Knowing where to donate your clothes in Shanghai isn't always easy to navigate and understanding where they end up, once you've handed them over, is another important aspect that complicates the matter. Whether you're moving house or simply looking to downsize, we've compiled a list of places for you to drop your excess pieces and looked into just where they might be going. So, now you can make an educated decision about your and your family's recycling efforts.
The RE:Form campaign from Green Initiatives is part of a larger project to help individuals and organizations better engage with the issue of textile waste. Coupled with educational classes, lectures and an active presence in the environmental activism community here in Shanghai, this non-profit works to responsibly recycle clothing and other fabric based products. Re-usable pieces in quality condition are then swapped, donated or re-sold, while well-worn products are turned into fabric materials that can be used in other ways, such as cushion stuffing or insulation.
What they accept:
What they don't:
Where you can donate:
For more information, visit: greeninitiatives.cn
Run by Nick Lim, BaoSquared distributes individualized packages of clothing to children in rural China. Working almost exclusively with schools on the receiving end, Lim is able to ensure that the clothes he recieves are getting used and making an impact, instead of being put back into the environment. He has already supplied over 70 children in the province of Qinghai with packages and is working on increasing his reach. When donating clothing for those under the age of 15, separate into a bag and clearly label "Children."
Where you can donate:
For more information, visit: baosquared.cn
Founded in 2003, by Christina Showalter and Isabelle Chapanet, this organization is dedicated in providing minority and economically challenged communities with clothing and other goods, while creating an outlet for the Shanghai community to get involved. Since their conception, they've donated over 15,000 boxes of goods to villages in Yunnan, Anhui, Heilongjiang and Qinghai, impacting more than 13,000 individuals every year. As of 2017, River of Hearts works with REFORM to maximize the use of and recyclability of collected clothing. They are open to donations in good conditions (meaning stainless and not broken).
What they accept:
clothing
shoes
bedding
toys (all pieces included)
small appliances (chinese voltage, electric plugs, all pieces inlcuded)
kitchenware (ie dishes, cutlery)
books (any language)
large items (ie furniture; email them a photo for their consideration)
The organization notes that some items may be resold for fundraising purposes.
Where you can donate:
You can find more information from their website at: communitycenter.cn/riverofhearts
This charity is dedicated to providing corrective surgery for Chinese children with congenital heart defects, whose families are unable to afford the medical procedure. To date, they have funded 1,126 surgeries and they are proud to say they are a 100% volunteer-run organization, meaning that all donations are spent on surgeries. Besides monetary donations, you can donate your used goods that will be given to the sponsored families upon hospital arrival, or are taken to villages and orphanages in need.
What they accept:
clothes (new or gently used)
shoes
toiletries (hotel, airplane, full-sized)
bedding
toys
Things they especially need at the moment:
adult toothbrushes
lotion
baby bath
coloring books
summer clothes
Before dropping any items off, they request that you email them at donations@h2hsh.net to arrange a time at their sorting room, which can be found at:
For more information, visit their website: h2hsh.com/
Home Sweet Home is a charity organization dedicated to helping the homeless rehabilitate into society. They offer a number of programs to help them build vocational skills and find internships or jobs around Shanghai with the help of their volunteers. They also offer people a place to shower, find them clean clothes and a meal every Saturday. For clothing donations, they require that all items be in good shape, if not new, and also accept a number of other goods.
What they accept:
food (*has not reached experation date; preferably Chinese, since they are not accustomed to Western food, and easily transportable)
toiletries
used office equipment
They request that if you have goods to donate, please email them at webinfo@homesweethome.org.cn with details and possible pictures of items you are interested in giving away; they will make proper arrangements for delivery and pick up from your home.
For more information, visit their website: homesweethome.org.cn/en/donations
Textile waste and bi-products of the fashion industry are two of the largest contributors to global pollution, damaging the environment and endangering large numbers of people in several countries. To learn more about how our clothing purchases and practices are impacting the world around us, read our feature, The Hidden Cost of Your Closet.
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