Time for Action, the compelling case for in-kind giving
£1.37 billion of UK surplus product wasted each year
In Kind Direct appeals to businesses to give their surplus stock to UK charities
Results of a study of UK businesses released today reveal that £1.37 billion of surplus and obsolete consumer goods are currently going to waste every year when a proportion could be donated to needy causes.
HRH The Prince of Wales’ charity In Kind Direct commissioned the report to show the vast potential for the growth of ‘in-kind giving’. The report identified that the consumer goods sector produces enough surplus and off-spec products to fill the equivalent of 80 Olympic sized swimming pools annually. Instead of being redistributed to those in need, much ends up in landfill and external recycling.
In its 10th anniversary year, In Kind Direct is urging British businesses to relieve the burden on the environment and work with the charity to redistribute unwanted stock. With a potential for growth of up to £80 million of in-kind giving each year, the charity has identified the products UK based charities need most such as; household cleaning products, basic toiletries, toilet paper, office supplies, cookware, tools, toys, linen and clothing.
Charity CEO, Robin Boles explains, “Every day in the UK, charities struggle to raise sufficient funds to purchase essential items. At the same time, manufacturers and retailers will send these very same items to landfill, denying charities the chance to use these goods and make a real difference to people in need. We save businesses time and money by redistributing the surplus and obsolete stock, which can tie up valuable warehouse space and management time, as we have the infrastructure in place to quickly accept donations and track everything through to the thousands of charities that benefit.”
Charity supporter and Editor of the Ecologist magazine, Zac Goldsmith, agrees, “It’s clear that we need to find sustainable alternatives to landfill, preferably one that eliminates waste altogether. In Kind Direct has a formula that works.”
For more information on In Kind Direct and how your business can get involved in in-kind giving visit www.inkinddirect.org or call 020 7714 3971.
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Notes to editors:
• In Kind Direct is a charity which distributes new goods donated by some of Britain’s best-known manufacturers and retailers to hundreds of voluntary organisations working at home and abroad. Founded in 1996, it is one of ‘The Prince’s Charities’, a group of not-for-profit organisations of which The Prince of Wales is President. 16 of the 18 charities were founded personally by His Royal Highness.
• The research entitled ‘A Strategic Assessment of the In Kind Giving Market in the UK’ was conducted by think tank FreshMinds on behalf of In Kind Direct.
• Since 1997 In Kind Direct has distributed £60 million worth of products from 700 companies to 4,000 UK charities working at home and abroad. It is estimated that this has saved more than 120,000 cubic metres of landfill space.
• Interviews are available with In Kind Direct spokesperson, CEO, Robin Boles.
• Charity and business case studies are available on request.
For Further information please contact:
Melissa Brown (melissab@consol.co.uk) 07947 867 390 or
Lucy Newson (lucyn@consol.co.uk) at
Consolidated on 020 7287 2087
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