Primark shoppers can walk out of stores with a free item in their bags if they simply ask for it at the checkout counter. The budget high-street fashion retailer offers customers free hangers upon request, a little-known perk that helps reduce plastic waste.
How to Get Free Hangers at Primark
Customers can get free hangers by asking staff at the checkout counter. A Primark spokesperson explained that shoppers are welcome to request additional hangers when purchasing an item in store. "Where possible, our store teams will include the additional hangers free of charge in the transaction," they said. "We'd encourage shoppers to ask one of our colleagues if it's something they'd like."
Shoppers can request standard clothes hangers, trouser hangers, or single-peg clips used for shorts. Availability depends on what the store has in stock behind the counters on that specific day.
Why Stores Are Willing to Give Away Hangers
Since many retail stores incur disposal charges for excess plastic hangers, employees are usually willing to give them to customers rather than throw them in the rubbish. Employees are often happy to hand over extra hangers or fill a bag for you if they have spares piling up. However, it is best to check the store's policies first or ask a member of staff to find out for certain.
Elsewhere, charity shops on the high street usually receive donations of hangers and are more than willing to give away boxes of them for free. Local dry cleaning businesses often end up with hundreds of wire and safety hangers every week and are usually glad to let you take a bundle off their hands.
Environmental Impact of Plastic Hangers
Around the world, about 34 billion plastic clothes hangers are discarded in landfills each year. Since they often break easily and are typically made from a mix of low-quality materials, nearly 85% of all hangers produced are discarded rather than recycled. Re-using hangers instead of throwing them out can help the environment.
The top eco-friendly options for replacing regular plastic hangers are bamboo, recycled cardboard, bioplastics, and sustainably certified wood. By choosing these materials, you can significantly reduce plastic waste and help reduce the amount of waste in landfills.
