action Plan (SCAP) 2020 commitment.

First of all – clothing has the fourth largest impact on the environment after housing, transport and food and results in almost £140 million worth of clothes being thrown away each year – mostly to landfill.

Because of that, SCAP aims to cut the amount of carbon, water and waste consumed by the clothing industry by urging businesses to commit to meeting industry-led targets in order to reduce resources – and we’re backing it all the way. Hence, we’ve already introduced 100 per cent biodegradable plastic bags for customers in our GB stores.

A staggering one-third of the £30 billion of UK clothes (£4,000 per household) haven’t been worn for a year or more, as a result of most of these clothes no longer fitting or having fallen out of fashion.

In contrast, a visit to your local Zip Yard can provide an answer. We can easily repair, alter, upcycle or restyle clothes so they fit better and last longer.

If we each extended the life of every item of clothing for just three months, it would reduce the UK’s environment carbon footprint by between 5-10 percent – that’s a whopping £3 billion per year, while two-thirds of the UK’s population have bought pre-owned clothes which shows a willingness to wear second-hand garments.

Consequently we’re teaming up with schools and charity shops to make alterations and repairs to support reuse – and rolling out special offers, campaigns and initiatives to make reuse and repair a first, not last, consumer choice – something that makes sense to your heart and mind, is good for your soul and for your pocket.