Sympatex® Sustainability Management
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Sympatex® Sustainability Management March 2019 Table of Contents 1 Global Challenges ............................................................................................................................ 3 2 The Challenges of the Textile Industry ............................................................................................ 4 3 Corporate Objective ........................................................................................................................ 5 4 Sustainability Strategy ..................................................................................................................... 6 5 The water, energy and chemical-intensive Textile Industry ........................................................... 9 5.1 OekoTex® / REACH .................................................................................................................. 9 5.2 bluesign® ................................................................................................................................. 9 5.3 ZDHC ...................................................................................................................................... 10 5.4 PFC-free ................................................................................................................................. 10 6 Social Compliance .......................................................................................................................... 12 7 Transparency in the Supply Chain ................................................................................................. 13 7.1 Sustainable Apparel Coalition ............................................................................................... 13 7.2 Partnership for Sustainable Textiles ...................................................................................... 13 8 Climate Compensation .................................................................................................................. 14 9 Resource and Waste Reduction .................................................................................................... 20 9.1 Sympatex Membrane - Pre-consumer Recycling .................................................................. 21 9.2 Recycled and Recyclable Laminates ...................................................................................... 22 9.3 Recycling of Garments – Close the Loop ............................................................................... 23 9.4 Care and Repair ..................................................................................................................... 26 10 Overview Performance and Ecology ......................................................................................... 27 10.1 Technical Comparison ........................................................................................................... 27 10.2 Ecological Comparison .......................................................................................................... 27 2 Global Challenges 1 Global Challenges Since Sympatex was founded around 30 years ago, the world population has grown by 50%. At the same time, humankind has increased the use of the Earth’s resources to 1.5 times of the regeneration capability of our planet. Currently, we are using the resources of our children’s generation – and we will leave them growing mountains of waste. It is therefore not surprising that four of the most likely and high-impact risks, according to the 2016 World Economic Forum, are the failure of climate protection, water crises, collapse of the ecosystem and exploding energy prices. The "Sustainable Development Goals" (SDGs) adopted in 2015 in the Paris Agreement are intended to counteract these risks. They contain a total of 17 different topics on social and economic developments as well as the protection of our planet. Sympatex® focuses on its capabilities and strengths and is particularly committed to the following development goals: SDG 8 "Decent Work and Economic Growth", SDG 9 "Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure", SDG 12 "Responsible Consumption and Production”, SDG 13 "Climate Change" and the SDG 17" Partnerships for the Goals ". As a medium-sized company Sympatex® faces great challenges and opportunities. The company is not only dedicated to sustainability in order to be a reliable and attractive partner to apparel companies, but also as a solution finder for global challenges in the textile industry. 3 The Challenges of the Textile Industry 2 The Challenges of the Textile Industry Sympatex, a manufacturer of 100% waterproof, windproof and highly breathable membranes and laminates for footwear, workwear, sportswear, fashion and accessories, faces five major challenges. Each one has potential for progress and the opportunity to improve. These topics are listed below. The measures taken by Sympatex® are described in detail in the following chapters. 1. The textile industry is one of the most water, chemistry and energy-intensive industries in the world. This promotes global warming, water scarcity and resource consumption. In addition, future generations and nature are endangered by harmful substances. 2. The garment industry employs thousands of people worldwide, often not in accordance with international social standards. Poverty, hunger and lack of health and education can be the result. A life in human dignity is often not guaranteed. 3. The supply chain is long and intransparent Environmental measures and safe social standards can only be achieved through transparency. The risks of missing climate protection, the collapse of the ecosystem and social instability are the consequences. 4. Immeasurable environmental impacts The failure of climate targets, water crises and public disorder will increase. 5. High resource consumption and waste production Apparel production doubled between 2000 and 2014. Accordingly, the consumption of resources has risen rapidly. This goes along with large waste production. 4 Corporate Objective 3 Corporate Objective “Uncompromising transparency is the key to give the end customer the possibility to make well-informed buying decisions at the stores”, says Dr. Rüdiger Fox, CEO Sympatex Technologies about this proactive step. “By not only focusing on the high functionality of outdoor clothing but also showing the ecological price tag that burdens the next generation with the purchase, we can change the industry together in a way that it will sustainably protect what it appreciates most: an intact nature.” Dr. Rüdiger Fox, CEO Therefore, it is our aim to do not only what is legally necessary but what is technically possible in order to contribute so that the textile industry can close the ecological cycle as soon as possible. Through our own development and a close dialogue with our customers, we would like to create a clothing industry that combines high individual demands with the uncompromising responsibility for the coming generations. We believe that this doesn’t have to be a contradiction. At the same time, we think that it is not enough to only optimise certain aspects like durability. For us, it is the highest degree of freedom to commit ourselves voluntarily to reach an aim to the best of our ability: closing the loop. We invite our customers to join us in reaching this common aim. Dr. Rüdiger Fox, CEO Sympatex® Technologies 5 Sustainability Strategy 4 Sustainability Strategy Agenda 2020: step-by-step more sustainability Sympatex® aims at closing the ecological loop in the functional clothing sector by 2020. Sympatex offers its portfolio in five dedicated laminate categories, focusing on sustainable aspects. These range from “10% Sympathy Inside” for the minimum level of sustainability to “100% Sympathy Inside” for the best ecological category that meets all the requirements for a closed apparel loop. The criteria range from the sustainable use of raw materials, consumed energy and water up to avoiding harmful climate gases and the banning of chemical toxins. They also include the ability of recycling valuable material. Now Sympatex invites all manufacturers to the “Sympathy Lab” that has been initiated for this purpose to jointly embark on the journey to completely sustainable outdoor clothing by 2020. 6 Sustainability Strategy 7 Sustainability Strategy 8 The water, energy and chemical-intensive Textile Industry 5 The water, energy and chemical-intensive Textile Industry The global consequences of the resource-intensive textile industry are global warming, water scarcity, eutrophication and scarcity of resources. In addition, future generations and nature are endangered by harmful substances. Sympatex® has been working intensively on the subject of pollutant management for many years and is playing a pioneering role in the textile functional specialist industry. As a supplier, Sympatex® can help companies implement the use of harmless chemicals along the entire supply chain as well as the reduction of water and energy in the production process, materials and logistics. 5.1 OekoTex® / REACH Sympatex® Technologies is a founding member of the testing and certification system Oeko-Tex® Standard 100. Textile products are tested for harmful substances according to strict standards. All Sympatex® membranes, laminates and tapes have been tested annually. Thereby, Sympatex® and its customers secure themselves with regard to the European legislation REACH. Since 2017, Sympatex® has also tested all membranes, laminates and tapes according