Eco-Friendly Uniform Recycling

Two in seven people in the UK now wear a uniform which equates to 30 million garments per year; every year 15,000 tonnes of old clothing is simply dumped into landfill, and that’s why we believe manufacturers and distributors need to think harder about recycling.

Increased demand for clothing has come at a cost. The World Wildlife Fund has estimated that it takes 8,500 litres (2,245 gallons) to raise 1kg (2.2 pounds) of cotton lint which is just enough to make two shirts or a pair of chinos. The use of pesticides and fertilizers, in addition to water, makes the global textile industry one of the most polluting and waste-generating sectors in the world. Plenty of companies boast about apparel made from PET bottles, but when that item of apparel is no longer wanted, its disposal once again becomes a nagging issue.

Further complicating the sustainability of the global garment industry is that recycling textiles is problematic. The various fibres that comprise clothing make reprocessing and recycling a challenge. Some materials such as cotton and linen can be composted, but petroleum-based fibres such as polyester have little capacity for reuse. Additional complications in uniform are garments with customers logos, and the real reputational risks associated therefore with Recycling.

Murray’s Commitment to Innovation and Sustainability

As part of our Environment Stewardship and promise to help clients achieve their sustainability goals, we have developed a number of safe recycling innovations appropriate to different garment compositions.

These innovative solutions see uniform garments translated into hi-tec wipers, tote bags, matting; a Government backed insulation scheme which reduces energy requirements, and many more.

All schemes accord and fulfil the top three levels of “the waste hierarchy”; additionally, a certificate of reuse is provided with each batch to support client’s environmental credentials and audit trail.