Sustainability plays a significant role for E/D/E supplier VP Textile. The focus is on the longevity of products, circular economy, and adherence to ethical standards throughout the entire supply chain.
With the three brands HAVEP, Hydrowear, and Van Heurck, VP Textile is a manufacturer of workwear, protective clothing, and rainwear. A first and important step towards sustainability is embedded in the company’s claim to exclusively deliver quality products. By using high-quality materials and implementing appropriate quality controls, the company consciously produces durable clothing. The commitment goes beyond functionality and style: workwear and protective clothing should be comfortable and aesthetically appealing while being of such high quality that they can be used for a long time.
“We are convinced that we can produce products that are high quality, sustainable, and produced ethically, regardless of where they are made in the world,”
Els de Ridder – Sustainability Manager VP Textile
Circular economy as a goal
Currently, textile production mostly follows a linear model, resulting in adverse environmental consequences and making the textile industry the second-largest global polluter. Els de Ridder, responsible for sustainability management at VP Textile, states, “We consider this unacceptable. We believe in establishing a circular textile industry and are fully committed to achieving this goal 100%.” VP Textile has opted for a circular business model based on four facets of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation:
- When using new raw materials, prioritize organic or recycled origins (reduction, natural origin).
- Extend the lifespan of clothing through repair and reuse.
- When clothing is no longer usable, recycle the raw materials.
- Utilize as much renewable energy as possible and limit harmful chemicals (detox).
Fairness throughout the supply chain
Products for customers worldwide are manufactured at production sites in Macedonia, Tunisia, China, and India. Part of VP Textile’s sustainability vision is to ensure fair and ethical working conditions at all production facilities. Furthermore, the company strives to ensure these conditions throughout the entire supply chain. In line with this vision, the three brands of VP Textile are members of the Fair Wear Foundation, with HAVEP and Van Heurck achieving leader status. This category is reserved for member companies that excel in monitoring production sites. Consequently, the company exclusively collaborates with manufacturers who share their commitment to good working conditions. This means that workshops must adhere to the FWF Code of Labor Practice, which includes free choice of employment, freedom of association, the exclusion of child labor, discrimination, and excessive overtime, as well as fair wages and a safe and healthy working environment.
The Company
VP Textile is a renowned fifth-generation family-owned company with a history of over 150 years. The textile manufacturer operates the brands HAVEP, Van Heurck, and Hydrowear. With company-owned production facilities, they employ 900 staff worldwide in the production of rainwear, multi-norm clothing, workwear, and jerseys. The main headquarters are located in Goirle and Emmen in the Netherlands, as well as Lier in Belgium.
This article was published in PVH Magazin on 10 July 2023. Read the full magazine here.
