Brits have turned their backs on fast fashion as they switch to more sustainable shopping methods.
Researchers found that upcycling, buying ‘wonky’ fruit and veg, and even repairing broken pottery – a Japanese art called kintsugi – have increased in popularity over the last year Six in 10 of the wide selection of people polled said shopping sustainably is one of their New Year’s resolutions.
The research was carried out by WUKA, the UK’s first carbon-neutral, reusable and leak-proof period underwear, which has created a line of knickers made from fabric destined for landfill.
WUKA Founder, Ruby Raut:
“Sustainability can seem daunting, but as our research shows, the nation is finding a variety of ways to do their bit to make the world a greener place. We discovered that tons of new fabric, already produced, could be saved from fast fashion or landfill resulting in our Repurpose range.”
The research found that 40 per cent of those polled now refrain from buying clothes from fast fashion sites online and 69 per cent would like to have better access to upcycled clothes. More than nine in 10 (93 per cent) happily buy wonky veg and 39 per cent are upcycling more, with furniture the most common project to tackle, followed by clothes.
Half (49 per cent) are recycling more now than they did five years ago and 70 per cent reckon they’re doing more of it than their parent’s generation. However, nearly a quarter (23 per cent) believe that a government awareness campaign would help them to recycle more.
The study also found 14 per cent have taken up kintsugi, with 70 per cent of those repairs on dinner plates, 67 per cent on mugs and 64 per cent on bowls.
WUKA Founder, Ruby Raut:
“Whether it is buying wonky carrots or turning an old skirt into something fabulous and new, we love how attitudes and behaviours have evolved over the years. For our part, to be able to provide women with a period product that not only works but is also doing it’s bit for the environment is something we pride ourselves on.
WUKA’s new sustainable underwear range is made from ‘overstock’ fabric which would have ended up in landfills or the fast-fashion supply chain.
