Frequently Asked questions

Why is a charity like Salvation Army trading second hand products?

Firstly, we believe reducing waste and prolonging the live of goods is a good form of stewardship.
Secondly, we believe that providing second hand products for affordable prices to vulnerable people, creates a form of dignity and ownership.
Thirdly, we believe that trading second hand products is an opportunity to create social employment (e.g. back to work programs).
Fourth, we believe it is important that Salvation Army is not completely dependent on donations and subsidies, but also (partly) self sustaining.

What is Salvation Army doing with donated products?

All organisations in the Network are working according to the waste hierarchy. As a result, we aim to reuse as much as possible. For the not rewearable donated clothing we receive, we aim to recycle as much as possible. The Network’s Zero-waste working group is actively focussing on that issue.
All organisations in the Network prefer to repurpose and recycle items locally. As a result, we have our retail shops in UK, NL, NOR, DEN, CH, and CZ. However, the supply of used textiles is higher than the demand in our countries (+/- 50% of turnover). Therefore, we are selling the remaining rewearable donated clothing via export (+/- 50% of turnover). In export/wholesale, the Network aims in selling as much as possible to sorters with shops, which relates to the localised repurposing strategy. All export/wholesale customers have to comply with the Network’s Code of Conduct for Customers buying used goods. The objective of this Code of Conduct is that the downstream handling of our goods is in line with our overall mission of sustainability.
Non textile waste streams are sorted and recycled as much as possible. The remaining fraction is burned for energy. The Network is aiming to bring reduce disposal to an absolute minimum.

How is ENoR promoting sustainability and circularity?

ENoR is not only promoting sustainability and circularity by being active in reuse and recycling, but is also focussing on sustainability of internal processes (e.g. energy, fuel, efficiency), participating in innovative projects that promote sustainability and circularity (e.g. Textiles 2030, ECAP, Fibersort and others), and working with a Code of Conduct for Customers buying used goods to promote that the downstream handling of goods is in line with our overall mission of sustainability. The wholesale working group and the zero-waste working group are focussing on those issues. We are currently developing a joint strategy on those topics, including measuring our impact and setting targets.

I want to partner with Salvation Army / ENoR, where to start?

We are open for partnering with companies, research institutes, foundations, etc. Please contact us via the form on the contactpage.