Media Release
29 May, 2025, Sydney, Australia
As charity Good360 Australia marks 10 years of operation, connecting $500m of surplus goods to people in need, new research shows as community need continues to grow so does the availability of new unused goods
New analysis from Deloitte Access Economics, commissioned by leading charity Good360 Australia, reveals that nearly $4.5 billion worth of new, unsold consumer goods are wasted every year, reinforcing the huge opportunity for connecting surplus essential items to people in need.
The report shows that the value of unsold retail goods wasted in Australia has risen by 17% since 2021 and now sits at a staggering $2.9 billion per year. The rise of online shopping returns is adding even more to the volume of goods wasted (more than $1.5 billion), taking the total estimate for new, unsold goods potentially heading to landfill in Australia each year to nearly $4.5 billion.
Toiletries, cleaning supplies and infant supplies have seen the most significant growth, with estimated waste growing 33% from 2021 to 2024 in nominal terms. Many of these goods are urgently needed, with recent Good360 research revealing that 82% of charities and disadvantaged schools across Australia say demand for essential items such as hygiene products, clothing, furniture and education supplies has never been higher.
The release of the report comes as Good360 Australia marks its 10th anniversary, having spent the past decade connecting unsold goods donated by businesses to people in need Australia-wide via a national network of over 4,800 charities and disadvantaged schools. Since 2015, Good360 has redistributed over 43.7 million brand new items, helping more than 4.8 million people and avoiding 7,616 tonnes of waste.
“Over the last ten years, we are proud to have connected $500 million dollars worth of unsold goods to people in Australia doing it tough. This includes everyday brand-new essentials that have restored dignity, brought relief and given hope to our most vulnerable. We thank everyone who has been on this journey with us, including our retail partners, supporters and funders, and our charity and school member network across Australia,” said Good360 Australia Founder and Managing Director Alison Covington AM.
“This new report from Deloitte Access Economics shows there is much more that can be done. As Good360 successfully grows to solve the problem of wasted new goods, the opportunity to do more keeps growing too. We are seeing rising levels of waste on one side, and record levels of need on the other.
“Good360 offers a smart, proven and efficient way to reduce both need and waste across Australia and deliver real value for businesses and communities, and we’re excited to be embarking on a new phase of even greater ambition and impact.”
The release of this report and Good360’s 10th anniversary also coincide with the appointment of James Atkins as the new Chair of Good360 Australia. An experienced Chair and strategy advisor, Mr Atkins brings deep experience in scaling purpose-led organisations and digital marketplaces.
“With more than one in eight Australians living in poverty, we must connect goods with people in need. Too many families are going without the essential items needed for a safe home, for hygiene and dignity, for education and work, and for play, sport and creativity. This is not just about reducing landfill. It’s about lifting lives,” Mr Atkins said.
“At the same time, retailers are grappling with the growing and often hidden costs of unsold stock. This is a commercial issue, as well as a social one. Good360 offers a solution that transforms this challenge into a strategic advantage, with real and measurable outcomes for people and our planet.
“We know how to do this. We have the partnerships, the model, and the platform. Now, with collective action and renewed investment, we can step up to meet this moment and ensure Australia’s surplus serves its highest purpose: supporting people in need, Australia-wide. Our goal for 2030 is to grow from delivering $500 million of new goods over ten years, to delivering $500 million every single year.”
As part of marking 10 years of impact, Good360 Australia is calling on more retailers, brands and businesses to be part of the solution – reducing need and waste, while also reducing costs.
“To businesses who haven’t yet worked with us – now is the time. Please reach out, connect with us, and see how we can help. If your business is holding onto aged inventory, returns, or unsold stock, items that are costing you money to store or discard, please partner with us. We’ll make sure they go to people who need them, right across the country,” Mr Atkins said.
The Deloitte Access Economics report also highlights the important role that governments can play in unlocking large-scale solutions.
“There is a clear opportunity for governments to support the scaling of efficient delivery of non-food aid, just as they have done successfully in the food waste sector. It’s smart, non-inflationary, and good for people and our planet,” said Mr Atkins. “By working together, we can reduce waste and need, lower costs, and create a more prosperous and thriving country.”
