A Uniform Sustainability Collaborative (USC) has been launched to promote sustainable, circular uniform design, production and consumption.
- This initiative by the Network Association of Uniform Manufacturers & Distributors (NAUMD), in collaboration with top industry leaders, brings stakeholders together to transform the uniform industry’s infrastructure, processes, and business models.
COLLECTIVE VISION: Members of the collaborative will work collectively to generate ideas, participate in network groups, and share expertise — all towards the common goal of reducing uniform industrial and consumer textile waste.
- This collective vision for uniform circularity brings new perspectives to the challenges and presents opportunities for continuous improvement.
- The leading providers that have agreed to work alongside USC and its members share the same commitment to shift towards a more circular uniform industry.
- These participating industry leaders include Debrand, WM and Martex Fiber.
THE CONTEXT: Last month, California proposed the Responsible Textile Recovery Act of 2023, which would require producers of clothing and other textiles commonly used in households and businesses, to implement and fund an extended producer responsibility (EPR) programme that will enhance textile recycling, facilitate repair, and increase the reuse of clothing within the industry.
- As a proactive collaborative, the USC will call upon innovation, collaboration, and expertise to uncover tangible ways to shift the industry towards uniform circularity in order to reduce textile waste’s devastating impact on the planet.
THE STAKEHOLDERS: The non-profit NAUMD creates a network of uniform, image apparel, and workwear companies in order to improve supply chains, innovation, and awareness. The trade association believes that heroes wear uniforms, that uniforms empower employees, and that uniform industry members are good corporate citizens.
- Debrand is a leading provider of reverse logistics solutions for apparel and footwear brands. By using its proprietary allocation engine technology to accurately identify, sort, grade, and allocate returned, damaged, and overproduced goods, it promises to ensure that the inventory is sent to the highest-value channel through its comprehensive network of textile resale, donation, repair, recycling, and responsible disposal partners.
WHAT THEY SAID:
The USC presents an important opportunity for leaders, stakeholders and decision-makers in the uniform industry to take a proactive and collaborative approach to tackling one of the biggest waste problems on the planet. The NAUMD network of companies supports legislation that encourages the textile, clothing uniform industry to be good corporate citizens, especially when it comes to matters of sustainability.
— Rick Levine
Executive Director
Network Association of Uniform Manufacturers & Distributors
We look forward to sharing valuable insights and expertise that we have harnessed from working with the top apparel brands so that we can work smarter together. There is a lot of transferable knowledge and relevant applications that would significantly benefit the uniform industry. This industry is in a very unique position to be leaders in both the sustainable design of apparel and the redirection of textiles away from international landfills due to its substantial oversight and control of design and distribution.
— Amelia Eleiter
CEO & Co-Founder
Debrand
