Let’s Shwop!
Every time you place pre-loved clothes in one of our Shwop boxes they’re resold, reused or recycled, so absolutely nothing goes to waste.
And now, if you’re a Sparks customer, you’ll get a free treat every time you Shwop. Simply scan the QR code on the top of the Shwop box in any M&S clothing store and the treat will appear in your Sparks hub.
Incredibly, since 2008 the M&S and Oxfam Shwopping partnership has collected over 35 million items, contributing an estimated £23 million to Oxfam’s vital work across the world. Clear out with a clear conscience
How it works
Donating your pre-loved school uniform via our Back To School Shwopping Scheme helps others in more ways than one. Items go to Oxfam, which sells your pre-loved school uniform to raise vital funds to help fight for an equal future without poverty. Oxfam will also be working with eBay to launch a dedicated pre-loved schoolwear eBay shop to make finding affordable, good-quality uniform easy, no matter where you live. This allows families to buy our superior-quality school uniform at greatly reduced prices, while giving clothes a useful second life.
The money raised then goes to support communities around the world to tackle poverty and inequality – and if Oxfam can’t sell an item, they recycle or reuse the material wherever possible.
How to donate
Simply pop your pre-loved M&S school uniform into the Shwop box in the M&S kidswear department in selected stores – and we’ll do the rest.
How to claim your discount
Once you’ve donated, look for the QR code on the in-store Shwop box, scan it and we’ll send a 20% discount on kids’ daywear right to your app. You can then shop with us via our app, online (don’t forget to log in) or scan your Sparks card in store and the discount will automatically be applied to valid items*.
*Offer not valid on discounted items, babywear, accessories, footwear, nightwear, underwear, school uniform and hosiery. Not valid in outlets. You can only take advantage of this offer once per month.
FAQS
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Shwopping is about bringing a pre-loved item of clothing into an M&S store (even if it’s not from M&S) each time you come to buy something new. You can put your pre-loved items into a ‘Shwop’ box (you’ll find these by the tills in most M&S stores).
All clothing goes to our partners Oxfam and they'll either resell it in one of their shops or on the Oxfam Online Shop, sell it to be reused in different countries around the world, or recycle the fibres to make new material (which can be used by businesses like M&S, for example, as mattress filling). Absolutely nothing goes to landfill and Oxfam will use the money to fund vital projects around the world.
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You can Shwop at most M&S clothing stores, including M&S Outlets, and at Oxfam stores www.oxfam.org.uk/shopfinder
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You can Shwop any item of pre-loved clothing from any retailer, including shoes, handbags, jewellery, belts, hats, scarves and bras. You can also Shwop soft furnishings (bed linen, towels, cushions, curtains, throws, aprons, tablecloths and napkins). Remember, even if it can’t be sold on, the fibres may be perfect for recycling. You can choose to Shwop a single item or multiple items.
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All items Shwopped at M&S are given to Oxfam. Oxfam then:
- Resell them in their shops or online
- Reuse them in different countries around the world
- Recycle them into new fabrics with absolutely nothing going to landfill
Not a single stitch is wasted – every penny raised helps vital projects around the world as well doing something great for the planet
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Approximately 336,000 tonnes of clothing – worth around £140 million – is sent to landfill each year. Neither the planet’s landfill sites, nor its resources, are infinite and we know that placing unwanted clothing items into the bin (and therefore into landfill) when they could be recycled or reused is not sustainable.
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No, you can just bring your items in and drop them into the Shwop box.
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We know that approximately 336,000 tonnes of clothing still goes to landfill every year, so we want to do even more to encourage and help our colleagues and customers to recycle pre-loved clothing rather than throwing them away.
Working in partnership with Oxfam, we know that Shwopping helps increase the volume of pre-loved items that are recycled and reduce the volume thrown away. We want you to join us on our quest to turn the tide on waste and accelerate the journey towards making our fashion business truly sustainable.
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We want to inspire as many of our customers as possible to start Shwopping as your participation helps give pre-loved clothes a second life, clearing your wardrobe while reducing the amount of items thrown into IE landfill.
That’s why, as a thank you for Shwopping, we’re giving our Sparks customers a free treat every time they Shwop. Simply scan the QR code on the Shwop box when you bring your pre-loved clothes into store and receive a free treat in your Sparks hub (T&Cs apply). Not a Sparks customer? Join here: www.marksandspencer.com/joinsparks
Together, we have the power to be part of the solution and we hope that you will join us in being part of a clothes-recycling revolution, making Shwopping the norm.
You can also Shwop at Oxfam stores – if you have an item of M&S clothing in your Shwopping, Oxfam will give you a £5 M&S clothing and home spend and save voucher to spend in store.
