Circular by Design
We are challenging the way we think about workwear and uniforms and have long-term aspiration to adopting a more circular approach.
Our Focus
Circular by Design is our promise to rethink the raw materials we choose to the life cycle of each uniform. We’re designing for durability and with end-of-life in mind, choosing responsible raw materials and packaging, reducing our operational waste, and partnering with innovators to give our products new life beyond their first wear – following waste hierarchy principles. Every decision is made with care, so our workwear respects the planet and the people who depend on it.
Raw materials
Workwear Group recognises that the products, materials and processes we use to make our products can have a significant impact on the environment & our end-wearers. To lessen the impact, our top priority is quality and safety first, and we consider the sustainability of fibres, fabrics and trims choices. We have a variety of initiatives in place to lower our impact through responsible material choices.
Operational waste
Workwear Group is focused on reducing waste and improving resource efficiency across our operations. Our approach is straightforward: identify where waste occurs (through data deep dives and visual audits), find practical ways to reduce it, and support recycling initiatives wherever possible. By working with innovative partners such as waste management providers, implementing Container Deposit Scheme in workplaces and coloured soft plastics, and engaging our teams, we aim to keep more resources in use and less in landfill.
Packaging
At Workwear Group, responsible packaging is part of how we tailor a better tomorrow. Where packaging is needed, we opt for reusable, recyclable, compostable, or recycled alternatives, guided by our Responsible Packaging Policy and Supplier Packaging Manual to ensure high standards across every product.
As a signatory to Australian Packaging Covenant (APCO) strengthens this commitment, as we support the National Packaging Targets and apply the Sustainable Packaging Guidelines.
The National Packaging Targets are:
- 100% reusable, recyclable, or compostable packaging
- 70% of plastic packaging being recycled or composted
- 50% of average recycled content included in packaging (revised from 30% in 2020)
The phase out of problematic and unnecessary single-use plastic packaging
Above and beyond that we have committed to ensure 100% of our packaging will be recoverable by FY30, and progression on our mission to be ‘circular by design’ by designing out waste.
Some key initiatives that have enabled us to progress towards these targets include:
- Introducing post-consumer recycled and recyclable LDPE shipping satchels
- Re-using cardboard shipping cartons
- Reducing and standardizing swing tickets across our brands
- Adding disposal iconography to key packaging items to enable customer recycling
- Transitioning to jute twine and paper string to replace hard-to-recycle plastic kimble tags
- Removing garment bags from industrial shorts & pants in favour of a single box liner
- Eliminating difficult-to-recycle plastic clips and shoelace bags
- Switching to cardboard inserts for business shirts and work shirts
- Stitching spare button into the garment to eliminate plastic bag
Workwear Group publishes an annual APCO action plan and report, which outlines our progress towards responsible packaging and how we are tracking against our targets. Read the annual report here.
Product end-of-life
We’re moving beyond end-of-life solutions to redesign how garments are made, used, and recovered. Promoting circular economy initiatives is an important part of our sustainability strategy under the Tailoring a Better Tomorrow framework, we’re focused on practical solutions that keep textiles in use and out of landfill.
Through partnerships with UPPAREL, Textura by Shred-X, Textile Recycling Group, WormTech, and BlockTexx, we’re trialling recovery pathways for garments at end-of-life –whether that’s mechanical recycling, composting, or repurposing through charitable donations. These partnerships help us support customers in finding recovery options for their uniforms and allow us to divert internal products from landfill. Furthermore, our donations of de-branded workwear may support charitable causes, such as those of The Salvation Army, St. Vincents de Paul, Dress for Success and The Big Issue.
We’ve also conducted pilot projects to review circular design for product and potential additional service options to explore how workwear can be made for compostability and how recommerce models could extend garment life. To support this with data, we’re participating in Industry PhD program alongside RMIT and CSIRO. The aim of the program is to build tools to measure the environmental and economic impact of circular economy initiatives.