Peter Domigan, managing director of the Hultafors Group UK that designs and manufactures the EMMA, Solid Gear and Toe Guard brands of safety shoes, is looking at why the organization is taking some key steps to improve the overall footprint of its products. Just as the effects of plastic waste on the environment have come to the center of consumer awareness in recent years, the problems caused by the disposal of shoes and clothing are also coming to the fore. Images of “garbage collectors” on our mountains of waste clothes in Africa are a growing concern as landfill sites become overcrowded and we dump our waste on someone else’s doorstep. It’s not just consumer waste that causes problems. Used clothing and shoes from businesses also end up in landfills or in mountains of waste overseas, and therefore must be disposed of in an environmentally responsible manner so that the “footprints” can be maintained at levels that benefit everyone, not just the environment. Responsible Policies: This is why having sustainable and environmentally responsible footwear and workwear has become an essential part of corporate sustainability policies. In addition, without responsible management, pressure on sources of raw materials will increase, manufacturing costs will increase and working conditions will deteriorate. Some workwear and protective clothing – including items in the Snickers workwear collection – are now made from specialty textiles featuring recycled polyester. Snickers Workwear is also a member of the Better Cotton Initiative, the world’s largest cotton sustainability program that aims to make global cotton production better for the people who produce it as well as the environment in which it grows. A commitment to provide 80% of the brand’s cotton fabrics as “more sustainable cotton” by 2023. This means that the cotton is sourced either through the Better Cotton Initiative, organic cotton, or recycled cotton. We have all seen how quickly the clothing and footwear containers in waste disposal centers fill up, which is why companies not only have to source efficient but also ensure that shoes and clothing are disposed of in an environmentally responsible manner. The circular approach The latest addition to the Hultafors range of brand – EMMA safety shoes – has the solution by incorporating a “100% circular” policy into all its products. Each product in the range is made entirely from recycled or recyclable materials, providing a 100% “circular” manufacturing, use and recycling process for every shoe and shoe they produce. Crucially, it is complemented by a service that takes back used shoes and boots for recycling when replaced with new EMMA products, thus enabling environmentally responsible companies and individuals to leave a positive footprint in their workplaces. With a pedigree of 90 years, EMMA Safety Footwear is a fully EU approved line of footwear and footwear that meets a wide range of user and workplace needs – including light and heavy industrial, chemical, construction, utility and logistics as well as office and retail environments. Complementing the Solid Gear and Toe Guard range, these safety shoes have all the hallmarks of the Hultafors range of high-tech designs that combine high-quality materials for comfort, the ultimate in safety and luxury on the job. View the catalog of EMMA safety shoes by clicking here
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