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The Outdoor Industries Association has announced a new partnership with product donation charity In Kind Direct in a bid to tackle waste.
Founded in 1997 by The Prince of Wales, In Kind Direct distributes a wide range of surplus consumer products donated by retailers and manufacturers including Amazon, Pentland Brands and VF Corporation, to a fast-growing network of local grassroots charities.
To advise companies of the benefits of getting started or to develop more sophisticated ongoing product donation programmes, In Kind Direct has just published the first ever Strategic and Operational Guide to Product Giving – an easy-to-use, step-by-step guide co-written with PwC to embed product giving into strategy and operational processes.
OIA CEO Andrew Denton commented: “The main objective of the partnership is to make our members aware of the benefits of ‘product giving’ to their business, the community and the environment. With over 20 years’ experience, In Kind Direct provides an easy and effective way of making product donations accessible to thousands of small, local charities.
“The more charities can access donated outdoor products, the more people can get active, explore the outdoors and get fitter, happier and healthier. Sometimes it takes something as simple as receiving comfortable walking shoes or a good jacket to get outside – something many disadvantaged people often can’t afford.”
CEO of In Kind Direct Robin Boles added: “In Kind Direct works with companies to help thousands of charities, many of which depend on product donations to run sports and outdoors activities. Millions of people in need benefit every year.
“Outdoor activities, of course, have a huge impact on beneficiaries’ fitness, wellbeing and social inclusion. We are delighted the Outdoor Industries Association wants to work with us to encourage more companies to appreciate the benefits and start donating sought-after product categories for our charity partners.”
Among the OIA members making significant product donations to In Kind Direct for many years is Pentland Brands. Andy Rubin, chairman of Pentland Group, which owns Berghaus and is a long-standing Trustee of In Kind Direct said: “We donate surplus products to In Kind Direct which are then distributed to a wide range of UK charities. Through a single point of contact, we make sure many of the smallest charities have access to the high quality products we donate.”
In Kind Direct and the OIA will work together on an annual plan of communications to members to drive awareness of the strategic imperative for product giving in the industry to increase product donations for social good.
