It’s great that i met your expert, Kealan, who is the manager at the British Heart Foundation. He has been working there for 3 years and has over 10 years of experience in the charity shop.
Since we were communicating at their warehouse, where photography is not allowed. Kealan gave me his email address so that i can continue to stay in touch and maintain contact with him.
I shared the results of my first intervention street interviews in London and questionnaire survey in Shanghai. I wanna explore why millennials gen-z in London prefer donating to charity shops. Also, Does the charity have a definition of “quality donations” is for recycling, and What is the process for disposing of clothing after receiving it from a charity?
Summary Feedback from Kealan:
Question1
Based on my experience, it’s not only millennials gen-z but also older generations in the UK who share the enthusiasm for donating and purchasing from charity shops. When I first entered this industry, I developed a strong affinity for secondhand clothing. I believe that scoundhand shopping is a fun and creative way to curate one’s wardrobe while staying within a budget. Millennials and Gen Z individuals often exhibit a heightened sense of social and environmental awareness. Donating to charity shops aligns with their values of reducing waste, reusing items, and supporting charitable causes. It’s considered a sustainable way to extend the lifespan of clothing and reduce textile waste.
Question2
Generally, quality donations for recycling might refer to items that are in good condition and can be efficiently processed and repurposed for their intended use. For example, in the case of clothing donations, “quality donations” could mean clothing items that are clean, undamaged, and suitable for reuse. We also accept all types of clothing for recycling. There will just be different places to go.
Question3
Once textiles arrive at recycling facilities, they are sorted based on their material type. For example, cottons would be separated from wools and nylons. Once the clothes have been sorted, they are cleaned and processed into reusable fibres. The clothes are then typically shredded to make the fibres easier to spin into new yarns or fabrics. The recycled fibres can be used to create a variety of products depending on the quality of the fibres. Some may indeed be made into new garments. Others may go to rag recycling where they are used to make things like carpet underlay and dust cloths. Textiles that aren’t suitable for recycling will usually end up in landfill sites, exported overseas for reuse in poorer nations, or incinerated to create energy.
what i learned：
In summary, following today’s conversation, I’ve come to understand that Millennials and Gen Z in London prefer donating due to their heightened social and environmental awareness. The widespread promotion of secondhand culture has made it an engaging and meaningful way to curate their wardrobes. I can incorporate these insights into my future interventions with the aim of having a more impactful influence. At the same time, I have also gained an understanding of the definition and operational processes of charitable organizations in the UK, which is highly relevant to my research.
Part of Recording：