How can organisations make sustainability “real” for their own staff? It’s fine having sustainability and ESG policies, reports on the website and lofty declarations of intent, but none of that means much to staff in their day-to-day work. But here’s an idea that could help educate staff about emissions, waste, recycling and the circular economy.
LOANHOOD is a UK based business that encourages more efficient use of clothing, mainly through its app which enables the owners of apparel to rent it out to others (an Airbnb model, if you like, but for clothing). The core users are relatively young people and one interesting angle is how it is enabling young fashion designers to find an outlet for the amazing clothes they produce for their degree shows at top art and fashion schools and colleges.
It also encourages fashionistas to look at renting rather than buying new clothes. Given the clothing industry is responsible for some 10% of all global carbon emissions, and discarded clothing (“fast fashion”) is a major waste disposal problem, this is a small contribution at least to the sustainability challenge. Indeed, that’s why I became a (very) small shareholder in LOANHOOD.
But as well as the app, the LOANHOOD team has another idea, and I discussed it recently with two of the three founders, Jen Charon and Lucy Hall. LOANHOOD was participating with several other sustainable fashion businesses in a retail pop-up in London*, run by preloved designer clothes retailer, The Cirkel.
Lucy explained the concept. “We are popping up in workplaces and hosting clothes swap shops that make it accessible for people to partake in the circular economy. So for instance, employees can bring in their preloved items that have just been hanging in their wardrobe to swap for new-to-you pieces”
It’s a simple idea, but one that is proving popular and has had a good reception.
“We can combine the fun side of it with panel discussions, workshops or documentary films to educate staff at the same time. It can help people understand the issues around “fast fashion” and the effect it has on the environment, and the opportunities for circularity – but we do that in an enjoyable way and without simply lecturing people”.
As we come to terms with the new world of hybrid working, there is another benefit of these events.
“We’ve had organisations tell us a clothes swap day is a motivator for getting people back into a physical workplace! It can be a team-building opportunity and it’s a lot more staff-friendly than just saying “you must flog into the office every Thursday – or you’ll be in trouble!”
So this might give individuals some motivation for getting off Teams, out of their pyjamas and out of their house for a while. It is also an opportunity for organisations to “walk the talk” in terms of their employer brand. And if you are a B2B supplier – or indeed a supplier to government – it might be an interesting initiative to talk about in your next bid or proposal where sustainability or social value is a scored evaluation factor in the process.
Does this all relate to “procurement with purpose”? Not directly, but more and more organisations are putting sustainability alongside or even within the procurement function, and indeed, many a CPO is also CSO (chief sustainability officer) these days. So this is a neat idea that procurement could promote internally, perhaps alongside some communication of what procurement is doing more widely on the sustainability and purpose front.
So do have a think about whether this might be interesting – and of course, if you want to make some money from your amazing wardrobe, or indeed want to hire some amazing clothes, then download the LOANHOOD app here or here. And keep a look out for a high-fashion Sunderland football shirt (circa 1995) at a very reasonable daily rental charge…
(Please note - I’m a small shareholder in LOANHOOD - Peter Smith)