THE ALSICO ACADEMY
sustainability
We are rethinking workwear to protect not only the workers of the world, but also the planet we are fortunate to call home. Taking responsibility for the planet, for people, and for progress, we are pioneering a future where industry drives circular change and creates lasting value.
our strategy
the better future system
The Better Future System is our framework that guides how we deliver on our sustainability promises. Each step we take toward environmental, social, and governance (ESG) progress is purposeful and measurable to create lasting value for people, the planet, and our operations. Take a look at how our strategy comes to life.
arx
Arx is the home for all alsico initiatives in care, repair, rework, and recycling. Arx has been established to lead the workwear industry toward a circular economy.
3CL
3CL by arx is a groundbreaking project designed to create a fully closed-loop workwear solution. It’s an open initiative that welcomes collaboration with stakeholders across the textile industry.
commercial partnerships
One of our key sustainability partnerships is with professional laundries. They keep garments clean, maintained, and in use for as long as possible. When repairs are no longer possible, we recycle them, closing the loop for a circular textile industry.
These actions are not stand-alone projects, but part of our overall Better Future System strategy.
To learn how these actions create a positive impact, you can read our annual sustainability report.
the better future system
We reduce our negative impact and create lasting value. Our roadmap is build around three pillars: people, planet and operations.
our ESG reporting
As a company, we want to contribute to an economy that respects the planet's boundaries and guarantees basic social rights. We want to take this responsibility by systematically including ecological, social, and economic considerations in our daily policy.
We take responsibility for the impact we have on people and the planet, by actively reducing our negative impact whilst increasing our positive impact.
Vincent Siau, Head of the alsico academy
we are change makers
We are pushing the boundaries of what is possible as a large-scale organisation, doing our part in the world of sustainability. By driving sustainability in innovation, we are making transformational change.
if we want to change the world, we must act
Change does not come from intention alone. It comes from movement,
from bold choices, from doing what has not yet been done.
Alsico has been working tirelessly to develop a framework that enables operations
of our scale to do everything we can to reduce our impact on the world around us.
arx
the future wears circular
Arx is the home for all alsico initiatives in care, repair, rework, and recycling. Arx is designed for circularity, focusing on creating a circular economy for workwear. We encourage customers to return their used garments, which can then be repaired, reworked, or recycled. The goal is to extend the lifecycle of garments, reduce waste and footprint, and promote sustainable practices within the workwear textile industry. Arx has been established to lead the workwear industry toward a circular economy.
introducing 3CL
A key part of the arx initiative is 3CL,
our circularity campaign on closing the loop.
3CL is designed to fundamentally transform the workwear
textile industry by making circularity the new standard.
This is not only about sustainability; it is about redefining
value creation and assurance in the textile supply chain.
3CL
our journey to circular
We are committed to phasing out virgin fossil fuel-based materials and to achieving 90% preferred fibres across our product portfolio by 2040, with an interim target of 40% by 2030, prioritising recycled and regeneratively sourced fibres that lower environmental impact and support circular principles. This approach ensures that circularity starts with responsible material choices, while offering immediate opportunities for innovative suppliers to collaborate with us.
Pauline Latruwe, Sustainability & Education Coordinator
Our ambition is to create a fully integrated, circular supply chain. One where alsico garments are collected, recycled, and reintroduced into production, with every stage validated and improved through stakeholder collaboration. By setting the standards for recyclability, recycled content, and closed-loop operations, we are building a system where market participants rely on our performance for both end-of-life management and new material sourcing.
Vincent Siau, Head of the alsico academy
our journey to closed loop
Alsico is driven to find solutions that not only protect the workers of the world, but also the planet we live on. As a global brand, we are acutely aware of our responsibilities and work tirelessly to solve the most challenging sustainability demands. Our goal is to achieve 90% recycled fibres by 2040, and our first major step has recently been realised, launching our innovative circular garment made from 65% recycled polyester, made from our own end-of-life garments.
After successfully and extensively testing alsico will be launching a new generation of garments powered by fabrics made from polyester that do not rely on virgin fossil fuel, nor on waste from other industries, but on recycled textiles, waste from our own industry. More importantly, to truly close the loop and build our own textile circular economy, alsico managed to incorporate its own waste, even post-consumer in that loop. This was not only demonstrated through recyclability tests, which proved that end-of-life garments can be the source of new generated pellets, but a return supply chain has been set up to ensure nothing goes to waste and the loop can truly be closed.
