Media Coverage
Retail World Magazine; May 30, 2025
A new report reveals that nearly $4.5 billion worth of new, unsold consumer goods are wasted every year in Australia.
The analysis from Deloitte Access Economics, commissioned by Good360 Australia, shows that the value of unsold retail goods wasted in Australia has risen by 17% since 2021 and now sits at $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).
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.
10 years of operation
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 4800 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 10 years, we are proud to have connected $500 million dollars’ worth of unsold goods to people in Australia doing it tough,” says Good360 Australia Founder and Managing Director Alison Covington AM.
“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.”
Read the the full article here.
Read the Deloitte Access Economics Report: 2025 Update here.
