Circular economy is our business model
We protect your workers and the planet
We create workwear solutions to protect people and the planet. With partnerships based on trust, we combine convenient Workwear as a Service with style, comfort and durability, thus helping our customers fulfil their own sustainability goals.
As a workwear industry leader, we encompass more than a century of innovation and service.
Our Workwear as a Service approach provides customized, stylish, long-lasting and protective workwear as part of our 360° customer experience. Convenient rent or buy options include consultation, sizing, and aftercare such as pick-up, laundering, and repairs. Provided by 30+ state-of-the-art industrial laundries in Europe.
Our workwear solutions support responsible production practices and significantly reduce our carbon footprint and those of our customers. Embracing a circular business model goes towards creating a sustainable and resilient future.
Our Responsibility Report 2023/24
The Responsibility Report 2023/24 report showcases CWS Workwear’s and CWS Hygiene’s measures towards their responsibility for their operations and how these affect people, society and the planet. Responsibility is at the heart of their business concepts and they strive for a circular economy that makes a positive impact on the environment. Read the report now.
Use our Emission Calculator to uncover your environmental impact
Discover the positive environmental impact of our innovative circular service model with CWS Healthcare’s “Emission Calculator.” Compare it to home washing and see firsthand how our approach contributes to a greener planet. Explore the benefits today and make a sustainable choice for your workwear needs.
Legal appendix
All published data is based on approximate values.
The CWS Healthcare service is currently only provided in Germany.
Know more about the difference
Laundry services offered by CWS Workwear and CWS Healthcare generates savings for the customers by reducing energy and water consumption, lowering detergent dosing per garment washed, and by reducing end-of-life emissions. The overall CO2 footprint is reduced by our laundry care processes.
- Monetary aspect-
Washing workwear at home leads to increased employee’s household costs for energy, water, detergent, and waste. By using CWS Workwear’s service, these costs can be avoided. The accumulated expenses over the course of a year are significant for employee households.
The tool provides a overview of potential savings across four areas – energy, water, detergent, and textile waste – when CWS Workwear’s service is used.
Here are few of the data points we used:
- The average amount of workwear per wash load in private households is 4.5 items*
- Average home washing machine capacity is 6.5 kg*
- Average home washing electricity consumption per load is 6 kWh**
- Weighted average emissions/kWh of electricity from grid for CWS Workwear and CWS Healthcare operated countries is 0.39 kg CO2e
- Average water consumption per wash for a fully automatic front load washing machine is 60 L***
- Average detergent dosing per wash for a fully automatic front load washing machine is 90 g****
- In case of home washing, 51% people replace their workwear instead of repairing it when damaged*
- In case of CWS Workwear and CWS Healthcare services, textile waste comes from incineration, other outsorted garments are recycled/resold
- In case of CWS Workwear and CWS Healthcareservices, outsorted Protective Workwear/PPE garments are 100% recycled
- Reference for monetary savings are based on location Heidenheim Germany:
Energy: Heidenheim public utilities Basic service contract from 01.01.2025
Water: Heidenheim public utilities from January 1, 2024 (energy charge)
Detergent: Reference Price - Ariel (Procter & Gamble Service GmbH) full detergent from September 2024*****
Textile Waste: Waste collection charges for the district of Heidenheim of January 2023 (weight-based fees* for residual waste)
*) Only weight-based fees are relevant – household fees have to be paid by the residents, regardless of whether they produce textile waste or not (based on German waste management law)
Calculation of monetary aspect example of one set of Standard Workwear in a German Household
| Category | Total consumption per year | Unit | Price per Unit | Cost per wearer/ year |
| Energy | 181,91 | kWh | 0,3729 € | 67,84 € |
| Water | 1819 | Litre | 0,002 € | 3,64 € |
| Detergent | 2,78 | Kg | 4,83 € | 13,43 € |
| Textile Waste | 11,51 | kg | 0,14 € | 1,61 € |
| Grand total | 86,52 € |
| Calculation example of Home Washing Consumption | Energy (kWh) | Water (litres) | Detergent (kg) | Textile Waste (kg) |
| Home Washing Consumption (Per wash cycle and per set) | 1,375 | 13,749 | 0,021 | 0,087 |
Calculations for yearly savings are based on CWS Workwear and CWS Healthcare operational data, publicly available data from consumer companies, environmental databases and government institutions. All published data is based on approximate values.
* ETSA – GfK 2012 Report
** Electricity consumption per load
*** Water consumption per load
**** Detergent dosing
Product categories
Flat linen
Flat linen refers to all garments used for hospitals and hospitality, e.g., towel, bed sheets, curtains.
The CWS Healthcare service is currently only provided in Germany.
Healthcare Workwear
Healthcare Workwear refers to garments for staff in nursing homes, hospitals and other healthcare facilities.
The CWS Healthcare service is currently only provided in Germany.
Residential private laundry
Residential private laundry refers to customer-owned clothing that is washed and cared for in our service model.
The CWS Healthcare service is currently only provided in Germany.
Protective Workwear | PPE
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) refers to protective clothing for employees. It is utilized to protect individuals from the risks of injury while minimizing exposure to chemical, biological, and physical hazards. Areas are, e.g., high-visibility, weather protection, welding etc.
Standard Workwear
Standard Workwear refers to clothing that is worn in the work environment and does not have to comply with protective workwear norms and regulations. The used garments are protecting the employees from basic risks they encounter when carrying out their work tasks. Areas are, e.g., crafts and industry (construction, automotive, metal etc.).
HACCP Workwear
HACCP Workwear refers to clothing for employees that need hygienic clothing for the standards in food production. The HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points) concept is a hygiene monitoring system that regulates the safe handling of food – from production and processing, to packaging, storage, and sale. Areas are all stages of food production and food processing.
Service, retail, chef Workwear
Workwear refers to garments for employees in gastronomy, hotel business, catering and food retail.