// John Lewis Partnership launches 6-week trial with 20,000 “my John Lewis” members
// The trial will aim to encourage customers to return used clothes in exchange for payment per item
// It was launched at the Oxford branch on Friday
John Lewis Partnership has launched a “BuyBack” scheme with 20,000 customers to help combat clothing waste.
The parent company of John Lewis and Waitrose launched the six-week trial on Friday at its John Lewis store in Oxford, which will aim to encourage customers to return used clothes in exchange for payment per item.
The BuyBack scheme will accept all used womenswear and menswear brands stocked at John Lewis from the 20,000 local “my John Lewis” members invited to take part.
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In return, the customers will receive £3 per item, and up to a maximum of three pieces of clothing, which can then be spent in John Lewis or Waitrose.
“Our approach has always been to make high quality garments which last, but inevitably there comes a time when they are no longer worn,” John Lewis Partnership head of sustainability Stephen Cawley said.
“Our customers are becoming increasingly aware of their actions on the environment, so we want to make it easy for them to ensure the products they buy from us have a long life after they no longer have use for them.”
John Lewis Partnership head of branch Julie Blake said: “We know from the success of the ‘Waitrose Unpacked’ trial in Oxford that there is a lot of local support for sustainability initiatives.”
“We’re looking forward to running this trial and rewarding loyal customers for ensuring pre-loved clothes can be enjoyed and appreciated once more.”
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2 Comments. Leave new
What are they going to do with the “bought back” items? These items would usually end in a charity shop raising vital funds so what’s happening now?
Wow – that’s your reply to a company trying to do something about it. I imagine most clothes don’t end up at charity shops. They sit in boxes in attics or being binned.
How about – why aren’t other retailers encouraging sustainability as a forethought.
Well done John Lewis