Vincent Siau, Head of the alsico academy
partnerships
We are aware that in order for us to tackle the toughest challenges, we need to work collaboratively with partners, from our long term partnerships with laundries to our new and exciting partnerships with dynamic, forward thinking companies that are driving global change.
for the change makers, the disruptors, the pioneers and the visionaries...
PARTNERSHIPS
how stakeholders can contribute
Test and certify recyclability: We invite recyclers to conduct professional recyclability assessments of our garments. Your expertise will determine which components are compatible with your recycling technology and identify any barriers to full circularity.
Trial new recycling technologies: We are open to piloting all forms of recycled content and fibre recovery processes, including chemical, mechanical, and hybrid methods. Your innovations are essential to expanding the range of materials that can be reintegrated into our supply chain.
Test recycled content: We seek collaboration with partners who can develop and test fabrics made from recycled fibers, especially those derived from our own post-consumer and post-industrial garments. All new fabrics will undergo rigorous performance and laundering tests according to Alsico’s protocols, ensuring they meet industry standards for durability and usability.
Feedback loop: We encourage iterative testing and feedback to continuously improve the quality and performance of recycled-content fabrics.
Participate in wearer trials: We design and manufacture closed-loop garments for brands committed to circularity. Your participation in wearer satisfaction surveys and feedback sessions is vital to refining our products and meeting real-world needs.
Engage in systemic change: By joining our closed-loop initiative, you become part of a pioneering network shaping the future of more sustainable workwear.
Propose and test solutions: We welcome proposals for technologies and systems that support repair, collection, sorting, or dismantling. After initial review, promising solutions will be trialed and assessed.
"Join us to become a key player in the next-generation supply chain; where circularity, quality and innovation define the market, and where together, we set the benchmark for the industry of tomorrow."
Vincent Siau, Head of the alsico academy
PARTNERSHIPS
two decades of experience
For nearly twenty years, we have been collecting end-of-life
garments and researching the best “retirement plan” for textiles.
Our alsico academy team has tested many recycling
methods and learned what works best, from mechanical
shredding to advanced chemical recycling. These insights
help us continuously improve our recycling solutions
and our garment development.
PARTNERSHIPS
keeping clothes in use longer with our laundry partners
One of our most successful partnerships in sustainability is our partnerships with laundries, ensuring our customers’ garments are kept clean and neatly finished but also in use for as long as possible. When garments are damaged, they return to us for repairs and are then put back into circulation. Only when repairs are no longer possible, do we consider the garment to have reached its ‘end of life’, at which point we begin the recycling process.
PARTNERSHIPS
partnerships driving circularity
We are rethinking workwear to protect not only the workers of the world but also the planet we all call home. In partnership with Sixone Labs and Stuff4Life, we are turning end-of-life garments into new raw materials, and cutting down textile waste instead of it ending up in landfill or incineration. Together, we are creating closed-loop solutions for the workwear industry and achieving what many once thought impossible: a fully circular, industrial-scale workwear system. And we’re not stopping here, we’re partnering with leading recyclers to keep finding solutions to close the loop.
Sixone Labs
Turning tons of end-of-life garments into polyester pellets, which are spun into new yarns and used to produce new workwear.
Stuff4Life
Innovating a recycling method for reflective stripes by reclaiming and reusing the glass beads to create new high-performance stripes.
partnerships
verified efforts and responsible partnerships
Oekotex Standard 100
This certification ensures textiles are tested for harmful substances, helping protect the health of wearers. It supports our commitment to safety and responsible sourcing.
Better Cotton Initiative
As part of a broader commitment to sustainability, partnership with Better Cotton supports the global improvement of cotton farming. Since 2021, the goal has been to source only preferred fibres by 2040, with 100% of our cotton as BCI Cotton, recycled cotton, organic cotton, Fairtrade cotton etc.
the better future system
We reduce our negative impact and create lasting value. Our roadmap is build around three pillars: people, planet and operations.
We want to do the right things, but we also want to do things right. Therefore, we have created the Better Future System. We are engineers. We know how to run efficient factories, how to make great and qualitative garments. We are process driven and know how important assurance systems, like our quality assurance system, are. We simply applied the principles of a robust assurance system with processes and preventive and corrective actions, to our sustainability program.
the better future system
how we create impact today
-
material sourcing
83% of our emissions come from the materials we source. That’s why we set up an action plan to phase out our virgin fossil synthetics and focus on recycled and regenerative fibres.
