Earth Overshoot Day 2020: On August 22, the resources of our world for this year ended!
In terms of figures, the resources of our world ended for this year on 22 August 2020. This is because mankind has used up all the natural resources that planet Earth can regenerate within one year. From then on, the world will live at the expense of future generations. This is marked by Earth Overshoot Day, which is calculated annually by the Global Footprint Network.
Because the economy came to a virtual standstill during the corona pandemic, Earth Overshoot Day is taking place much later this year than in previous years. This shows that we can save resources if we have to. We are convinced that this is the right way for a company with growth targets even outside a crisis. At CWS, we are committed to a more sustainable use of our resources every day. To this end, we work according to the principles of recycling management: we use sustainable materials and recycled polyester for our workwear, for example. We develop our products in such a way that they have a long service life. And we keep them alive for a long time, for example by repairing mats and dispensers. As part of the wear2wear™ initiative, we have jointly developed a jacket that can be almost completely recycled. In this way our products help save valuable resources. Because every contribution counts - for a healthier and safer tomorrow.
Learn more
Find out here how CWS commits to sustainability
Hygiene - Seeing the big picture
Around 80 per cent of all infectious diseases are transmitted via our hands – and that isn’t just since COVID-19. Proper handwashing can almost halve the infection rate. We launched the CWS SmartWash mixing system on the market back in the summer of last year. It functions completely without contact and measures out the water and soap required in advance. As such, its use not only helps prevent the spreading of infectious diseases, but also makes it possible to reduce water consumption by up to 90 per cent.
Just one of the developments with which CWS’ Hygiene division is realigning its core business to a sustainable future. Sustainability and complete solutions go hand in hand here. The focus is no longer on selling individual products, but rather on the complete furnishing of public washrooms: from soap dispensers to cotton towel rolls right up to toilet seat disinfection, we design tailored all-round solutions – for nurseries, for example.
We have also declared war on microplastics this year. Critically inspecting and improving all of our cosmetics products allows us to avoid 31 tons of microplastics every year. “We often discover that obvious solutions in particular deliver very positive effects. You just need the courage to look for such solutions specifically and then implement them consistently,” said Frank Reisgies, General Manager Hygiene Core Business. Further information on all aspects of CWS’ sustainable solutions and the answer to the question of what role simple corn cob meal plays in all of this can be found in the in-depth interview with Frank Reisgies in our Sustainability Report.
Workwear - The complete cycle
Sustainable materials such as Fairtrade cotton have been a standard feature of our own collections for a long time now already. In 2019, we introduced almost 300,000 items of clothing made from Fairtrade cotton onto the market. But we want more! Our Workwear division is now taking the next logical step with workwear and protective clothing that is 100% recyclable. CWS has been a main member of the industry association wear2wear™ since 2019. The partner companies design and produce completely recyclable clothing together.
With the triad of sustainable production, durability and recycling, the Workwear division is now all set for the future. In the case of the rEvolution Hybrid outdoor jacket, the three components have already come together in perfect harmony. As one of the first of its kind in the whole world, it passes through the entire textile recycling circle. Made from old clothes and recycled PET, it can be completely recycled again after use.
If the rEvolution Hybrid is used in our range, this will work as follows: We supply the jacket to the customer in the scope of the rental scheme. It is worn, washed and repaired until it reaches the end of its useful service life – then it starts its journey all over again.
Those eager to discover more about this never-ending journey can find all the answers in our Sustainability Report. We have also included information on how we save resources when selecting materials and what tests our collections must pass with flying colours to ensure that our workwear and protective clothing doesn’t only protect the people wearing it.
The three pillars of our engagement
Well rounded
With our products and services we think in sustainable cycles. But we want more. Because comprehensive sustainability is not only evident in products and processes, but also in healthy employees, trusting cooperation with business partners, and satisfied customers. This is why we have defined three pillars of sustainability through which we want to become the most sustainable company in our industry by 2024.
Putting People First!
Our staff are our most valuable asset. Their health and safety is a matter particularly close to our heart. We want to reduce the number of accidents in our companies to zero by 2025. We also look out for the well-being of the people in our supplier companies too by stringently monitoring the safety of our supply chain.
Optimise Cycles!
We are already consistently thinking in cycles in many parts of the company. But that’s not enough for us! In future, we want to render our cycle processes even more efficient and anchor recycling and upcycling as central components of our economic activities. This will allow us to save resources and establish a sustainable service cycle for our customers.
Sustain Business!
