M&S is giving an instant £5 voucher to customers who bring back at least one item of unwanted clothing to stores.

The high street retailer teamed up with the charity in 2008 to give shoppers an easy way to donate their unwanted clothes and give them a second life, rather than letting items go to waste. The Another Life scheme allows customers to donate any clothes they don’t want in M&S stores and receive a reward to their Sparks card, or you can donate in an Oxfam shop and receive a £5 voucher off a £35 spend in M&S.

M&S says since the partnership with Oxfam launched, it has collected more than 35 million items which has helped save tonnes of clothing going to landfill. Instead, all of the donated items of clothing to Oxfam to be resold and in cases where items can’t be sold on, the fibres will be recycled to make new material.

But it’s not just clothing that can be donated, as shoppers can also donate empty beauty product packaging and soft furnishings like bed linen, towels, cushions and curtains.

M&S explains: “Oxfam will either resell, reuse or recycle our customers’ clothing donations to help raise money to tackle poverty across the world. 

“You can pop your pre-loved items in a drop-off box at one of our stores. You can also donate to an Oxfam store, where you’ll receive a £5 voucher if your donation includes an item of M&S clothing. You don’t need to buy anything to donate with us. 

“Incredibly, since 2008, the M&S and Oxfam partnership has collected more than 35 million items, contributing an estimated £23 million to Oxfam’s vital work across the world. So you can clear out with a clear conscience.”

Sparks customers who take back their pre-loved items to a ‘Shwop box’ at M&S stores simply need to scan the QR code on the box to receive a free treat in their Sparks hub.

Those who opt to ‘Shwop’ at Oxfam stores will be given a £5 M&S clothing and home spend and save voucher to put towards a future purchase of at least £35. But customers should note that you need to have at least one item of M&S branded clothing or soft furnishings in your donation to receive the £5 voucher.

The voucher is valid for one calendar month and you can get one for every donation you make, providing it includes one M&S branded item.

It can’t be used in conjunction with any other M&S discount voucher or code, and is not redeemable against sales and clearance items, school wear, M&S tailoring services, Made to Measure shirts, personalised cards, M&S Energy or M&S money products and services.

Oxfam adds: “You'll be given a £5 voucher when you make a donation to an Oxfam Shop and the donation contains at least one item of M&S-labelled clothing (including shoes, handbags, belts, hats and scarves) or M&S-labelled soft furnishings (bed linen, towels, cushions, curtains, throws, aprons, tablecloths and napkins). 

“This offer does not include donations of the following M&S clothing: swimwear, underwear, socks, or damaged or soiled items. Only one voucher will be issued per visit.

“The voucher entitles you to £5 off when you spend £35 or more on clothing, home and beauty products in participating M&S stores, excluding sales and clearance items.

“Only one voucher can be used for each transaction of £35 or more. The voucher is redeemable only during the calendar month stated on the voucher.”