More than half of Scots regret a clothes purchase says Oxfam as charity highlights 'human cost' of waste

A survey commissioned by Oxfam Scotland found 51 per cent of Scots had second thoughts about at least one sartorial purchase

More than half of Scots regret at least one clothing purchase from the last year, a survey has found, with a charity saying every item of unworn clothing has “a climate and human cost we can’t afford”.

The survey, which was commissioned by Oxfam Scotland, found 51 per cent of Scots had second thoughts about at least one sartorial purchase, while almost half (47 per cent) said they have worn an item of clothing just once.

The polling also found about a third (34 per cent) of Scottish wardrobes went unworn last year.

The survey found Scots own an average of 86 separate items of clothing and buy an estimated 21 items of clothing on average each year.

Oxfam said that with a pair of jeans taking thousands of litres of water to produce, and Scotland’s consumption emissions having risen for the second year in a row, the findings highlight the need to end the “cycle” of new clothes purchases in favour of more sustainable alternatives.

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The findings were released as Oxfam marks the beginning of Second Hand September – its annual campaign encouraging people to buy second-hand, keep clothes in use longer and reduce waste.

Katherine May, head of Oxfam Scotland, said: ”With drought warnings making headlines and rivers across Scotland recently running low, these figures should make us stop and think about the hidden cost of our clothes that doesn’t show up on the receipt.

“Every unworn item of clothing has a climate and human cost we can’t afford.

“Buying second-hand, renting, re-wearing and mending is better for our pocket and our planet.

“Second Hand September is all about breaking that cycle and reminding us that the most sustainable clothes are often the ones already hanging in our wardrobes or waiting to be discovered in a charity shop.”

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The charity said despite the scale of waste, the polling suggests many Scots are already trying to change their shopping habits.

Some 61 per cent said they have deliberately tried to buy less new clothing in the past year while 72 per cent said they donate unwanted clothes to charity shops.

However, the survey also found many Scots – particularly those in younger age groups – continue to “struggle” against the pull of fast fashion, with shopping habits increasingly shaped by online influences.

Some 43 per cent of 18 to 24-year-olds said algorithms influence the clothes they buy, compared with 25 per cent of Scots overall.

Meanwhile, 72 per cent of Generation Z respondents said they had bought clothing because it appeared in an app or recommendation, compared with 38 per cent of Scots overall.

Eunice Olumide | Eunice Olumide

Scottish supermodel and activist Eunice Olumide also lent her voice to calls for a move to more sustainable clothes-buying.

“There’s real joy in stepping away from over-consumption and learning to reuse and appreciate the clothes we already have,” she said.

“It’s not just good for the planet - it’s the most original thing you can do. And nothing kills a high street faster than every shop selling the same thing.

“Second-hand is the one place that never will.”

Becky Kenton-Lake, circular economy policy officer at Circular Communities Scotland, said: “At a time when fast fashion encourages us to treat clothing as disposable, it’s more important than ever to make choosing second-hand and repairing clothes as easy and accessible as buying new.”