Sustainability

Made To Last

All our uniform is Made to Last — a performance and ethical commitment that has been at the core of our organisation since we first started making clothing in 1865. Careful design and attention to detail during the manufacturing process means Trutex uniform is often outgrown, not outworn, and can be passed on for another year's wear.

Longer-lasting uniform means fewer items are needed throughout a pupil's school career. This not only helps families save money but also reduces overall environmental impact.

Many customers tell us how long Trutex uniform lasts. We recently heard about a 30-year-old blouse that's still being worn today! Read the full story here.

This practical approach to sustainability is far removed from fast fashion and helps Trutex uniform live on for many years.

Carbon Neutral

Carbon offsetting is one way to mitigate the carbon we use as a business by investing in projects that generate measurable environmental benefits. Since 2012, we have undertaken annual audits to verify our carbon usage against Scope 1 and 2 and part of Scope 3 over the previous 12-month period. This audit is completed to ISO 14064 standards and in line with the Greenhouse Gas Protocol.

Once our carbon footprint has been calculated, we offset it by investing in carbon-positive projects around the world. We only invest in projects certified by the Verified Carbon Standard or Gold Standard.

We remain committed to being a carbon neutral business and continually look for ways to reduce carbon usage across our operations.

Eco Elite Renewably Sourced Finish

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are sometimes used in stain repellent finishes on textiles, but all Trutex are certified 100% PFAS free.

We know only too well how many spillages can happen during a school day though — and the pressure on parents to wash and dry garments quickly.

To help Trutex garments stay smarter for longer, many of our blazers, trousers and skirts are produced with a stain-repellent finish called Eco-Elite™, which is a bio-based, non-fluorinated stain repellent technology and the world's first plant-based textile repellent. Because many of its ingredients can be regrown and replaced over time, its production also leaves a smaller environmental footprint.

Sustainably Sourced Fabrics

Sustainably sourced fabrics help ensure the source of the yarn is responsibly managed and the impact on the environment is as low as possible. Our blazers, trousers and some styles of skirts use 100% recycled post-consumer polyester and sustainably sourced viscose. Our 100% cotton knitwear uses responsibly sourced cotton.

• Viscose: derived fully from certified sustainable sources. Produced using wood pulp from sustainably managed forests.
• Cotton: our 100% cotton knitwear uses responsibly sourced cotton through certified yarn suppliers.

100% Recycled Fabrics

We are pioneers in the use of polyester made from 100% recycled plastic bottles. Our certified fabric is made from yarn produced entirely from post-consumer plastic bottles, creating maximum environmental benefit. While this is a more costly option than partially recycled yarns, we believe it is the right thing to do.

Reducing Single Use Plastics

Plastic is commonly used in clothing packaging to protect products, but we’re working to reduce single-use plastics wherever possible.

Our shirts and blouses now use card packaging or none at all, making them 100% plastic-free internally. Outer bags are made from recycled and recyclable plastic, and our mailing bags are 100% recyclable kraft paper.

Saving Plastic Bottles from Landfill

At Trutex, we’re committed to making schoolwear more sustainable. That’s why we developed Re-vive — our fabric made from certified 100% recycled post-consumer polyester, created using plastic bottles that would otherwise go to landfill.

Used in our blazers, trousers and skirts, Re-vive reduces waste while maintaining the durability and smart appearance families expect. When choosing recycled polyester, it’s important to check the recycled content — the higher the percentage, the lower the environmental impact.

Reducing Micro-Plastics

More than 90% of microplastics found in oceans come from textile fibres released mainly during washing cycles. We work to minimise fibre shedding while retaining fabric quality and comfort.

Independent tests have shown that Trutex products shed 60% less fibre in the wash than our main competitors, meaning fewer microplastics are released into waterways.

Reducing energy use and waste

We're conscious of the energy and waste we produce and believe it is part of everyone's responsibility to minimise this. From thinking before printing, switching off lights after meetings, to recycling cans and bottles, our staff are encouraged to follow good sustainability practices — supported by our annual carbon reporting.

In addition, all our waste is separated and as little as possible is sent to landfill. We reuse and recycle wherever possible; all cardboard is baled and recycled, and waste management is registered through BIFFA and monitored through annual submissions.