How shopping with Les Bourgs helps the environment

Friday 18 October 2024

As part of Recycling Week, Les Bourgs charity shop has emphasised the work keeping clothing from landfill and bric-a-brac away from the bin.

According to the United Nations, the fashion industry contributes 10% of all global emissions, which is more than international flights and maritime shipping combined, and that’s not taking into account of other environmental factors when it comes to new clothing.

Pictured: Les Bourgs does not receive direct funding from the States, so to offer hospice care they are reliant on private donations and sales from its charity shop. 

Water usage is a huge concern when it comes to fashion and it’s impact on the world. Estimates from Florida University suggests the industry is the second most water-intensive in the world, consuming around 79 billion cubic metres of water per year. To put it in perspective, the amount needed to make one cotton shirt is enough drinking water for one person for 900 days. 

With these stats in mind, it is no wonder more young islanders are shopping with Les Bourgs, according to Danielle Bullock, the charity shop's manager. 

“There's so many different clientele that come in. We're finding that we're getting a lot more of younger people coming in and obviously that's what they're all about, sustainability and reuse, recycle." 

Pictured: Les Bourgs Hospice children's shop. 

The process is full on for Les Bourgs, with a team of 160 Volunteers working through donations to get them from drop off to shelf ready, but sometimes, the items have been pre-loved a little too much for another owner. It does not mean they end up in landfill, or rotting away, instead they get reused and repurposed. 

Catherine Boughay is the marketing manager. She says even clothes that do not make the grade get a new lease of life. 

“They're not completely useless. So obviously we're looking at all of the textiles that come in and where possible we try to find other avenues to make use of that clothing, or it does go across to the UK to a large recycle centre and they will reuse that clothing, that material, make it into new clothing for customers."

"We feel really sad to think of how many of the items would end up in landfill otherwise, and ultimately that's kind of what our shop is. It's all about pre-loved and sustainability and we love seeing our customers coming in and giving a lease of new life to the items."

Pictured: Catherine Boughay (l) and Danielle Bullock, outside Les Bourgs Hospice Charity Shop. 

They also receive generous donations from retailers locally, with clothes often destined for the bin, now donated instead. New Look and SandpiperCI have both partnered with Les Bourgs, which helps provide even more money to carry on providing hospice care in Guernsey. 38% of the charity's funding comes directly from the shop and their hard working volunteers. 

Rob Jones is the CEO of Les Bourgs: "Every donation and purchase from our charity shops helps reduce waste while also raising essential funds to provide compassionate care to our patients and their families. It’ sa simple way for the local community to make a meaningful difference—both for the environment and for the lives of individuals and families facing life-limiting illnesses.

"We encourage everyone to get involved, whether by donating, shopping, or simply spreading the word.” 

You can find out more about Les Bourgs charity shop, and the hospice work they support on their website.