Resources

Around 70% of the food wasted in the UK is produced by citizens in their own homes, with over 4.5 million tonnes of food that could have been eaten being thrown away by UK households every year. 

Ramadan is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar. During the month-long celebration, it has been observed that the amount of food that is thrown away increases, with WRAP’s insights suggesting more food goes to waste over this period than at other times of the year.

Ramadan is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar. During the month-long celebration, research has suggested leftover food waste is expected to go up from an average of 2.7 kilograms per person, per day, to 4.5 kilograms.

Whistles wanted to approach durability across different aspects of the business, having identified that making garments last longer was important to its customers, the brand and the environment. WRAP and Whistles looked at opportunities to improve the durability of clothing by ensuring customers have a positive experience when visiting Whistles stores, using the website, and when taking their clothes home.

This initiative was led by Resource London - the partnership between WRAP and London Waste & Recycling Board - together with Groundwork London. The organisations won a bid to the LIFE programme of the European Commission to deliver the €3.2million initiative in London, which acted as a test bed for other European cities.

ASOS identified a potential risk in the product durability of blind felled hems on tailored trousers due to hem failure, i.e. falling after washing or wearing. WRAP worked with ASOS to trial a bonding seal on both menswear and womenswear tailored trousers. 

Ted Baker is taking steps to make positive long-term impacts on the durability of its clothing. By reviewing the critical paths for design and development up to production, Ted Baker saw an opportunity to refine part of its quality management process to quickly identify high-risk fabrics.

WRAP worked with COS, which is part of the H&M group, to run extended wash test trials on four different menswear Merino wool jumpers, in order to review and assess the optimal care instructions to maximise the garments’ life. 

Through regular analysis of its products’ returns data, New Look identified above average levels of returns on womenswear stretch jeans due to button attachment failure. WRAP worked with New Look to review the testing process of womenswear stretch jeans to help improve their performance, extending the life of these products.

Working with WRAP, John Lewis identified an opportunity to improve fit consistency, and reduce sampling and product development lead times, for four core men‟s shirts. Bringing quality to life and encouraging sustainable living are core principles for John Lewis. The project aimed to facilitate 'right first time' sampling by creating a set of core blocks for four John Lewis bestselling men's shirts.

F&F has made a conscious decision to be more sustainable, integrating durability into its working practices, from product design to its end of life. WRAP has been working with F&F to help make clothes look as good as new, for longer.

This report details the outcomes of a research project to understand and identify emerging and commercially viable de-labelling or de-branding technologies for corporate-wear.