Ibis Care has launched its latest sustainability project in the form of a Fashion Recycling Room at their Blakehurst Home – an initiative designed to breathe new life into pre-loved fashion while building on the provider’s commitment to community.
The initiative encourages staff to share, swap, and reuse quality fashion items at no cost. The opening of the Fashion Recycling Room was marked by a lively launch party attended by staff from across Ibis Care’s five Homes, where new looks and accessories replaced scrubs and office attire in the name of team spirit and sustainability.
Despite being just 3 weeks old the Fashion Recycling Room is having a far-reaching impact, with staff members already having sent parcels to orphanages and families in countries including the Philippines, Thailand, Laos, Nepal, Vietnam, and India.
For Ibis Care CEO, La Stacey Baramy, the initiative is one that creatively solves sustainability issues related to waste, but also builds on the provider’s commitment to its internal culture and people.
“This isn’t just about fashion, it’s about creating a culture of care and sustainability within our workplace,” said Ms Baramy.
“Some things never go out of fashion, and at Ibis Care, those things aren’t just confined to clothing – they include our commitment to sustainability, our people and culture, and by extension, those we care for.
“Seeing our team come together to have some fun, and develop a few new looks in the process is something that we can all be proud of as a team and a community. It speaks to who we are and the values that we aspire to as a provider of quality care.”
The initiative builds on Ibis Care’s broader sustainability strategy, which includes recent solar power upgrades across the provider’s sites – an initiative which is helping to reduce Ibis Care’s carbon footprint on their way to net-zero.
“Sustainability isn’t a one-off thing for us – it’s a full-time commitment and a mindset that we’re in the process of fully embracing across all parts of our operation,” added Ms Baramy.
“We’ve actively looked at areas where we can improve in the area of sustainability including by consulting experts in their respective fields. On face-value, you wouldn’t think that fashion would be an area that could play any kind of role in our sustainability efforts, but every little bit adds up and helps.”
Ibis Care’s Fashion Recycling Room is set to remain a permanent fixture, open regularly for staff to contribute and collect items, and as staff continue to embrace the concept, there is hope that it will serve as a model for other organisations to follow suit.
“We all have a role to play in contributing positively to our environment,” said Ms Baramy.
“This is the kind of simple initiative that can work at so many different organisations and workplaces. That’s a trend that won’t ever go out of fashion and that we can get fully behind.”