As a service company, we are always on the lookout for partners who improve our offerings. We regularly survey our customers and employees. We understand the diversity of our workforce as a rich source of knowledge, which we maintain and want to expand even further in the future. In addition, we cooperate with start-ups, technical development partners and advisory boards – this enables us to stay close to the market and bolster innovations.
What we achieved in 2019
Putting People First!
- 85% of our staff with permanent contracts
- 36,000 hrs of training
- 48% female employees
- 18% women in management positions
- 93.8% of suppliers from risk countries audited
Optimise Cycles!
- 57,664 repaired and recycled dispensers in our Upcycling Center
- 300,000 items of clothing with Fairtrade cotton
- 2.3 million items of clothing repaired in Germany
- 31,000 kg microplastics saved
Sustain Business!
- 2,294 service drivers
- 14,648 customers surveyed
- 180,000 tons of laundry washed
Read our Sustainabilty Report
Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)
Sustainability for tomorrow
At CWS, we are working every day for a healthier and safer future. In our efforts, we are guided by the official sustainability goals of the United Nations, also known as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The UN has defined a total of 17 political development goals, which are divided into the three areas of economy, ecology and social affairs. This division is intended to ensure that all relevant levels of sustainability are given equal consideration. We at CWS support this holistic approach with a wide range of activities.
Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
At CWS, we are convinced that diversity is a crucial component of a dynamic, productive corporate culture and enriches each and every one of our teams. That is why we work strategically with our Diversity Board to promote diversity throughout the company.
Ensure access to water and sanitation for all
Clean water is indispensable for the health of people and our planet. That is why we take a variety of measures to reduce the use of environmentally harmful chemicals in washing processes and minimise our consumption of fresh water wherever possible. For example, we
- harmonise our detergent suppliers
- invest in waste water treatment
- employ resource-saving washing programmes
- advance product innovations (for example SmartWash)
- replace microplastics in our products with natural alternatives
Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment and decent work for all
For us, it’s all about people. That's why we work just as hard to ensure the satisfaction of our employees as we do to satisfy our customers. We verify that social standards in the supply chain and compliance rules are observed and upheld. We encourage diversity in our workforce and promote the talent, health and safety of all those who work for us. Examples of our engagement include:
- QESH organisation within CWS (Quality, Environment, Safety & Health)
- Diversity Board within CWS
- Use of Fairtrade cotton
- BSCI partnership (Business Social Compliance Initiative)
- United Nations Global Compact membership (UNGC)
Ensuring sustainable consumption and production patterns
Our business model is based on the idea of an integrated and consistent circular economy. We are constantly working on making our products more and more sustainable while maintaining the same performance and extending their service lives while maintaining consistent quality. Following the circularity approach, we consider the entire life cycle during development:
- Rental service as the core of our business model
- Repair of garments, recycling of our dispensers
- Activity in the initiative wear2wear™
- Ecodesign
- Use of Fairtrade cotton and FSC paper
- Organic certifications
- Cradle2Cradle certification
Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
We are actively involved in the fight against climate change. We are continuously reducing our CO2 emissions and energy consumption. With our cycle-based business model, we also help to conserve other resources:
- Cooperation with ClimatePartner (climate neutral certification of printed material, reforestation projects with customers)
- Innovative products (such as SmartWash)
- Resource-saving washing processes
- Optimisation tool "Optimize My Day” for our delivery routes
- Expansion of e-mobility
Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss
The health of our environment depends on intact ecosystems. With our sustainable products and varied efforts along the value chain, we contribute to protecting life on land in our ecosystem.
- Cooperation with ClimatePartner (climate neutral certification of printed material, reforestation projects with customers)
- Organic certifications
- FSC certifications (over 90% of our papers are FSC-certified or come from sustainable resources)
- Fairtrade
Revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development
At CWS, we always see the big picture. With sustainable products, we can create added value for the customer and, at the same time, promote positive development for people and the environment. We also take a close look at our supply chains and work to achieve fair working conditions and minimum environmental impact.
- UN Global Compact membership
- Fairtrade
- Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI) membership
- Cooperation with World Toilet Organization
- Cooperation with Made Blue
Read our Sustainability Report
An all-encompassing offering
One for all.
Many people are familiar with our dust control mats, as well as our towel and soap dispensers. But at CWS, we also optimise your washroom, create fire safety concepts, as well as designing and cleaning business attire. These are just some of our solutions and your possibilities. We work for people in a wide variety of industries, advising, planning, checking, repairing, sorting, washing, documenting, etc. We do it with pleasure. And in a sustainable way.
Certificates (not applicable for all countries)
ISO 14001
EU Ecolabel
Blauer Engel
Fairtrade
