UKSI and Kukri work together on successful clothing recycling project
The UK Sports Institute (UKSI) and Kukri are delighted to share the results of a successful recycling project that took place between the two organisations.
Formerly known as the English Institute of Sport (EIS), the UK Sports Institute unveiled its new name in April 2023 in a strategic move to better represent the organisation’s role in the UK high-performance system.
As part of this change, the UKSI worked with Kukri – its Official Kit Supplier – to ensure 20 years’ worth of EIS kit was recycled sustainably instead of being turned into waste.
The challenge of this was enhanced by the UKSI having over 400 staff members spread across multiple centres around the country. However, the collaboration and accountability everyone showed towards this project resulted in an impactful outcome.
– The UKSI recycled 1,274 kilograms (kg) of kit, which saved 585kg of carbon emissions – this is the equivalent of driving 1,379 miles in a standard petrol car or charging 65,444 smart phones.
– The recycled clothing was shredded, which means the fibres can be repurposed into recycled yarn to use in future garments in most cases.
– Anything not turned into yarn can be made into alternative materials and used for sound boards and insulation, as an example.
– Anything that cannot be recycled is converted into pellets for refuse derived fuel.
Tara Davis, Sustainability Lead at the UKSI, reflected: “Clothing waste is a huge problem globally, so we were delighted and amazed at the impact this recycling project had.
“I feel incredibly proud and want to thank our staff members for the effort and commitment they showed to engage with the project from start to finish.
“The UKSI recognises that sustainability is a necessity, with climate change having a huge impact on our sporting landscapes, so we need to do all we can to positively impact change.
“We are finalising our sustainability strategy to help us moving forward, with the aim of becoming net zero in line with the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework.”
Josh Beal, Kukri Sales Director GB & Europe, added: “We are happy with the outcome of this project and the direct impact it has had on the environment.
“The collaborative approach between the UKSI and Kukri was fantastic, with all parties making a huge effort to ensure sustainable practices were applied throughout the project.
“We [Kukri] are striving to ensure all of our business decisions have sustainable processes and practices in mind as we continue to reduce our impact on the environment.”
The countdown is on to the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games that take place later this year in Paris. The UK Sports Institute will be supporting sports and athletes in the build up to the Games, as well as having a large number of practitioners on the ground in Paris.