Managed workwear service providers are demonstrating how commercial success and circularity can go hand in hand by extending garment lifespans through repair, laundering, reuse and recycling, according to “Managed workwear services—a circular textile economy ahead of the game”, a new 14-page report from the global business information company Textiles Intelligence.
Across Europe, a number of companies have transformed workwear from a manufacturing business into one based on managed services. Rather than just supplying garments, these companies retain ownership of the garments throughout their working lives, taking responsibility for tracking, laundering, repairing, replacing and, ultimately, recycling.
As a result, these companies have created one of the textile industry’s most mature examples of a circular business model. Unlike conventional apparel manufacturers, managed workwear service providers generate value by extending the useful life of every garment for as long as possible. Consequently, garments are designed to withstand hundreds of industrial laundering cycles, provide comfort, maintain compliance with safety standards, and be easy to repair.
At the same time, managed workwear service providers have evolved into highly sophisticated logistics businesses. Technologies such as radio frequency identification (RFID), automated sorting systems and digital inventory management enable garments to be tracked throughout their service lives, thereby helping to maximize garment longevity, reduce operating costs and minimize environmental impact.
By retaining ownership of garments from manufacture to end-of-life recovery, managed workwear service providers have developed a complete business model for traceability, maintenance and recycling in a form which much of the wider apparel industry is only just beginning to establish. Actively driving this business model are several leading European companies, including Alsico, CWS Workwear, Elis, Fristads, Lindström, Mascot and Mewa.
As a result, managed workwear services provide one of the clearest examples of how circularity can be achieved on a commercial scale. And while this business model is not directly applicable to every sector of the apparel industry, it demonstrates that retaining ownership of garments creates strong commercial incentives to maximize durability, facilitate repair and recover valuable materials.
