Parents and headteachers are backing a pioneering school uniform recycling scheme that is helping beat the cost of living crisis.

The garment recycling and refurbishment service ensures that used items go back on sale in first-class condition.

It allows parents to donate used uniforms at collection points in all Outwood Grange Academies Trust (OGAT) schools, the unwanted items are then picked up by a commercial firm, inspected, repaired, laundered, packaged and sold back to fresh customers as nearly new at a discount of as much as 50 per cent.

The programme was recently awarded Best Circularity Reuse in the 2022 National Recycling Awards.

The scheme also allows parents to spread the cost of their initial purchase over several months at no extra charge, easing the burden on the family budget. 

The refurbishment service, accessed by the Re:Form website run by Trutex based in Clitheroe, Lancs, not only helps tackle affordability but also extends the life of the garments and has sound green credentials.

Fewer used blazers, skirts and trousers wind up in landfill and so safeguard the environment. Extending the life of clothing by just 9 months reduces carbon and water usage by as much as 10 per cent.

This is in addition to several Trutex garments being made from 100 per cent recycled polyester. In 2022, Trutex saved 16 million plastic bottles from landfill through recycling content in their range. Just one blazer can save as many as 46 bottles, one pair of trousers or one skirt can save as many as 19 bottles.

Outwood Grange Academies Trust has been participating in Trutex’s RE:FORM scheme since 2021. So far, more than 5,000 garments have been sorted, fixed, laundered and reoffered for sale at a significantly reduced price. The service is in use across all 40 of the Outwood academies .

Headteachers across the Trust have been united in their praise for the scheme.

Rachael Skirrow, Principal at Outwood Primary Academy Ledger Lane, commented:

“The scheme is a great way to support families financially by saving them money while also teaching the importance of looking after our environment and sustainability.”

Outwood Academy City Fields Principal, Michelle Colledge-Smith, said:

“We would encourage everyone to take part in the scheme as it is a useful way to share resources. As a parent of an Outwood student myself, I know how quickly students can grow through their uniform. The quality is great and the items are very hard wearing. Recycling gives everyone the opportunity to have a good standard of uniform.”

The Principal of Outwood Academy Valley, Dave Cavill, added:

“As an academy, we are not only involved but committed to the Trutex uniform recycling scheme. Students and staff are extremely proud to know that Outwood Academy Valley is one of the most active academies in the Trust in contributing to the recycling of uniforms for our community. We take our commitment to protecting the environment really seriously, and students, parents/carers and staff work hard to support all aspects of this on an ongoing basis.”

Alison McQueen, Principal of Outwood Academy Shafton, said:

“The Trutex recycling scheme has become a valuable tool for our families in terms of their desire to waste less, be more environmentally friendly and support other families’ needs.”

Parents at the Trust have also been delighted by the introduction of Trutex’s campaign to reuse and resupply school uniforms. They would highly recommend it and that they will “definitely use this service again”.

One father, Paul, said he was “over the moon” with RE:FORM. He went on to say that “it’s really good quality” and that it is an “excellent idea to recycle uniforms, especially at a time when a lot of people are struggling financially” adding “I'll be definitely buying again and also passing on any outgrown uniform back to the school.”

Laura, a parent at Outwood Academy Hasland Hall, was quick to praise RE:FORM, calling it “affordable” with “fantastic” quality. She continued by saying that she “could not recommend it enough”. 

Commenting Katy Bradford, Chief Operating Officer at OGAT, said:

“This campaign, and its focus on recycling, can help not only deliver cost effective benefits for parents but also help spread the important message of sustainability and aid in improving our environment by reducing the number of clothes in landfill.”

Commenting, Matthew Easter, CEO of Trutex, said:

“I am delighted that there has been such a positive reception for RE:FORM. Providing quality lasting clothing has always been at the heart of our company’s ethos. Improving the options available for parents in a way that also improves sustainability means we are unquestionably succeeding in our efforts.”