Halifax business Sole Responsibility announced as partners of JD Sports

Halifax-based Sole Responsibility was launched in 2015 by Simon Payne. The business has grown 40 per cent year-on-year and now employs ten staff.

As an official sustainable partner of JD Sports, Sole Responsibility will sell the retailer’s end of line or slightly damaged trainers through its eBay site – providing the retailer with a sustainable solution for seconds and returned stock.

Mr Payne said: “There is a huge lack of awareness about the unknown volumes of waste that goes on in the fashion industry – with subprime, returned and seconds stock deemed unsaleable, it is often incinerated or disposed of because of very minor flaws of damage.

“Our business offers retailers a new model that allows us to make a sharp break in the usual linear economy and stop the unnecessary disposal of these products. By buying goods that would have been disposed of, and selling them to consumers who may not be able to afford branded products or want to show their commitment to a sustainable way of shopping, we are extending the life of these high quality items that can be worn for years to come.

“More and more retailers are realising the benefits of working with a sustainability partner like us in this way. Our affiliation with JD Sports is helping to provide a sustainable solution for its second or returned stock that could potentially end up in landfill without our solution.”