Promoting Sustainability during Second Hand September

Promoting Sustainability during Second Hand September

Aylesbury Box Company is passionate about sustainability and the circular economy. With a focus on continous improvements, we have made considerable changes to our operations to minimise energy use and waste. We produce cardboard boxes which are made from predominantly or 100% recycled fibres.

Sustainability packaging has been a hot topic for many years and we are delighted to see many brands are now shifting towards options with a lower environmental impact. We have supported many customers to reduce or replace plastic and polystyrene sustainable packaging or fillers. It is also great to see other industries embracing sustainable initiatives.

Sustainable Fashion

This month, Oxfam is inviting us all to pledge our support. Could you commit to only buying second-hand clothes for the entire 30 days of September as part of Second-hand September?

Whether buying online or on the High Street, seasonal fashion encourages us to keep renewing our wardrobes, even though we have plenty to wear. There is a certain stigma to being seen in the same outfit, which is crazy. If you like how you look and feel in a garment, wear it as often as you can!

Did you know?

In the UK, we send 11m items of clothing head to landfill every week*

430,000 tonnes of good quality clothes are dumped every year**

Where to Buy Second-Hand Clothes

You may not need to buy any items of clothing this month. The purchases you made last Autumn may still fit perfectly and feel comfortable. If you require certain items, there are plenty of charity shops on every High Street which are full of apparel in every size, style and colour.

Young children grow out of their clothes, so replacements are frequent. You can often pick up clothing bundles from local online parent groups. Not far from our offices, Monkey Clothes organises regular pre-loved children’s clothing sales in Haddenham.

If you prefer to shop online, Oxfam has a great collection of clothes and the money you spend supports great projects that improve our world. You can filter the search criteria to suit your size, brand or colour preferences. Other online shops for second-hand clothing include:

• Thrift+ -An efficient shopping experience for your favourite brands and designer labels.
• Re-fashion -This site includes wardrobe essentials from as little as £5 and free returns.
• House of Vintage – If you prefer styles from the past, this online shop is worth exploring.
• Depop – The place to go for retro sportswear and 90’s inspired fashion.

What about Pre-owned Furniture?

The idea of donating unwanted goods and buying second hand is not limited to clothing. A new Florence Nightingale Hospice furniture shop opened in Aylesbury a few weeks ago and there are many more across the country. Why not search for the perfect items to complete your interior design?

If you are setting up a home office or fitting out your new business workplace, you can get leading brands desk and chairs at a budget-friendly price if you look for pre-owned office furniture.

Antique shops and reclamation yards are a great place to browse. Time to give those once-loved treasures a new lease of life?

Promoting Packaging Reuse

Corrugated cardboard is a robust material and there is no reason why it cannot be reused for returns. The inclusion of ‘tear strips’ is one of the simple ways for online retailers to encourage customers to reuse packaging. Not only does this reduce packaging waste, but it also ensures that the goods are properly protected during transit.

If you would like to benefit from our advice on sustainable packaging, get in touch with the Aylesbury Box Company team on 01296 436888 or enquiries@abcbox.co.uk.

*Source: Oxfam Second Hand September campaign

**Source: Re-fashion website