A Sustainable Movement: From Event Waste to Warmth
Moss UK, Spiro and Sheltersuit’s Sustainable Shelterbag Initiative
A Collaboration with Purpose
In autumn 2024, an estimated 4,667 people were sleeping rough in the UK on a single night, marking the third consecutive yearly increase and a 20% rise since 2023 – a shocking truth that demanded innovative answers.
Blending purpose-driven creativity with sustainability, we have joined forces with experiential marketing agency Spiro, alongside non-profits Sheltersuit UK and Street Pastors UK, to create portable, waterproof, and warm sleeping solutions for people experiencing homelessness in the UK. What started as a simple conversation, sparked a powerful collaboration between organisations driven to create real change.
From Waste to Warmth
At the heart of the initiative are shelterbags: weather-resistant designs with a built-in mattress and large, tented hood, built specifically for the UK climate.
So, how are they sustainable? Instead of letting event graphics go to waste, materials such as blackback canvas, which would otherwise have a short lifespan, are repurposed into practical, durable and purposeful creations. At Sheltersuit, the team make sure to utilise every scrap of material, even adapting designs to incorporate other fabrics.
At Moss UK, with our long-standing commitment to sustainability, we ensure these materials find a second life in an incredibly meaningful way. Our zero-to-landfill commitment and focus on reusability guarantees that short-term branding displays are transformed into long-term, potentially life-changing tools. Managing Director of Moss UK, Michael Green says, “Sheltersuit has given us the opportunity to turn our used textiles into an innovative product that helps some of the most vulnerable people in society – we are 100% behind this amazing initiative.”
Sheltersuit UK’s Mission
For the past two to three years, Sheltersuit UK has been producing shelterbags in response to the growing numbers of people left unsheltered. They emphasise that these are not permanent solutions, but offer something essential: a warm, dry and dignified rest when there’s no other choice available.
CEO of Sheltersuit UK, Ian Sutherland McCook explains, “The work that Sheltersuit UK does is challenging, not least because materials are expensive, but yet the end product needs to be free at the point of distribution. Rough sleepers have no budget.”
“So, the initiative led by Spiro and Moss to repurpose waste fabrics from the events industry is transformative. Suddenly we have an affordable, reliable source of materials that can be used to protect people sleeping in the open. This enables us to protect even more people, at a time when the number of people sleeping unsheltered is increasing at a frightening rate.”
Collective Action for Greater Impact
This recent collaboration means that shelterbags can reach even more people in need. Moss UK’s sustainable production expertise brings refreshed momentum, proving that when organisations with a shared purpose unite, innovative solutions to serious problems can happen at pace.
Head of Health and Safety at Spiro, Paul Ormsby adds: “Sheltersuit UK is doing more than supporting rough sleepers, they are building a true circular economy for the events industry. From waste management to upskilling individuals, from repurposing materials to producing lifesaving shelterbags, every step creates real impact. As individuals, we can all say we’re doing our bit. But together, as an event collective, we can achieve so much more.”
“Join the collective. Join the mission. Be part of Sheltersuit UK.”
From branded event graphics, to protective, portable comfort, it’s a transformation that’s as practical as it is inspiring. Here at Moss UK, we would like to prove that when sustainability is effectively woven into every aspect of production, you don’t just reduce waste, you create meaningful solutions that have a real impact.
To learn more about our commitment to sustainability, click here.
To get involved, or learn more about Sheltersuit UK, click here.
