IKEA UK & Ireland has launched a new textile take-back scheme at its Cardiff store, encouraging customers to recycle unwanted textiles and help the local community.
As the first IKEA textile take-back initiative in the UK, the scheme will give customers in Cardiff the opportunity to bring in any unwanted textiles purchased from any store – from clothing to soft furnishings – to be reused, repaired or recycled. There will also be workshops in store showing customers how they can breathe new life into old textiles, or turn them into something new.
According to the company release, the pilot, supported by sustainability not-for-profit WRAP, will see IKEA Cardiff donate all textile products received from customers to the YMCA in Roath, Cardiff. The scheme will provide a range of textiles for people in the local community, including the homeless and low-income families.
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Recent research by WRAP reveals that textiles are one of the least recycled commodities in the waste sector. Each year, WRAP estimates that the UK consumes 1.7 million tonnes of textiles, with almost a third (620,000 tonnes) ending up in landfill or incineration.
Commenting on the move, Matthew Fessey, Store Manager at IKEA Cardiff said “With our vision to create a better everyday life for the many people, the textile take-back scheme in Cardiff will help our customers to live more sustainably while supporting people in need who are living in the local community.”
Bharat Tex Special Report 2026 
