Just as the effects of plastic waste on the environment have been brought to the centre of consumer awareness by the recent COP26 summit, so too are the problems caused by the disposal of clothing and shoes.

Images of ‘ragpickers’ on our waste clothing mountains in Africa are an increasing cause for concern as landfill sites in the UK become overwhelmed and we dispose of our waste on someone else’s doorstep. 

That’s why the sourcing of sustainable and environmentally-responsible workwear and safety footwear is becoming a key part of our environmental consciousness. 

Fabric technology has always been a key driver in the design and development of market-leading working clothes for plumbers. Fabrics that deliver comfort, functionality, flexibility, and durability are key components in appropriate, on-site workwear for plumbers.  

Now, as consumers strive to reduce their impact on the planet, the most forward-thinking companies are implementing a policy of replacing conventional fabrics in their workwear products with sustainable fabrics – Preferred Fibres. 

For those unfamiliar with the term, Preferred Fibres are items containing more sustainable properties than conventional man-made alternatives. 

The increasing levels of awareness about the impact of waste on our environment, is likely to have an impact on people’s choice of work clothes in years to come. 

For the most forward-thinking workwear suppliers, this product development and design philosophy can be applied to every new product being brought to market, with the additional assurance that design, comfort, functionality, and durability will not be compromised in any way to satisfy sustainability targets.

Snickers Workwear, for instance, has an objective of ensuring that, by 2030, 70% of the fabrics it uses comprise Preferred Fibres – up from its current total of 40%.
Given that almost any fabric and garment can be developed with recycled polyester yarn, conventional fibres such as polyester are now being replaced with Preferred Fibres, which have full manufacturing transparency and traceability, thus reducing our climate impact and preventing waste from going into landfill. 

Man-made materials, such as nylon and polyester fabrics, can easily be recycled to create new Preferred Fibres that have the same performance levels in comfort, flexibility, and durability as their predecessors. They also form part of a design process that brings longer-lasting garments to the market that not only increase value for money for the wearer but, with their increased life-cycle, also reduce the amount of clothing that goes to landfill or waste mountains abroad. 

While developing you and your company’s sustainability roadmap, making a conscious to buy sustainable garments such as these is an easy but important step you can take, one that will contribute to the environment in saving valuable resources such as energy and water.