A third of the average family wardrobe is never worn

If, like me, you’ve started thinking about what you’re going to wear for those festive gatherings you may have hit a problem. You find last year’s outfit is a bit too tight, it’s lost its shape, become discoloured or you cannot remember why you bought it in the first place. I inherited a love of sparkly polyester tops from my gran, and generally don’t need an excuse to wear one. Not one to want to blend in with the décor, the festive season is a time when blending in with the Christmas tree feels OK.

“But everything is not OK in the world of clothing and sparkly polyester tops, just like plastic bags and bottles are not OK any more, after all, they are all made of the same stuff – petroleum.

“As a by-product of the oil industry, polyester, like plastic, has been around since 1941. And it contributes to 60% of global clothing manufactured. The accessibility of the raw material makes it perfect for producing Christmas jumpers and occasional wear, at the right price, at a time when, like our waistlines, our budget is really squeezed.

“So, what’s not to like about a versatile fibre, that makes fun festive clothing accessible? For a start, they are responsible for 10% of global carbon emissions that contribute to air pollution and climate change, impacting some of the poorest countries, who are the main clothing manufacturers.

“Then there is the disposability factor. It is estimated that three out five garments are binned every year.

“As our life cycle takes us from babies to adults, our clothing needs change, and sometimes rapidly, meaning some items are only worn a few times before we grow out of them. According to charity Waste & Resources Action Programme, 30% of the average family wardrobe is never worn. This is not only a waste of resources, but as clothing is generally unlikely to increase in value, we also have a depreciating collection of clothes enticing moths and taking up space in our homes.

“We’ve all had a tough year, and deserve a bit of sparkle to see out the old and bring in the new. But it simply can’t come at the expense of the planet.

“So it’s great to see a high street giant like M&S want to help us and the planet this festive season by providing a clothing rental service. At the end of your Christmas party season, your outfit can be returned to M&S, freshly laundered, using chemicalfree processes, ready for someone else to experience the fun of renting instead of the burden of owning, storing, and disposing of clothes.

“We all have the power to say no to waste and to be a shining example this Christmas.”