Home » Circular Uniform Design: Redefining Sustainability | Murray Uniforms
Circular uniform design is reshaping how organisations think about workwear. Instead of a linear “make, use, dispose” approach, circularity creates closed-loop systems where materials are reused, recycled, and regenerated, minimising waste and significantly reducing environmental impact.
With only 9% of corporate workwear currently recycled for reuse (WRAP) and 90% going to landfill or incineration, circular uniform design is becoming essential for organisations committed to sustainability, CSR, and net-zero strategies. This article explores what circular design means, how it applies to uniforms, and how Murray Uniforms is pioneering practical, commercially viable solutions.
Circular design is a design philosophy that ensures products are created with their entire lifecycle in mind, for reuse, repair, remanufacture, or recycling. Unlike traditional models, circular design aims to:
Eliminate waste
Keep materials in use for as long as possible
Regenerate natural systems
Reduce carbon emissions associated with production and disposal
In uniform garments often contain mixed fibres branding, metal trims, and PPE elements, this means circularity requires intentional design choices from day one.
The textiles industry produces 19 garments per person per year globally, making recycling complex and labour-intensive. Corporate uniform recycling is particularly low because:
Many garments use blended fibres that are hard to separate
Branding poses a security risk so garments have to be disposed of securely
Trims like buttons, zips, and plastics complicate recycling
Most organisations lack mandated recycling processes for uniform wearers
These challenges are outlined throughout the our Uniform End-of-Life whitepaper, particularly on pages 2-4, which detail current recycling rates, barriers, and the complexity of standard uniform materials. You can request your copy via our resources page.
2. Circularity Directly Reduces Carbon Footprint
The Nearly 80% of a uniform’s carbon footprint comes from raw material production (cotton, polyester, etc.) according to our own carbon footprint analysis (further detail is available on request). This means meaningful carbon reduction can only happen by designing better fabrics and lifecycle pathways from the outset.
Circular design supports carbon reduction by:
Extending garment life
Enabling recycling into new fibres
Reducing reliance on virgin materials
Diverting workwear away from landfill or incineration
Supporting credible net-zero strategies
Our research has found that employees place a high value on uniform that comes from sustainable sources.
Our approach is built on decades of textile knowledge and continuous work with recycling experts to deliver practical, scalable circular systems.
Circularity begins at the design table. Murray incorporates:
Careful material choices to minimise blends and maximise recyclability
Easy-disassembly trims, reducing metal/plastic components
Longer-lasting construction to prolong garment life
Limited use of mixed fibers that avoids blocking later recycling
Even small design tweaks, such as avoiding plastic-reinforced caps or unnecessary mixed-material panels, reduce reliance on Solid Fuel Recovery (or incineration) and allow garments to become truly circular.
Switching to sustainable and recycled fabrics immediately reduces workwear carbon footprint. Our research shows that reasonable sustainability efforts at source can cut the amount of CO2 per wearer by nearly half. These reductions are among the fastest and most cost-efficient ways for organisations to move towards net-zero.
Most recyclers will not process branded uniform due to security and traceability concerns. Murray’s end-of-life system ensures:
Secure transport
Shredding of all branding
Certificates of destruction
Waste Processed Fibre (WPF) recycling into acoustic panels, insulation, sewer lining, automotive materials, etc.
Currently, only 1–2% of garments require Solid Fuel Recovery (or incineration,) meaning almost all items can be responsibly recycled.
We are actively working towards closed-loop recycling, breaking blended fibres back into usable ‘virgin’ fibres to remake new garments. This technology is expected to become commercially viable in 3 – 5 years.
The goal:
A uniform system where no material loses value and nothing goes to landfill.
Designing garments to last longer reduces replacement cycles and carbon per wear.
Choosing mono-materials or compatible blends improves end-of-life outcomes.
Simple choices—like removable badges or consistent trims—enable quicker recycling.
Uniform programmes need clear tracking of:
material composition
recycling obligations
ownership of end-of-life materials
where items go after use
Circularity only works when employees return worn items. It’s vital that your uniform partner has an easy to follow recycling solution for wearers.
Circular design supports net-zero commitments in several ways:
Reducing the carbon-intensive production of virgin materials
Lowering transport emissions through nearshore and efficient production
Enabling recycling rather than landfill
Supporting measurable carbon reductions at scale (e.g. thousands of tonnes saved for programmes of 10,000+ wearers)
By connecting circular design with measurable CO₂ data, organisations can link uniform choices directly to CSR and ESG outcomes.
Modern consumers expect authenticity in sustainability, especially in retail and customer-facing sectors. Staff and customers increasingly value credible end-of-life solutions.
Circular uniform design gives organisations:
Visible CO₂ savings
Reduced waste impact
Stronger environmental credentials
Greater employee engagement
Enhanced brand reputation
The industry is close to commercial systems that recycle mixed fibres back into new textile fibres without quality loss. Once fully viable, this will:
Eliminate Solid Fuel Recovery
Avoid down-cycling into lower-value uses
Create genuine circularity, old garments becoming new garments
This is the long-term ambition of Murray Uniforms, and we are actively engaged in partnerships and research to accelerate this.
Circular uniform design is the next major shift in sustainable workwear. With clear environmental, financial, and brand benefits, circularity offers organisations a pathway to:
Reduce carbon emissions
Avoid landfill and incineration
Meet net-zero and ESG commitments
Provide employees with truly sustainable uniforms
Murray Uniforms is leading this transition, designing for longevity, selecting better materials, implementing secure end-of-life processes, and preparing for commercially viable closed-loop recycling. Learn more about sustainability at Murray Uniforms.
Circular uniform design is no longer a future concept. It is becoming the new standard.
