Delivering for people and planet, the PostBack scheme was recently awarded Government funding to expand even further in its second year.

Oxfam Ireland’s PostBack initiative, delivered in partnership with An Post, has seen 44,000 free donation bags ordered by households across Ireland in its first 12 months. One year on from its launch, PostBack has made donating clothes simpler, more accessible and more responsible than ever before.

PostBack was launched to remove barriers to donating pre-loved clothing and goods, allowing people to order a free bag online, fill it at home and either have it collected directly from their doorstep or drop it to their local post office or have it collected directly from their doorstep – all at no cost. The response over the past year shows the overhelming appetite among people across Ireland to take practical action for the climate while supporting global efforts to tackle poverty and inequality.

The initiative has helped keep tens of thousands of kilos of reusable clothing in circulation, diverting them from landfill and extending their life through resale and reuse. Ireland sends an estimated 63,000 tonnes of textiles to landfill every year, and PostBack has proven that simple, convenient solutions can play a meaningful role in addressing textile waste while contributing to the circular economy.

Jim Clarken, Chief Executive of Oxfam Ireland, said:

“PostBack was designed to make it as easy as possible for people to pursue the best way of parting ways with their unwanted clothes, and the response over the past year has been hugely encouraging. Every bag ordered represents someone choosing reuse over waste, and opting to give someone else a chance at extending the life of clothes.”

Donations collected through PostBack support Oxfam Ireland’s network of shops, generating vital funds for humanitarian responses and long-term development work, including food security, gender empowerment and climate justice programmes. At the same time, the initiative supports people in Ireland to take part in everyday climate action by reducing textile waste and keeping resources in use for longer.

The success of PostBack is also a strong example of collaboration in action. Working with An Post has allowed Oxfam Ireland to reach people in every county, including those who may not live near a shop or donation point, ensuring the scheme works for both urban and rural communities. Accessibility is at the core of the idea.

Mark Sweeney, Supply Chain and Business Development Manager Donated Goods Strategy Manager at Oxfam Ireland, said:

“PostBack shows what’s possible when community-led organisations work together to make sustainable choices easier for everyone. By bringing donations straight from people’s homes into the circular economy, PostBack delivers both environmental and social impact in a very real way. Doanting what you no longer use is the first step to the circular economy, now PostBack makes the easy to do, the nest step is visiting our shops to see all the amazing items donated through PostBack. We can’t wait to see what the future second year brings.”

Building on its first year of success, Oxfam Ireland has also recently received Government support through the Circular Economy Innovation Grant Scheme from Community Foundation Ireland, to expand and strengthen the initiative even further, enabling PostBack to reach more households and capture more reusable goods nationwide.

PostBack has also been recognised for it’s inoovation at the Drapers Fashion Awards, and is a finalist at for the RDS Circularity Award and the Business and Finance ESG Awards.

As PostBack enters its second year, Oxfam Ireland is encouraging households to continue turning unwanted clothes into positive change: for people and planet.

To order a free PostBack donation bag, visit here.