Working actively and continuously to reduce the environmental impact of our production

SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Since 2012, we have owned one of the largest roof-mounted photovoltaic systems in Vorarlberg and obtain approximately 10 % of our energy supply from our own solar power. In addition, we use the waste heat from the waste water from the dyeing plant to preheat the production water and to heat the hall ventilation. All in all, our energy consumption is below the legal requirements. By switching to video meetings and home office options, as well as travelling less and more consciously, we continue to improve our ecological footprint.

WASTE REDUCTION

Our employees are trained to be more environmentally and cost conscious and to improve waste separation. In 1991, the new waste management concept with careful waste separation led to a reduction of residual waste by about 60 %. Commercial waste is recycled. Our purchasing department influences all suppliers with regard to packaging reduction.

We also try to reduce the amount of waste in our production. Our residual materials are sold and used as cleaning cloths in workshops and other areas. Old needles and old circuit boards are sold to a company that recycles these parts. Defective machine parts are renewed or repaired at the manufacturers and reinstalled. Parts that are still usable are removed from old machines and reused in other machines.

We have a recycling circuit for our hangers. In addition, we do not automatically deliver hangers for a large part of our hanging garments. This means the retailer reuses existing hangers over and over again.

WATER SAVING

96 % of our total water requirements in production are sourced from our own wells. Thanks to an innovative, technological purification process without chemicals, our waste water is pH-neutral and can be reused through a closed water cycle. The remaining waste water may be discharged purified into Lake Constance, the largest drinking water reservoir in southern Germany. Through the continuous renewal and modernisation of the dyeing machines, water consumption per kilogram of fabric has been reduced by 50 % since the year 2000.

CO2 COMPENSATION PROJECTS

We have supported the reforestation projects of PLANT-MY-TREE and One Tree Planted in recent years. Both organisations plant trees and create new forest areas to neutralise unavoidable emissions and protect biodiversity. The aim is long-term CO2- compensation and thus sustainable environmental and climate protection. In addition, the projects create jobs, build communities and create habitat for wildlife.

SHORT TRANSPORT ROUTES

As early as 1989, we switched container shipping from trucks to trains. As a result we have already been able to save over 4 million lorry-kilometres.

FSC® CERTIFIED AND RECYCLABLE PACKAGING

All our product packaging, bags, gift boxes, lookbooks, catalogues and marketing materials are made of FSC®-certified paper or cardboard and, like our advertising materials, are produced in a climate-neutral way. Our box packaging has only a small viewing window made of foil. This makes it possible to recycle them as paper. The film for our polybags and sleeves is made from a recycled material (mix of production waste) and our clothes hangers are also part of a recycling loop.


We are continuously working on reducing packaging material and producing as sustainably as possible. We also make sure to use only a few finishes, such as foil lamination and UV varnish, as these pollute the environment and make recycling more difficult.

ÖKOPROFIT CERTIFIED

We are part of Ökoprofit Vorarlberg. Ökoprofit stands for "Ökologisches Projekt Für Integrierte Umwelt-Technik" (Ecological Project for Integrated Environmental Technology) and is a cooperation project between municipalities and local businesses with the aim of reducing operating costs while at the same time conserving natural resources.