FibreGuard’s in-house sustainability roadmap: small battles

In today's corporate landscape, sustainability is no longer just a buzzword – it's a necessity. Businesses everywhere are grappling with the urgent need to reduce their environmental footprint. At FibreGuard and everyone in the wider Bru Textiles group, we hope to stand as an example of a company making positive, tangible change.

We’ve just updated our 2024 Sustainability statement, and we’re excited to share how we’re doing. This is the first post in a series explaining our wins, and how we got there.

Through a series of innovative initiatives, we have embraced sustainability as a core value, taking small but significant steps towards a greener future. Today we’re unpacking the specific actions we have implemented to promote sustainability in the textiles industry. Ready for a showcase of our "small battles" approach?

Let’s start.

Employee Engagement Programs

The journey towards sustainability began with our most valuable asset – our staff. By engaging and empowering our workforce, we foster a culture of environmental awareness and responsibility. One of the key initiatives aimed at reducing paper consumption is the transition to paperless operations and screen-based work. This shift not only conserves natural resources but also promotes efficiency and streamlines workflows.

Moreover, we have made recycling a top priority, strategically placing recycling containers throughout our offices in a system that also makes sorting our waste easier for everyone. Everyone is encouraged to recycle, and thanks to this waste-management system design, this milestone has been incredibly easy to achieve.

Solar Energy Production and Sustainable Transportation Initiatives

We have significantly increased our solar energy production. This is probably the most obvious sign of our dedication to sustainability. In fact, from 2022 to 2024, we have achieved a staggering 200% increase in solar energy generation. Solar energy plays a pivotal role in FibreGuard's overall environmental strategy, providing a clean source of power for its operations.

Let’s go beyond our office walls and into the parking lot.

Currently, an impressive 70% of the Bru Team vehicles are electric, and we have set an ambitious goal of achieving a 100% electric fleet by 2027. We also provides bicycles to our sportier staff as an alternative mode of transport, encouraging employees to reduce their carbon footprint while getting some exercise and fresh air in at the same time.

Download our 2024 Sustainability statement.

Internal Operations and Waste Management

Our approach to all of this has many moving parts, from bikes to solar power, to all kinds of different aspects of our internal operations and industrial waste management practices. Here are four key wins so far:

1. The Stillage Returns Program is a prime example of how we’re thinking on our feet. By collaborating with customers, we’re ensuring that stillages (pallets used for transporting materials) are returned and reused, minimising the need for new materials. This kind of program actually began in the brewing industry, recycling casks and barrels! Of course, even though this isn’t identical to beverage industry's version of Stillage Returns Programs, it still serves the same purpose: reducing waste, lowering costs, and improving supply chain efficiency.
2. We’re not only recycling and reusing stillages, we’re repurposing our fabric offcuts too. This not only helps to keep textile waste from just going into landfills, but it also contributes to a circular economy, where materials are continuously reused and recycled.
3. We’re actively investigating alternative paper and printing methods for physical fabric samples, opting for sustainable options. We also work extensively with digital twin technology and digital fabric sampling: learn more here.
4. Finally, we’re fully committed to using only FSC-certified cardboard and recycled plastics to guarantee that our packaging materials are sourced from responsibly managed forests and recycled materials. We don’t use any virgin plastic to protectively wrap up our fabric rolls when they’re on the road. Read more about recycled plastics and textiles here.

The "Small Battles" Approach

Even though we’re a big company, we value the importance of small, incremental improvements. Every step is a small battle for us, and this approach recognises that every effort, no matter how tiny, can have a significant impact when combined and sustained over time.

We encourage our employees, customers, and stakeholders to adopt similar practices in their own workplaces and daily lives. By taking small steps towards sustainability, individuals and organizations alike can make a big difference in the world.

Conclusion

Our climate actions are a testament to the power of small, consistent actions. At Bru Textiles, and FibreGuard, we’re working together to build a better future through employee engagement, sustainable transportation initiatives, eco-friendly operations, and a dedication to renewable energy.

We go above and beyond to meet the highest eco standards, such as REACH and ISO 14001, showcasing our dedication to creating products that are both safe and environmentally responsible.

Learn more about our sustainability statement both at FibreGuard and in Bru Textiles, our larger group.