Making sustainability performance measurable: CWS Workwear updates its emissions calculator
New water metrics and a robust data foundation strengthen ESG reporting and procurement decisions.
New water metrics and a robust data foundation strengthen ESG reporting and procurement decisions.
Dreieich, 03 June 2026 – CWS Workwear, a leading Workwear as a Service provider, has updated and expanded its Emissions Calculator. Based on the latest available data (as of 2025), the tool now includes a dedicated function for displaying water savings for the first time. It also offers improved user guidance within the dashboard. The Emissions Calculator is accessible via the CWS Workwear website and makes the sustainability benefits of the circular service model transparent, measurable and comparable.
It illustrates the impact of the Workwear as a Service model using four key functions: emissions savings, resource savings, water savings and monetary savings. The standalone water savings function provides details of initiatives such as water recovery, reuse and recycling for the first time. This highlights the increasing strategic importance of water stewardship. Clear comparative figures and everyday equivalents ensure that complex metrics are easily understandable for users.
“Transparency and data quality are key components of credible sustainability work. The update to our emissions calculator enables us to measure the sustainability impact of our circular service model with greater accuracy and provide our customers with additional reliable metrics that are becoming increasingly important for reporting and procurement purposes,” says Leonie Biesen, Head of Sustainability & ESG at CWS Workwear.
This update reinforces the emissions calculator's role as a practical tool for companies needing to demonstrate their sustainability performance using data, whether due to regulatory requirements, ESG reporting or procurement decisions. The methodology has been externally validated by Accenture, and the tool aligns with the requirements of upcoming EU regulations. The emissions calculator was first introduced in 2024 in collaboration with Accenture and is currently available to customers of both CWS Workwear and CWS Healthcare.
The emissions calculator is available free of charge on the CWS Workwear website: https://www.cws.com/en/workwear/about-us/sustainable-workwear/emission-calculator
Founded in 1899, CWS Workwear has been dedicated to serving customers to protect their workers and the planet for more than 125 years. We are a leader in the workwear industry providing Workwear as a Service with customised, stylish, long-lasting and protective workwear, encompassing more than a century of innovation and service.
Embracing a circular business model, we are committed to creating a sustainable and resilient future, marking our position as a leader in the workwear industry with a European presence. Our operations span 15 countries with a dedicated team of 5,300 professionals across more than 100 locations. Our infrastructure includes 30+ state-of-the-art industrial laundries in Europe. This enables us to serve our extensive customer base of over 35,000 customers across all CWS Workwear markets, providing our services to over 1.5 million people daily. Leveraging our local presence, we thrive for a close and local partnership with our customers.
Our commitment to sustainability is at the heart of everything we do, guided by an ambitious roadmap aimed at reducing both our own and our customers' CO2 emissions along the entire value chain. By fostering 360 customer experience and maintaining proximity to our clients, we ensure our workwear solutions meet specific needs, support responsible production practices and significantly reduce carbon footprints.
"Work your style. For you, for your business, for the planet."
Further information is available at www.cws.com/workwear.
