SMI ESG Strategy - Flipbook - Page 32
TE
ST E P S
9
CT
SUSTAINABLE
WORKWEAR SUPPLIES
TO
AND PRE
E
PR
O
IN G
V
K
TA
SE
R
Work Hard, Wear Smarter
SMI choose to work with suppliers that provide
high quality workwear and competitive lead
times benefiting our customers. We work hard
on forming strong long-lasting relationships with
our suppliers. In recent years we have been able
to build on our great working relationships with a
select few suppliers who embody a similar ethos
to SMI and have shifted their focus regarding their
impact on the environment. Helping us as a business
expand our sustainable product range and offer
our customers the opportunity to improve their
ecological footprint.
Nearly half of the worlds clothing is made up of
polyester and this is set to double by 2030 to keep
up with demand. This textile is not sustainable as
polyester is made from polyethylene terephthalate
(PET), one of the most common forms of plastic in
the world and is estimated to take approximately
450 years to fully break down. In terms of
quality, recycled polyester is almost identical as
virgin polyester including durable, lightweight,
crease-resistant, colourfast, quick-drying, stain
resistant however its impact on the environment
is significantly less. The production of recycled
polyester requires almost 60% less energy in
comparison to virgin polyester. Developing a nonvirgin supply chain of polyester fibre could positively
impact the environment, a direction majority of
businesses within the textile industry have taken
including several our supplier.
Traffi Glove have become a key player within the
hand protection market, not only offering high
quality products but the world’s first certified
carbon neutral safety gloves. Traffi’s have taken
extraordinary steps to provide a sustainable
product for our customers through offsetting using
carbon credits and lowering their emissions where
possible. Covering the Life Extending Technology
(LXT) product range product cycle up until the
customer delivery point. Including the extraction
of raw materials, manufacturing of the gloves and
shipping to the UK, this means this product has zero
negative impact on the environment. This LXT range
has not compromised on the quality of the product,
the gloves are washable, reusable with increased
dexterity and thinner and lighter.
FUN FACT:
ZERO
PLASTIC
PACKAGING
Using 1000 pairs of the
TG1240 gloves means you
can avoid 914.20kg of CO2
emissions! This is the same
as X40 bags of waste being
recycled instead of ending
at landfill.
Over 500,000 Traffi’s poly bags
have been replaced with their own
unique recyclable card wrap.
32
ENVIRONMENTAL I SOCIAL I GOVERNANCE
