The event encouraged students and staff to donate, regift, and reuse unwanted sportswear and equipment, leading to an overwhelming response from the Trinity community. Over 350 items, including t-shirts, jackets, and sports gear, were donated, contributing to an impressive sustainability impact:

  • 4,956 kg of CO2 saved by donating and reusing rather than purchasing new items.
  • 2,450,000 litres of water conserved equivalent to the annual drinking water of over 3,000 people.
  • 3.5 kg of methane emissions prevented, reducing harmful greenhouse gases from landfill waste.

In addition to the donation drive, the event featured drop-in table tennis and volunteering opportunities. Attendees also had the chance to explore Oxfam Ireland’s Vintage Pop-Up Shop, further promoting sustainable fashion choices.

Matthew Dossett, Deputy Director of Sport at Trinity, reflected on the event’s impact:

“We were delighted to partner with Sustainable Trinity, the Green Campus Committee, and Oxfam Ireland to establish ReActive8, which we believe is the first of its kind in Ireland, certainly for sport in a university setting. The sport and leisure sector is often seen as a high carbon-emitting area, but initiatives like this can drive cultural change and highlight where further progress is needed. Hosting a reuse initiative shortly after Christmas also ensured that unwanted gifts could find a meaningful new home, helping us to break down barriers to participation in sport and physical activity. A huge thanks to Naz and Maelle in the Trinity Sport team for leading this initiative. We look forward to expanding ReActive8 and other sustainability programmes in the future.”

Mark Sweeney, Donated Goods Strategy Manager at Oxfam Ireland, commented:

“Oxfam Ireland were proud to support the ReActive8 initiative. It is great to see old sports equipment find another life and more students getting involved with reuse and staying active.”

With a near 100% reuse rate, all donated items were either taken by attendees or passed on to Oxfam Ireland for further distribution. Trinity Sport is committed to growing ReActive8 and continuing to embed sustainability at the heart of sport and physical activity in the university.

Stay tuned for future sustainability initiatives and events!