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Enable sustainability

We act sustainably for people and the environment. We have set clear targets for 2025 in the areas of CO2 emissions, water consumption and sustainable raw materials.

UN-Goals

Sustainable development goals (SDGs)

As part of the global community, we align our sustainability goals with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). We focus on those SDGs where we have the greatest impact.

EFFECTIVE CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION COMES FROM COOPERATION.

Therefore, we participate in the following sustainability initiatives:

Science Based Targets Initiative

Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi)

The Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) is a global initiative that aims to provide companies with a clear pathway to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and increase their competitive advantage in the transition to a low-carbon economy. The targets are calculated on a scientific basis to ensure that global warming is limited.

Elevate Textiles joined SBTi in September 2019. Since then, the company has expanded its commitment by joining the “Business Ambitions 1.5 °C” campaign and evaluating its emission reduction targets along the entire value chain.

Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC)

The Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) is an association of more than 250 brands, manufacturers and companies in the textile industry, retailers, suppliers, service providers, trade associations, non-profit organisations/NGOs and academic institutions working worldwide to reduce the environmental and social impact of products. With the Higg Index, SAC has developed an instrument that measures and evaluates the sustainability performance of products along the entire supply chain and identifies priority areas of action and opportunities.

At A&E Gütermann, we have been using the tools of the SAC Higg Index since 2014 to transparently assess the sustainability of our production sites. We are currently using the Higg Facility Environmental Module and are introducing the Higg Facility Social & Labor Module in order to map wages, working hours, health and safety.

Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC)

A&E Gütermann is a member of the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) initiative. We are thus committed to eliminating hazardous chemicals in the manufacturing process and complying with the Manufactured Restricted Substances List. The ZDHC Initiative provides companies with support and guidelines for implementing sustainable chemical management. ZDHC’s Manufacturing Restricted Substance List (MRSL) is designed to identify hazardous chemicals to reduce them in wastewater.

Our dye facilities account for chemical use with monthly ZDHC InCheck reports. Our goal is to eliminate substances from the Manufacturer’s Restricted Substance List. We are currently able to comply with MRSL v2.0 up to 73 %.

Nachhhaltige Rohstoffe aus Recycling oder Bio-Landwirtschaft

Responsibly sourced fibres

Through various collaborations and initiatives, Elevate Textiles is committed to making the supply and value chain more sustainable. The aim is to develop sensible solutions and create revolutionary products that reflect the commitment to the environment.

UN Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action

In 2019, Elevate Textiles joined the United Nations Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action (UNFCCC). In line with the climate goals of the Paris Agreement, the charter pursues the stated goal of reducing emissions along the entire value chain and achieving climate neutrality by 2050. By signing the charter, Elevate Textiles wants to highlight its commitment to a low-carbon future for the textile industry. We are proud to be the only sewing thread manufacturer to participate in the charter.

THE “TEN THREADS OF SUSTAINABILITY” ARE OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR SUSTAINABLE ACTION.

Elevate is committed to the goals of the Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action, taking active responsibility for climate neutrality and reducing CO2 emissions. Elevate uses Greenhouse Gas Protocol definitions and calculation methods to determine global greenhouse gas emissions. Elevate has been tracking Scope 1 and 2 emissions data for several years and has achieved a significant reduction of at least 7.7%.

Dyeing and finishing processes are the most water-intensive stages of textile production. Elevate takes responsible use of water very seriously and has many investments, such as water treatment systems, operator training and resources to improve waste water quality. Compared to 2016, more than 2.5 million cubic metres were recycled across the company in 2020 and a global water recycling rate of 13.3 % was achieved.

Production of textile products requires a significant amount of energy. That’s why Elevate is committed to using as many renewable and environmentally friendly energy sources as possible. Projects are continuously being carried out to identify potential savings and thus reduce energy consumption.

Elevate strives to reduce packaging to the bare essentials and to reduce the materials used per unit shipped. The aim is also to increase the use of reusable and recyclable packaging materials. To avoid waste, American & Efird offers a cone take-back program in some regions.

Elevate sees the promotion of a resource-efficient circular economy as one of the most important solutions for the successful reduction of landfill waste in the textile industry. Elevate is always working to reduce, reuse and recycle any by-products that are produced in factories. Monthly waste and recycling figures are analysed at each plant.

Elevate has several sustainable product lines in all areas of the company. Elevate is committed to using more sustainable fibres – 80 % sustainable cotton and 50 % recycled polyester – by 2025. Significant improvements have been made in sustainable cotton and the share is 68 % for global sourcing.

For Elevate, global security and social responsibility are key commitments to employees, customers and partners. In order to check compliance with defined standards, third-party social compliance audits and customer audits are carried out. As a member of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition, Elevate is committed to conducting an annual assessment using the Higg-Facility Social & Labor Module (FSLM). The FSLM analyses and evaluates aspects such as occupational safety and social working conditions and the results can be viewed by customers and partners.

Elevate attaches great importance to compliance with social standards and rules on environmental protection within the supply chain. Fair treatment of people in particular is a key concern. Therefore, suppliers are required to sign the Elevate Supplier Code of Conduct to ensure responsible business practices are followed throughout the supply chain. The aim of a sustainable supply chain is to create social, ecological and economic benefits for all stakeholders in the long term.

Elevate is a member of the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) initiative, which aims to eliminate harmful substances from the entire production process. ZDHC is also concerned with the correct treatment of waste water. The Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MRSL) is central to ZDHC. This is a list of substances that are either completely banned or restricted by limits. Currently, 70 % of inventories are produced in compliance with the ZDHC MRSL standards. Elevate plans to achieve 100 % MRSL compliance by the end of 2021.

Elevate strives to provide education and training to employees and customers and share knowledge about initiatives for a sustainable industry. Several internal trainings on sustainability and certification programs have therefore already been conducted and investments made in external training for employees. Elevate regards working with industry members as key for sustainable development in the industry. That’s why Elevate Textiles has joined the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) with more than 250 brands and retailers, manufacturers, government agencies, non-profit organisations and academic institutes. By joining the SAC, the implementation of the Higg index in the supply chain will be further expanded.

Recycelte Produkte

OUR SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTS

We also want to drive sustainable development at the product level. With our range of sustainable sewing threads, we create innovative and high-quality products for a sustainable future.

Libelle Nachhaltigkeit

2021 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT

We are pleased to present to you our sustainability goals and progress in our new 2021 Corporate Sustainability Report, the first report of its kind for Elevate. As a signatory to the UN Global Compact and the UN CEO Water Mandate, this report also serves as our first Communication on Progress.

CERTIFIED SUSTAINABILITY