News

UK outdoors and camping specialist Alpkit has released the results of a recent survey, which has revealed some strong trends in terms of how much outdoor consumers consider sustainability issues when purchasing. 

The survey* showed that 87 per cent outdoors enthusiasts consider the sustainability of products or companies before making a purchase.  In fact, sustainability ranks higher than price and is second only to the quality of materials and construction when it comes to buying outdoors kit.

Furthermore, 90 per cent of respondents were either very concerned or extremely concerned about the environmental impacts of the clothing industry, with 88 per cent saying the industry needs to act now to limit harmful greenhouse gas emissions. When asked about outdoor clothing and equipment recycling, the majority of people (63 per cent) said they donate their unwanted items to charity. Passing it onto friends, selling online and donating to a textile bank were also popular options (40 per cent, 31 per cent and 26 per cent respectively). Far fewer people (14 per cent) said they had used a retail take-back scheme, with 66 per cent admitting they either didn’t know these existed or what they were.

Alpkit CEO, David Hanney, said: “It’s really encouraging to see that our customers have put sustainability at the heart of their purchasing decisions when it comes to buying outdoors gear. Alpkit’s love of the outdoors and the world’s wild places guides the way we do business. It’s in our nature to look after what’s important, whether that’s the environment, animals, suppliers, staff, community or our customers.

“With the British public set to dispose of millions of clothing items as the UK comes out of its second lockdown, it’s more important than ever for retailers and organisations from across the fashion and textiles sectors to help people do this in a responsible way. We’re working hard to help create a circular retail economy, namely through our Continuum Project, and to combat the harmful environmental and social impacts of the clothing industry.”

Alpkit launched its take-back scheme, the Continuum Project, in 2017 and through this scheme the company has so far found 3 tonnes of unwanted outdoor gear a new home. Consumers can send any brand of used outdoor clothing and equipment (provided it’s in good, clean and functional condition) by dropping it off in store or using their returns process. The items are then either donated directly to those who need it most through one of their charity partners or to upcycling projects. The rest gets recycled. Absolutely nothing ends up in landfill.

* Survey conducted among Alpkit UK customers in April 2021, with 2,604 responses received.