Alexandra Sundberg, operations manager at the Red Cross.
Norran met with operations manager Alexandra Sundberg and store manager Siv Aspbäck at the Red Cross warehouse, where donated items and clothing are sorted. Some donations are recycled, but most are processed and sold.
But a new EU law might complicate matters for Red Cross.
This new law makes municipalities responsible for the separate recycling of textiles. To implement this, Skellefteå municipality has contracted the private operator Human Bridge to collect all textiles in the same containers.
– When it becomes so easy to drop off both waste and second-hand items in the same container at the recycling center, there’s a risk that fewer people will donate to us. The municipality isn’t required to collect second-hand items, but we want to emphasise how important it is to maintain a local circular market, so people can shop second-hand locally here instead of it being sent abroad in massive quantities, says Alexandra.
– At the moment, we have several sustainability collaborations, said Alexandra.
– For example, we work with daily activity centers that handle buttons and zippers, which are then returned to us for resale. We also donate some items to textile teachers in the municipality through Floraskolan.
– Some unique items can be sold online to maximise our revenue, said Siv Aspbäck.
– We try to be strategic in our approach.
The Red Cross relies on sales to fund its crucial social initiatives. These include weekly food distributions, cycling programs for isolated seniors, and the organisation of various community gathering spaces.
– We're very worried that the changes could seriously harm our ability to support our important social programs, said Alexandra.
– We’re getting better items now than a couple of years ago. We’ve increased our visibility overall, and that’s making an impact, so more people are donating things here, says Alexandra Sundberg.
"We differentiate ourselves from other operators because everything donated locally stays local. We don’t transfer items between stores in Sweden, so it’s fun to visit shops around the country and see the demographic reflected in the selection," says Alexandra Sundberg.
The new law is considered necessary due to the amount of textiles being thrown away – in Sweden, it amounts to almost 8 kilos per person per year.
– The law is important, but we must reuse as much as possible locally, says Alexandra.
Here at the back of the Red Cross premises, you can drop off old clothes.
The trend for the second-hand market has so far been on the rise, partly because many people are facing financial difficulties and are forced to find affordable alternatives, but also because sustainability is "in." Additionally, vintage and unique pieces are fashionable, especially among young people.
– We hope and believe that the people of Skellefteå will continue to choose us. When we talk to people, it sounds that way – many say it’s a given to come here, says Siv.
Kennedy happily buys clothes at the Red Cross. – It’s cheap here, he says.
Nathalie Andersson has been working part-time at the Red Cross for about a year. – It’s nice to get out, do something, and meet people, she says
Now the store and café are open, customers are steadily arriving. Norran spoke with several customers, and they generally agreed with Siv's assessment. But none of them shared the staff's concerns.
– On the contrary, I think more people will donate here, said one woman.
Alexandra emphasised that donated clothes must be in good condition and clean.
– It creates significant problems if people start donating more waste textiles because we lack the capacity to handle it, she explained.
Alexandra Sundberg, operations manager at the Red Cross.
– We do receive some damaged clothing, acknowledged Siv:
– But we also get a lot of high-quality items, and we want to protect that flow.
Agneta Lantto-Forsgren, head of waste management at Skellefteå Municipality, stated that the municipality's primary goal is to prevent citizens from discarding textiles in the general waste.
– Of course, it's crucial that people continue to donate usable textiles to local organisations here in Skellefteå, as they have always done. We will not be promoting the use of Human Bridge's containers exclusively.
Gabriella Nygren, responsible for textile issues at the municipality's waste department, explained that they will closely monitor the impact on Skellefteå's second-hand stores.
– We need to protect the town's stores. We hope their inflow of textiles won't be significantly affected.