The H Dubai, a 5-star hotel in Dubai, has launched a collection box, called the “Giving Box,” to gather used items from guests. This initiative stems from a collaboration with Thrift for Good, a thrift shop committed to supporting children globally and encouraging waste reduction. The H Dubai is focused on sustainable and socially responsible operations.
Thrift for Good operates two stores in Dubai, open daily, selling second-hand items to promote sustainability and aid underprivileged children. They are dedicated to zero waste, ensuring all donations are reused, repaired, or recycled.
Situated in the hotel’s lobby, the Giving Box is a green, 2-meter cubic container with slots for dropping off items such as clothing, shoes, bags, books, and tech products, but not furniture or large appliances. The box collects items left behind by guests or donated by others, supporting a culture of reuse, and giving.
Items collected are sent to Thrift for Good, which uses the proceeds to support the Kisoro Children’s Foundation in Uganda. This foundation focuses on building schools, funding scholarships, and other educational initiatives.
The introduction of the Giving Box aims to bolster the hotel’s role in driving positive change through sustainable efforts.
Sophie Blondel, General Manager, The H Dubai Hotel
What inspired this collaboration?
- The collaboration between The H Dubai and Thrift for Good was inspired by a shared commitment to sustainability and social responsibility. The hotel recognises the urgent need to address environmental issues and promote equal opportunities for children globally. Thrift for Good’s innovative recycling and charity initiatives, which transform preloved items into resources for children’s projects, align perfectly with The H Dubai’s vision to create a significant impact on both the environment and society.
- How does the ‘Giving Box’ work?
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- The Giving Box in The H Dubai’s lobby offers a convenient drop-off point for guests, team members, and tenants. Additionally, donors can scan a QR code to make financial contributions directly to the Dubai Autism Centre. This streamlined process is designed to encourage participation and support for both sustainability and charitable causes.
- What types of preloved items are being collected in the ‘Giving Box’?
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- The Giving Box collects a variety of preloved items, including gently used clothing for men, women, and children, as well as accessories, bags, shoes, books, and tech items like video games, laptops, cell phones, and tablets. The objective is to responsibly rehome or recycle these items to reduce waste and support charitable efforts.
- How does this initiative align with The H Dubai’s commitment to sustainability and responsible practices?
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- This initiative perfectly complements The H Dubai’s commitment to sustainability and responsible practices. The fashion industry currently produces an astonishing 150 billion garments each year. However, each piece of clothing has the potential for repurposing, upcycling, or recycling, which supports sustainable practices. Through our partnership with Thrift for Good, we promote the circular economy by advocating for the reuse and recycling of preloved items. This approach not only reduces waste but also benefits underprivileged children globally through generated profits. Additionally, hosting educational sessions, workshops, and related activities fosters sustainability and charitable values among guests and team members.
- What strategies does The H Dubai have in place to promote and encourage participation in the ‘Giving Box’ initiative among guests and visitors?
- To promote and encourage participation in the Giving Box initiative, The H Dubai utilises various strategies, including increasing visibility through signage and digital communications within the hotel, engaging guests via social media and newsletters, and organising events and workshops focused on sustainability and charitable giving. By fostering a sense of community and collective responsibility, the hotel inspires stakeholders to actively contribute to meaningful causes, helping to create a better world through their support.
Jennifer Sault, Founder, Thrift For Good
- What measures are in place to ensure that The Giving Box items are handled and distributed ethically and responsibly?
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- At Thrift for Good, our mission is to rehome preloved items to reduce waste and raise money for children’s charity projects. We sell all items in our stores and markets, donating 100% of the profits to the Gulf for Good projects, currently supporting the Kisoro Children’s Foundation in Uganda.
- To minimise expenses, we rely on volunteers to sort all contributions under the guidance of well-trained staff. We follow a zero-waste process where perfect items are sold in-store, imperfect ones are repaired/cleaned or sold at a discount in markets, and end-of-life textiles are recycled into carpets and furniture through our partnership with Kiswa.
- We ensure ethical and responsible distribution of funds by selecting projects carefully. Although any organisation can apply for funding, we choose those that meet our strict reporting requirements, have a sustainable impact on their operations, and affect as many children as possible over the long term.
- Can you share some insights into the expected impact on the communities, particularly regarding the support for education in Uganda for children in need?
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- Our approach does not involve inundating developing communities with preloved clothing, which could harm local economies and increase landfill waste. Instead, we focus on alleviating poverty by investing in community-uplifting projects.
- Thrift for Good donates 100% of its profits to support children’s charity projects. We believe that giving children a better start in life enables them to take care of their future families and provide better opportunities.
- How will the proceeds from the collected items be utilised to support education in Uganda?
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- Our current focus is on the Kisoro Children’s Foundation and the Ineza Children’s School in Uganda. We are raising funds to build classrooms to reduce class sizes, provide computers and training for teachers to enhance lesson planning, and offer additional support, such as a small garden to feed children without food and solar panels to prevent electricity cuts. Our goal is to raise AED 450,000 for these initiatives, all aimed at significantly improving the quality of education at this school, which provides free education to impoverished children.
The collaboration between The H Dubai and Thrift for Good through the Giving Box initiative represents a thoughtful integration of sustainability and social responsibility. This partnership not only facilitates the ethical rehoming and recycling of preloved items but also channels vital support to impactful charity projects, particularly in education for underprivileged children in Uganda. By thoughtfully implementing measures to handle donations responsibly and transparently, the initiative promises not just to reduce waste but to foster substantial, positive change in the communities it touches. Through these concerted efforts, The H Dubai and Thrift for Good exemplify how businesses can play a pivotal role in driving sustainable development and uplifting lives across the globe.
