Pioneering Circular Workwear and PPE
Mathias & Sons is a family-owned business with over 65 years of experience providing personalised workwear and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to industry. With sustainability leading the way for growth, it has adopted a transformed approach to meet the demand for workwear that is sustainable throughout the entire supply chain.
The Challenge
The use of virgin plastics and fossil-based synthetic fibres in textiles was estimated to be 67 million tonnes in 2021. Globally, 54% of production of fibres were polyester making it the largest.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) and industrial workwear significantly contribute to textile waste, with a majority of items discarded after just one use.
The generation of waste materials has severe environmental consequences, as these decay-resistant substances persist in ecosystems, poisoning wildlife and marine environments.
The Innovation
Mathias & Sons is leading the way in circular workwear with their innovative Enviro-Wear line, designed to be recycled through dedicated R&D. In partnership with long-time supplier Beeswift, they developed a closed-loop system that turns end-of-life garments into raw material for new garments.
One of the main challenges was creating garments from a single type of fibre, or monofibre, including buttons, labels, and reflective tape on Hi-Vis gear, which is traditionally non-recyclable. Mathias & Sons tackled this challenge with an innovative monofibre solution, ensuring every component is made from the same raw material, making them fully recyclable.
Recycling Hi-Vis gear is also challenging due to contaminants like dirt and oils, which can compromise the quality of recycled materials. Mathias & Sons has tackled this issue by creating a specialised process to effectively clean and decontaminate Hi-Vis garments, ensuring they meet the standards for successful recycling while maintaining the integrity of the final product.
Circularity in Action:
- Enviro-Wear: Garments made entirely from 100% high-grade polyester, including buttons and labels, allowing 99% recyclability.
- Pure Loop Machine: The first machine capable of recycling used garments back into raw materials for new products.
- Project Reclaim: Customers return used workwear, which is processed into rPET pellets and spun into new yarn, ensuring the garments never become waste.
The innovation goes beyond circular workwear; Mathias & Sons is also repurposing non-recyclable PPE items, such as safety glasses, gloves and tool tethering bands into durable products like canteen tables through Stormboard. Safety boots and other PPE that still have usable life are refurbished by prison inmates and donated to charity through a partnership with HMP Bristol, a Category B men’s prison, and BOSH – a Bristol based charity supporting vulnerable homeless people.
These products have been successfully trialled at Hinkley Point and is now ready to be taken to market. By reducing waste and reshaping the supply chain for circularity, Mathias & Sons is establishing itself as a leader in sustainable workwear innovation.
This case study draws on insights gained from an interview with Adam Lane, Commercial Director of Mathias & Sons
Contact
adam.lane@mathiasandsons.com
T: 0117 982 2080
M: 07977 504578