Making a difference: The impact of our winter coat donations

We are delighted to share the incredible impact of our recent winter coat collection for Zero Waste Leeds. Thanks to the generous donations of our University community we collected: 111 adult coats, 35 children’s coats, and 166 winter accessories. This effort has not only provided warmth across the city but also significantly benefitted the environment.  

These donations will go to families and individuals in need, ensuring that as many people as possible across Leeds have access to warm winter clothes. All coats will distributed by Zero Waste Leeds by the end of February. 

By redistributing items instead of producing new ones, we’ve saved an estimated 3.8 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions. This is equivalent of driving 18,000 miles in a petrol car! We’ve also saved 1.2 million litres of water or enough water for 200 people for 87.5 years.  

This project was co-led by the Sustainability Service and the Public Engagement team, both dedicated to ensuring the University remains actively engaged and visible across the city. This collaborative effort has not only fulfilled the University's role as a key civic institution but also highlights its commitment to being an accessible space for public good. 

If you have winter clothing you haven’t worn in a while, consider setting them aside for next year’s appeal. Together we can continue making a lasting impact, one coat at a time.  

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

We use the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as a framework to guide our activity. Our work on the Winter Coats Appeal is linked to the following SDGs:

• • Goal 11: Sustainable cities and communities
  • Goal 12: Responsible consumption and production
  • Goal 17: Partnerships for the goals

Find out more about our impact on the SDGs.