Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do at Relove. We promote a circular economy by making it easy to buy and sell high-quality pre-loved fashion, extending the life of garments and reducing textile waste. At the same time, we take responsibility for people, the environment, and the way we do business. On this page, you'll find the key principles and practices that guide our sustainability work every day.
Kind to the Environment
Relove's resale services were created to reduce waste by making circular fashion simple and accessible. We work closely with our customers, whose carefully selected pieces form the foundation of Relove's curated pre-loved collection.
Our stores offer an inspiring and effortless way to participate in the circular economy. We carefully curate our pre-loved selection according to the season and current trends, helping as many garments as possible find a new owner during each sales period.
The fashion industry has a significant environmental impact worldwide, but by choosing pre-loved fashion or giving your own garments a new life, we can build a more sustainable future together, one garment at a time. The circular economy gives products a second chance and extends their purpose, creating value for both people and the planet.
Our store teams are always happy to help with questions about garment care and how to recycle items that are no longer suitable for resale. Every garment entrusted to Relove continues its journey within the circular economy, even if it doesn't find a new owner in one of our stores. We always ensure that every item is given the opportunity for a new purpose.
At our cafés, we use packaging made from recycled and recyclable materials. The same applies to our reusable tote bags and the paper bags used for second-hand purchases. We always encourage our customers to bring their own reusable bag whenever possible.
Social Responsibility
Our people are at the heart of Relove. We are committed to supporting our employees' wellbeing while continuously investing in their professional development.
Whether it's team lunches, celebrating Employee of the Month, or regular team meetings where we share ideas and improve together, we believe that a positive and supportive workplace creates the best customer experience.
The diverse strengths and interests of our team have also led to the creation of entirely new roles within the company. We strive to match people's responsibilities with their skills, passions and personal interests. As we continue to grow, we hope to build an even more diverse and inclusive workplace.
One of Relove's core values, Kindness, is inspired by our people and is reflected in every customer interaction.
Through our social media channels, we aim to inspire more sustainable choices by raising awareness about circular fashion and the environmental impact of the fashion industry. We believe that creating a more responsible lifestyle starts with small everyday choices and we want to make those choices easy.
Values-Based Partnerships
We collaborate with the Finnish Red Cross (SPR) and Fida. At the end of a sales period, customers can choose to donate any unsold items they no longer wish to collect. We also donate surplus store fixtures and equipment through the Finnish Red Cross whenever they can be given a new purpose.
Relove's home pick-up service makes it easy to schedule a pickup for your items directly from your doorstep in the Helsinki metropolitan area and Tampere. We work with the Finnish logistics company A2B, which provides climate-friendly, emission-free transportation across Finland.
At our cafés, we prioritise organic and locally sourced ingredients whenever possible.
Moving Towards a More Sustainable Future
We are committed to building a modern business that helps reduce our environmental footprint. Our mission is to strengthen the circular economy in fashion, both locally and globally.
We also make regular donations to support both local causes and international humanitarian relief efforts, and we believe that meaningful change begins with small acts of kindness.
How Relove's Charity Sale Works
At Relove, we want to make giving to charity simple, impactful and transparent. When your sales period ends, you can choose to donate any unsold garments to charity. Donating your items is always completely voluntary.
What happens to donated items?
Every donated item is individually assessed.
- Some items are sold through Relove's Charity Sale.
- Others are donated directly to our charity partners, such as the Finnish Red Cross (SPR) and Fida.
The decision is based on the item's condition, demand and estimated resale value. Our goal is to ensure that every donation creates as much positive impact as possible.
Why are some donated items sold?
Items with strong resale potential are sold through Relove's own sales channels. This allows the value of donated items to be put to good use, and the proceeds from their sale increase the annual charitable donation.
How are the proceeds distributed?
Example of €1,000 in sales:
- €255 is value-added tax (VAT, 25.5%), which is paid to the Finnish Tax Administration.
- €745 remains as net sales revenue (excluding VAT).
The net sales revenue is divided as follows:
- 50% is donated to the charitable organisation selected each year.
- 50% covers operating costs, including product handling, pricing, merchandising, sales, staff, premises, systems and accounting.
Running the Charity Sale requires the same work as any professional resale business. This model ensures that the programme remains financially sustainable and allows us to continue making charitable donations year after year.
Where do the donations go?
Each year, our employees vote to select the charity that will receive the donation. The supported organisation changes annually so that we can contribute to a variety of important social causes.
Previous recipients have included:
- MIELI Mental Health Finland
- Animal welfare organisations
- Organisations supporting older people
We publish both the selected charity and the annual donation amount every year.
Our Commitment to Transparency
- Donations are always based on actual completed sales.
- We publish the selected charity and the donated amount annually.
- We openly communicate how the proceeds are distributed.
Together with our customers, we are building a model where circular fashion and meaningful charitable giving go hand in hand.