Closing the Loop: Recycling Passive Fire NZ Workwear

Textile waste is a huge issue globally – and in New Zealand, where it is estimated that 180,000 tonnes of clothing and textiles are discarded post-use in Aotearoa landfills annually.  Enough to make one’s head explode really!

At Passive Fire NZ we’re very proud of our uniforms – but, with all our hard work, they get a pretty good going over on site. We churn through them and PPE pretty quickly. We’re very mindful of that and, as our logo mark suggests, we’re cognisant of the full circle wherever possible in our business.

So, we’re proud to have considered a full lifecycle when it comes to our Passive Fire NZ gear – and this is now well in play.  This cycle is tracked end-to-end, from supply – through our sustainable uniform provider, Think Uniforms – right through to the controlled destruction of end-of-life items via a partnership with Workwear Recycled, an innovative company that specializes in recycling old workwear and PPE.

Both of our partners in this process are ISO-aligned, which aligns strongly with how we operate – and the entire process supports our own ISO 9001 environmental KPIs, very important to us.  It also reduces waste and carbon emissions, protects our brand by keeping old uniforms out of circulation, gives us confidence that nothing ends up where it shouldn’t – and, staying true to our purpose, keeps individuals, families and communities safe through the process – from production to secure end-of-life destruction.

For us, this is a small change in process, but a meaningful step forward. And that’s what progress looks like for us  – making sure we’re moving ahead, always with a view to doing things better than they were done before.

An added bonus? Both of our partners in this process are innovative New Zealand businesses looking to make a difference. Like us!  It’s great to work alongside people who care.