ENDS
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
- Ben Hornbrook – 0431 180 161 / ben@kaizenco.au
About Good360 Australia: Good360 Australia is the largest digital marketplace in Australia for the retail industry to donate unused and unsold consumer goods to people in need. Good360 is a connector – we distribute millions of new, unsold consumer goods like clothes, homewares, computers, appliances, furniture, toiletries and toys that have been donated by around 600 partners, to a network of over 4,800 charities and disadvantaged schools across Australia, supporting people in need. The result is a Circle of Good that reduces need and waste in our communities, helping both people and our planet. www.good360.org.au
About new Good360 Australia Board Chair, James Atkins:
James is an experienced Chair and Non-Executive Director with over 25 years’ board experience across commercial, government and not-for-profit sectors. He has chaired national organisations through major transformation, growth, mergers and governance reform, including Greening Australia, BIG4 Holiday Parks and Red Nose Australia. As Chair of BIG4 Holiday Parks, James led the Board through a significant business model redesign and digital transformation, helping to double the network and triple revenue. At Greening Australia, he oversaw the shift from a federated model to a single national entity, while driving a major diversification of revenue sources. Formerly a GM at Citibank for nearly a decade, James is also an experienced strategic advisor and Director and Principal of Vantage Strategy, supporting boards and CEOs with strategy, innovation and growth. He is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) and holds degrees in Commerce and Arts from the University of Western Australia. He currently serves as Chair of Good360 Australia, and as a Non-Executive Director of TT-Line, Melbourne Water and Connective Group.
Quotes from Good360 Australia partners and supporters:
Chris Rodwell, CEO Australian Retailers Association and CEO Designate of Australian Retail Council (ARC):
“The ARA is proud to partner with Good360 Australia to address the growing challenge of pre-consumer waste and help accelerate the shift toward a circular economy. Through this forward-thinking collaboration, we’re supporting retailers in reducing their environmental footprint while creating meaningful social impact. By redirecting surplus retail products away from landfill and into the hands of communities in need, Good360 enables our members to give back in a tangible and impactful way. This partnership is a powerful example of how industry-led solutions can drive real, scalable change, fostering a more sustainable, responsible, and community-focused future for Australian retail.”
Kris Ashpole, CEO, Goodman Foundation: “The Goodman Foundation is committed to making a sustained and tangible difference across communities where Goodman operates. We’re proud to have been partnering with Good360 for 10 years, and this has allowed us to support people experiencing disadvantage or hardship with the tools and resources they need to navigate and overcome adversity.”
Renea Robson, Country Sustainability Manager, IKEA Australia: “At IKEA Australia, we are wholly committed to reducing waste through circularity – making sure each item is reused, repurposed or given a second life for as long as possible. Donating IKEA products through our partnership with Good360 Australia is one way we can do this, while at the same time making a positive impact on the lives of those in need in communities all over the country.”
Helen Warnes, Head of Marketing, Nestle Purina Petcare Australia: “At Nestle Purina Petcare Australia, we believe caring for pets goes hand in hand with caring for the communities where we live and work. Donating our surplus pet care products to Good360 Australia allows us to make a meaningful difference to the lives of families and pets in need, while also minimising the waste of new, unsold petcare products. It’s a natural extension of our commitment to do more of what matters for our pets and the people who love them.”
Clare Pearson, CEO of Little Wings: “We use Good360 products in so many meaningful ways from bringing comfort to anxious children heading into hospital, offering gifts to mums spending Mother’s Day at their child’s bedside and not at home with their family, to helping to fill the gaps families face during an incredibly tough time. These items, big or small, help Little Wings provide wrap-around support when it’s needed most. Without Good360, many families would go without, feeling even more isolated under already immense financial pressure when caring for a seriously ill child. Their support allows us to offer care and dignity in the moments that matter most.”
Dale Barker-Harrington, Community Relations Lead – Uniting Vic.Tas: “Uniting Vic.Tas partner with Good360 because it means we can deliver brand-new essentials – like warm jackets, toiletries, and school supplies – straight into the hands of people who need them most. These items do more than meet immediate needs, they help us provide holistic care, restore dignity, and remind people who turn to Uniting Vic.Tas for help, that their community cares.”