-
arx
In 2024, we reclaimed 1.8% of end-of-life garments compared to the volume placed on the market that year. We also offered repair and second-life solutions to help extend product lifespan.
-
living wage
We are committed to paying living wages that go beyond legal minimums. Since 2022, we've set living wage benchmarks at our production sites in Madagascar, Laos, Morocco and Tunisia.
-
renewable energy
7 out of 15 of our locations generate their own renewable energy and our sites in Belgium are powered by 100% renewable energy making them Net Zero for scope 2 emissions.
-
biodiversity
We support various biodiversity restoration projects like Graîne de vie (tree nursery) and Madagascar Whale shark project to help restore our planet.
the better future system
from commitment to action
We not only established a sustainability strategy, but we also made sure its implementation through task forces is wide-spread throughout our group. We don’t have a sustainability department per say, sustainability has become a way of doing things and has seeped through every part of our organization, anchored in our DNA. We have established our objectives over 3-time horizons, and over three topics: environmental, social and governance.
our ESG reporting
We aim to build an economy that respects the planet’s limits and guarantees fundamental social rights. Responsible manufacturing means taking responsibility for our environmental and social impact. Our Oeko-Tex STeP certified production units ensure cost efficiency and a future-ready supply chain. These principles shape our daily policy and are documented in our ESG report, reflecting our commitment to full transparency.
our ESG reporting
how we get there
We're proud to present our 2024 Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) report, highlighting alsico Group's achievements in sustainability, inclusivity, and ethical practices. This report reflects our dedication to reducing environmental impact, empowering our workforce, and upholding the highest standards in everything we do.
-
environmental
planet
We are committed to reducing our environmental footprint and advancing sustainable practices across everything we do. Greenhouse gas emissions are lowered through material sourcing and energy performance is improved with a growing shift toward renewables. We protect and promote biodiversity throughout our operations. Our approach to chemistry supports safe and responsible innovation.
-
social
people
We care deeply about people, their well-being, growth, and respect. Learning and development are part of how we work, giving everyone the chance to grow. We commit to a Living Wage for all, ensuring fair and respectful pay. Across our supply chain, we promote workplaces that are safe, healthy, supportive, and engaging.
-
governance
operations
Our operations are designed to be more efficient and ethical. Transparency guides how we work, with clear accountability across the business and supply chain. We're compliant with all relevant regulations and standards, ensuring every step meets legal and ethical expectations. Quality is built into everything we do, with high standards at the core of every product and service.
our esg reporting
we are continuously working on making a positive impact on the environment and the people
As a company, we want to contribute to an economy that respects the planet's boundaries and guarantees basic social rights. We want to take this responsibility by systematically including ecological, social, and economic considerations in our daily policy.
-
our olive oil production
In the olive groves of Tunisia, our colleague Ridha Souissi and his father Tijeni produce extra virgin olive oil from their family garden, carrying on a tradition rooted in care and craftsmanship. As a proud family-owned company, alsico is proud to support their work and the values it represents.
-
Madagascar whale sharks
Alsico is proud to back the Madagascar Whale Shark Project’s research on baby whale sharks. These gentle giants are essential to marine ecosystems, and understanding their early stages is crucial for their conservation.
-
Madagascar tree nursery
In the vibrant landscapes of Madagascar, alsico has established a dedicated tree nursery as part of its commitment to offset emissions. Since 2018, alsico has already planted more than 253,000 trees, making a positive environmental impact through the initiative.
contact
request more information
meet our sustainability expert
Pauline Latruwe
Sustainability & Education Coordinator
Pauline Latruwe
Sustainability & Education Coordinator
Pauline graduated as a fashion technologist in Gent. That’s where her interest in product quality in the workwear and PPE industry ignited. She started her career at the Belgian federation of companies active in fashion, clothing and manufacturing. There she gave industry-related advice on quality, safety and sustainability topics.
She mainly worked on public procurements for governance instances. She was writing the technical file and setting requirements, evaluating the entries and production.
Pauline believes that with quality comes sustainability. It’s not a checkbox for a company but needs to be intertwined within every process. Alsico has that mindset. And with alsico striving to be the voice of the industry it was only logical to want to be part of this team and make a change.
latest sustainability stories
