If you’re trying to live more sustainably, you’ve probably wondered whether it’s possible to recycle your underwear.
The short answer? Yes, you can recycle your underwear. However, there are processes to follow and things you should know.
Let’s start with the most common underwear recycling question of all.
Can you put underwear in the recycling bin?
No, you can’t throw your old briefs, bras, or boxers into the household recycling bin and hope for the best. The good news is there are dedicated recycling points that will accept underwear.
Can you put underwear in textile recycling?
Yes, you can. Following on from our last point, several UK recycling points that collect textiles allow you to put your old underwear in their textile sorting bins.
You can find your nearest participating recycling point by using Recycle More’s locator tool.
How to recycle underwear in the UK: top tips
Not many people know there’s more than one way to recycle or reuse your underwear in the UK.
Recycle your underwear with leading fashion retailers
As more clothing brands embrace sustainable practices, an increasing number of underwear recycling options are now available for eco-conscious consumers looking to recycle their underwear.
Leading fashion retailers, including M&S, Zara, and H&M provide underwear drop-off boxes at most stores and offer incentives in return. The garments you drop off don’t need to be from those specific brands either.
Zara also has an online underwear donation service through its website’s preowned section.
Donate to a dedicated underwear recycling charity
If you don’t want to recycle underwear and socks with one of the big fashion retailers, you can donate your used items to charity instead.
Many UK-dedicated charities are waiting to receive your used underwear, providing it’s in clean and wearable condition.
Here are some of the best.
Against Breast Cancer
If you’re wondering how to recycle a bra, look no further. The women’s health charity Against Breast Cancer has a network of UK collection points where you can drop off unwanted bras.
For every tonne of bras collected, the charity receives £700 in funding towards its vital breast cancer research.
Swedish Stockings
Respected hosiery retailer Swedish Stockings has its very own charitable donation initiative called the Recycling Club.
You can send three or more pairs of your used stockings to the retailer’s head office, and they’ll be used to create stunning bespoke tables in collaboration with renowned architect-turned-designer Gustaf Westman.
Recycle Now
Sustainability charity Recycle Now is on a mission to reduce the amount of used clothing that ends up in landfills.
You can achieve your underwear recycling goals by checking for your local textile collection point. It’s also possible to donate your preloved delicates to participating affiliate charities (like the British Heart Foundation) with Recycle Now’s free collection service.
Upcycle your underwear
Another savvy way to get more mileage from your used underwear is by trying your hand at upcycling.
Here are a few ideas for your inspiration:
- Make your old elastic underpants into scrunchies
- Weave your pre-loved underwear together to make a patchwork quilt
- Create a used underwear rug for your home
- Transform your old boxer shorts into produce bags
- Use your old underwear as replacement stuffing to breathe new life into your children’s soft toys
Bonus tip: You can create a capsule wardrobe to get more use out of your existing clothing combinations and be more sustainable with your fashion choices.
The bottom line…
We hope this quick underwear recycling guide helps you make more eco-friendly choices when it’s time to say goodbye to your well-worn essentials.
As you can see, there’s no shortage of underwear recycling options in the UK. So, gather up your old delicates, choose an underwear recycling option that best suits you, and play your part in preserving the planet — one donation at a time.
For more insider advice on making sustainable choices, explore our ever-growing library of recycling guides.