The collection and reuse of second-hand clothing has been a highly successful activity since the 60's at associations wanting to contribute to a good cause.
Collection and sorting with a view to reuse means a service to the community, and this in various ways:
1. With the collection of textiles these products are reused instead of ending up on the waste mountain.
2. The recovery, sorting and reuse of textiles offers a valuable job to some unqualified workers and persons without any prospect of employment, this within the context of solidarity for the economy.
3. The profits from this activity benefit social, humanitarian and other charitable objectives.
4. With reuse the textiles can be offered at low prices to people with low purchasing power, both in our own country and abroad.
Associations with social and/or humanitarian aims who undertake to voluntarily respect a number of ethical and technical rules can, after monitoring by the independent organisation Ethibel (Ethical Investment), obtain the Solid'R label.
In so doing they demonstrate transparency and reliability relating to the collection and reuse of textiles.
In Flanders the following organisations have the Solid'R label:
Oxfam vzw
Spullenhulp vzw
Salvatoriaanse Ontwikkelingshulp vzw
CONDITIONS FOR OBTAINING THE SOLID'R LABEL:
1. Respect for the ethics of the social economy
2. Respect for the transparency and ethical nature of the resources used.
