In an era of empty promises, we choose transparency. The textile and uniform industries have long been under the microscope for their environmental impact, and rightly so. For too long, sustainability has been used as a buzzword rather than a benchmark but we believe that if you can’t measure it, you can’t improve it.
That’s why we are preparing to unveil our first ever sustainability report, offering a data-backed look at our carbon footprint and our clear-eyed progress toward a cleaner industry.
Moving from claims to carbon data
Hard, verifiable data
This report represents a significant milestone in our journey to net zero. By partnering with Greenly, a global leader in digital carbon accounting, we are moving beyond anecdotal claims of ‘being green’ and into the realm of hard, verifiable data.
This isn’t just about looking at our own back garden; it involves a deep dive into Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions. In our industry, Scope 3 – which covers the entire value chain – is often the most challenging to quantify. However, by being transparent about the emissions generated from the raw materials used in our workwear, PPE and corporate uniforms to the logistics of getting them to your door, we’re taking accountability for our total impact.
Efficiency powered by automation
Yielding tangible results
Our commitment to innovation is already yielding tangible results. A prime example is our £15m investment in a fully automated robot warehouse. While the primary goal was operational excellence, the environmental benefits have been staggering. The system has allowed us to cut emissions per pick by 75%. To put that into perspective, running 10 of our warehouse robots uses the same amount of power as a single domestic vacuum cleaner. This is the kind of innovation that proves we can deliver world-class workwear, PPE and corporate uniforms while simultaneously driving down our carbon output.
Driving the circular economy forward
Net-zero future
But we aren’t stopping at energy efficiency. We’re tackling the product lifecycle head-on. From our zero to landfill policy to our plastic-to-fabric initiatives – where plastic bottles are transformed into high-performance recycled polyester – we’re ensuring that the workwear, PPE and corporate uniforms we provide are part of a circular economy.
The upcoming Greenly report will act as our North Star. It will highlight our successes, like our Silver Medal status which places us in the top 15% of companies for reporting transparency, but it will also highlight where we need to do more.
Real leadership isn’t about claiming to be perfect; it’s about having the integrity to show the data, the courage to address the gaps and the innovation to lead the industry toward a net-zero future. That’s exactly the kind of leadership we’re showing in the industry.
