We all know children lose stuff…toys, socks, stationery, cuddly toys, books, shoes… in fact children in Ireland permanently lose 13 possessions every year on average, that equates to a staggering 13 million items lost per year in total! This can add up to quite a considerable amount of money, but have you ever stopped to think about the environmental impact of these losses….
The Real Cost of Lost Property
We recently discovered, through research undertaken on our behalf by Censuswide, that 500 tonnes of plastic waste is generated by children’s lost toys in Ireland every year. That is the equivalent of over 30 million plastic bottles ending up in landfill* which really is a staggering figure.
Some other interesting findings revealed by the research in relation to the items lost by Irish children each year included:
- Toys were identified as the most commonly lost item by children in Ireland (47%), closely followed by socks (36%), stationery (30%) and cuddly toys (23%) – all of these items have quite a high proportion of unsustainable materials, including plastic.
- ¼ of Irish parents admitted that their child most commonly lost reusable plastic water bottles
Where do our lost items go?
The research also revealed exactly what it is we think happens to our lost items and of course what actually happens. 1/5 of Irish parents surveyed stated that they felt that lost items would always be returned to them, while just 9% recognised that their lost property would probably end up in landfill. However, those surveyed also revealed that over 66% of the time their lost items are never found which would suggest that as many as 2/3’s of lost items could end up in landfill, which is not good news for our environment.
So, what do we do when items are lost?
Well, research found that over 1 in 10 of those surveyed admitted to replacing the lost items as soon as possible using online shopping platforms. This approach adds to the environmental impact of lost property, particularly when considering the additional emissions generated by delivery. Interestingly, only 24% of parents said they currently take certain measures to help reduce future lost property, such as using name labels.
Commenting on the research findings, Lars B. Andersen, Managing Director at My Nametags, comments: “Children’s lost property is a significant problem, not just for parents who have to replace the lost items, but for the environment too. We all know there is a climate crisis, and everyone is doing their bit to reduce their impact on the planet, whether that is eating less meat, reducing use of single-use plastics, or installing energy-efficient light bulbs. However, there remains a gap in our knowledge about the impact that lost property could be having on the environment. Clothing is a key example of this. Many fabrics used to create children’s clothes and accessories include synthetic fibres made from plastic. As a result, when these items are unnecessarily lost, it can have a big impact on the planet.”
So, what can we do to help reduce our lost property & make our clothing last longer?
To help parents reduce the environmental impact of lost items, we have put together a list of top tips for preventing lost property and ingenious hacks to make clothing last longer!
Create designated places in your children’s bag for each item
Create a certain spot for their lunchbox / water bottle / stationery / copy books – this will make it easier for your child to notice if any items are missing . Keep small objects in a pocket or purse with a zip rather than using your pockets
Use name labels
Especially for items that are regularly taken out of the home to school or nursery, labelling items makes it easier for people to return them if they become lost. Also consider adding a phone number as well as a name to more valuable items
Do a double check
Do a double check before leaving your house, school or anywhere else and get your child in the habit of double-checking that they have everything too! It’s easier to find lost items when they first go missing than later down the line
Attach a smart finder
For more valuable possessions, consider attaching a smart finder which will track your item wherever it goes – this is particularly useful for phones or even keys!
If you or your child does lose something, try not to worry
Stay calm and think back together where you were when you were last using the item
Be more organised
Designate particular boxes or folders for certain items by labelling them (i.e.: box for jigsaws / soft toys / homework / important documents) and then get in the habit of using these boxes and folders daily
Top tips for making clothing last longer & reducing your clothing waste
Quality over quantity
Where possible, opt for a few quality pieces over lots of low-cost items. Cheaper garments tend to be made from synthetic fabrics which will wear much quicker and have a negative impact on the environment
Don’t overfill the washing machine
Overfilling a washing machine not only means clothes won’t wash properly but they will also rub against each other more which can cause damage and fading
Reduce the amount of fabric detergent
Using large amounts of detergent can increase the fragility of some fabrics, such as Lycra, and can cause them to become stiff
Wash dark clothing inside out
To avoid dark clothing fading, wash them inside out to preserve the colour. This also works for graphic t-shirts to prevent the print from cracking and fading
Fold instead of hang
Hanging heavy items like woollen jumpers can cause the fabric to stretch and create misshapen clothing
Donate
Instead of throwing out clothing you no longer wear why not donate them to your favourite charity shop .
Recycle unwanted clothing
Many stores are now accepting clothing for recycling so bring instead of binning your clothing bring it to your local store recycling outlet instead
By making simple and small changes, such as the tips and hacks mentioned above, we can all play our part in helping to reduce the amount of waste that is created and in making a very real difference to our environment, not just for ourselves but for future generations too!
