PARENTS in Northern Ireland unnecessarily threw away 30,000 school uniforms in 2019 even though they were still in good condition, according to research.
The study found that one in 10 simply throw uniform items away once their children have outgrown them, despite them being in a wearable condition and nearly half of parents would prefer to throw a damaged garment away than attempt to repair it.
New figures from the Waste and Resources Action Programme charity suggest extending the lifespan of a garment by three months produces a 5-10 per cent reduction in carbon, water and waste footprints.
The survey, which was commissioned by label manufacturer My Nametags found that 68 per cent of families in Northern Ireland have unworn new garments.
Eighty per cent of parents `always' buy new school uniforms - despite 54 per cent buying second-hand for themselves.
When asked why they don't shop second-hand for school uniform, more than one third stated that it is `easier' to buy new, one in three said they don't like the thought of their children wearing previously owned clothing and a quarter "wanted their children to always have the latest things".
For whose children wearing pre-owned clothing, the majority preferred hand-me-downs from older siblings.
Despite almost a third of Northern Ireland parents buying uniforms in a bigger size to make them last longer, they are still replaced on average, every school year.
The research suggests parents across Northern Ireland are more likely to donate their old clothes to second-hand shops than purchase second-hand clothing themselves.
Behavioural psychologist Dr Jo Hemmings said parents' attitudes towards second-hand clothing stem from "a fear that people will assume that they can't provide for their child effectively if they can’t dress them in a brand-new school uniform".
"The word `second-hand' has the conotation that somehow parents are not doing the best by their children... In addition to this, parents know that children can be very judgemental of each other in terms of clothing," she said.
Lars Andersen of My Nametags said with households "having to economise it is important for us all to revaluate our attitudes towards the disposal and re-use of clothing".
