World Sustainability Day: reducing waste, rebuilding lives

Sustainable actions don’t just help the planet—they make our services more effective, reliable, and built to last. If we approach our services with sustainability front of mind, we deliver the best possible care for those in our accommodation services or receiving our support. That’s why this World Sustainability Day, we’re proud to highlight three projects at Framework that not only reduce waste and environmental impact, they also benefit our service users and supporters.

Digital Inclusion

With so much of life happening online, access to digital devices and the skills to use them is essential. Many of the people we support come to us without a phone or laptop and have no way of contacting friends, family or even their support worker at Framework.

Some have also faced challenges or trauma that created gaps in education and confidence, making it harder to build the digital skills needed for everyday life. Things many of us take for granted, such as employment, housing, healthcare, managing finances and accessing education.

As part of the digital inclusion project, many local businesses have kindly donated their unwanted IT equipment to be turned into opportunities for people experiencing homelessness and digital exclusion.

The Digital Inclusion Project has led to significant improvements in employability, digital skills, digital confidence, and access to essential services. But it has also reaped more unexpected benefits that we couldn’t be prouder of.

At our supported accommodation service for homeless women in Nottingham, many of the residents have experienced a combination of domestic violence, rough sleeping, addiction and mental health issues. Christine, a volunteer there, told us about the difference that a single laptop has made to the service:

“Often people arrive with nothing, not even access to a basic phone. We need to be able to contact them and it’s important for them to contact appropriate family and friends, so we provide them with a basic phone if they don’t have one.

“We also have a donated communal laptop in our lounge, which anyone can use. One of our ladies uses it to help with her anxiety, accessing online drawing tools to help manage her emotions. Another resident is taking an online language course.

“It’s important for our ladies to access the internet because that’s where most of life happens now. If anyone lacks confidence, we help them learn. The donated equipment makes a real difference!”

Find out more and get involved, here: Donate items – Framework Housing Association

Furnishing Futures

Instead of buying new furniture for our services—which can be costly and unsustainable—we repurpose commercial surplus and donated stock, giving quality items a second life.

Much of these hard and soft furnishings are in near perfect condition, or even brand new. By saving the items from landfill, we are able to give them, and the people we support, a new future. It’s quick and easy for you – when you have items ready donate, just send us some photos and we will arrange a drop off or collection.

If you are able to donate items on a regular basis, we are also able to offer a tailored impact report and annual certificate highlighting your social and environmental impact.

You can read more about Furnishing Futures, and how to donate here: Furnishing Futures information pack

Every donated item makes a real difference—helping us sustain vital housing services and improve lives, while reducing waste.

Framework Fashion

Our online store which launched last year, Framework Fashion, puts the environment first and holds sustainable values at its core.

With the fashion industry being one of the largest polluters in the world, we want to be part of the solution, not part of the problem. When you purchase from Framework Fashion, not only are you helping fund Framework’s support services with your purchase, but you’re also making an environmentally-conscious choice. There’s various ways Framework Fashion is committed to achieving a more sustainable future.

Firstly, all of our products are made with natural and sustainable materials, such as certified organic cotton, which is not only better for the ecosystem but also makes our clothes feel super soft.

Our products are also printed on demand, meaning they are only made once they have been ordered. This designs out overproduction, waste and unsold stock which would otherwise end up in landfill.

And we know that sustainability goes beyond the product itself. Once your items have been ordered, they’ll be shipped in plastic-free packaging made from paper and cardboard which can even be reused and coloured in!

Finally, when your products are no longer wearable, they can be sent back to us and reprocessed to be made into brand new products. Inside each of our products there is a QR code on the wash care label. You can scan this to find instructions on how to send your item back to use and keep it in our circular supply chain.

You can find out about more of Framework Fashion’s sustainable practices and shop your favourite items at https://frameworkfashion.co.uk/sustainability/

Thank you to all of our supporters, for helping us to reduce waste, promote inclusion, and create lasting social impact.