SATCoL partners with InPost to offer free postal donation service, enabling UK households to send unwanted textiles directly to processing facilities.
The Salvation Army Trading Company Ltd (SATCoL) has introduced a postal donation service in partnership with InPost to enable UK residents to send unwanted clothing and accessories directly to the charity's processing facilities. The service aims to address the growing problem of textile waste while providing a convenient donation method for households across the country.
The Donate-by-Post service allows donors to book free collections online and send items directly to SATCoL's processing centre using InPost's network of parcel lockers and collection points. The partnership uses InPost's infrastructure of over 11,000 automated parcel lockers across the UK, which operate 24/7 at locations including supermarkets, petrol stations and transport hubs.
Donors can access the service by clicking the Donate By Post icon on SATCoL's homepage and following instructions to arrange collection. Items are accepted in standard parcel sizes up to 41cm x 38cm x 64cm and weighing up to 15kg, matching InPost's locker specifications.
The initiative comes as WRAP research reveals that 49 per cent of used textiles in the UK end up in the residual waste stream, with the average person discarding 35 items of unwanted textiles into general waste annually. SATCoL collected 77,000 tonnes of textiles in 2024-25, diverting material that would otherwise contribute to the 1.45 million tonnes of used textiles generated nationally each year.
The postal service complements SATCoL's existing collection infrastructure of over 8,350 clothing banks and 195 high street shops. The organisation operates a 25,000 square foot processing centre in Kettering that handles approximately 65,000 tonnes of textiles annually.
Campaign promotes reuse message
SATCoL has launched the postal service alongside a fashion photoshoot campaign that transforms donated everyday garments into high-fashion looks. The campaign, styled in the charity's signature red, white and black colours, demonstrates what the organisation terms "the power of reuse and repurpose."
The campaign materials encourage responsible decluttering by highlighting how donated items generate funds for The Salvation Army's community work. In 2024-25, SATCoL raised £5.43 million for The Salvation Army alongside £2.87 million distributed to partner charities and local organisations.
SATCoL's textile operations help prevent an estimated 505,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually through reuse and recycling activities. The organisation has invested in Fibersort technology that automatically identifies fibre composition and sorts non-wearable donations for higher-quality recycling, processing 1.7 million items since installation.
Research indicates that extending garment lifetimes represents one of the most effective methods for reducing the fashion industry's environmental impact. UK textile consumption reached 1.42 million tonnes in 2022, whilst generating approximately 1.45 million tonnes of used textiles in the same period (https://www.wrap.ngo/resources/report/textiles-market-situation-report-2024).
The postal donation service addresses convenience barriers that may prevent textile donation. InPost's 24-hour accessibility allows users to deposit donations at times that suit their schedules, potentially increasing donation rates compared to traditional collection methods with restricted opening hours.
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