Our Sustainability Story
Sustainability in fashion has become big news in recent years; everyone’s talking about sustainably sourced clothing and resale sites like Vinted have exploded in popularity. As a result, eco practices have become a focal point for clothing companies everywhere. But what does this mean for your spa and beauty uniforms? How can you make informed choices that have a positive impact on your staff, your clients and the environment?
Making A Start
Doing something is always better than doing nothing. Whether you’re a spa manager
wanting to make a difference or a procurement manager looking to choose carbon
neutral uniforms, every little helps on the road to a sustainable business. Even small purchasing decisions have an impact over the long term.
Consider the lifecycle of your textiles:
• How and where are materials for textiles grown?
• How are the yarns processed? What chemicals are used?
• What’s the carbon footprint of each fabric?
• Consider working practices and conditions in the factories along the supply chain
• What’s the lifespan of the garments? Are they good quality or cheap, throwaway fashion?
Sustainable, Ethical Manufacturing
At Florence Roby, environmentally friendly choices have been part of our family-run
business since its inception, thanks to our fully localised garment production chain.
The fact that all Florence Roby uniforms are exclusively produced in our UK factory and
partner facility in mainland Europe immediately helps to minimise environmental impact.
Our transparent supply chain also assures quality, ethical labour practices and
standards.
Unlike much of the clothing industry, which often relies on Far East production options
with unregulated practices, we guarantee localised, transparent and ethical operations.
Local Production
Our fabric is woven by our suppliers in Nottingham, reducing the carbon footprint
associated with long-distance shipping while also ensuring high quality and sustainability
throughout our supply chain.
Energy Usage
The new state-of-the-art Florence Roby premises is fitted with enhanced insulation to
reduce heat loss and therefore energy usage. This not only cuts down on our carbon
emissions but also ensures that our operations are more efficient, reducing reliance on
non-renewable energy sources.
Our commitment to sustainability extends to the heart of our manufacturing process. We
have upgraded our production equipment to the latest energy-efficient models so we can
maintain the same high-quality standards of uniforms while lessening the environmental
impact of their production.
Biodegradable Garment Bags
Sustainability doesn’t end with production. We have transitioned to fully biodegradable
garment bags, which means that, after use, they break down naturally without leaving
harmful microplastics in the environment.
This change significantly reduces the waste generated from Florence Roby products and
promotes a circular economy approach.
To prioritise waste reduction further, we ensure all cardboard materials and wooden
pallets used in our operations are recycled to support a more sustainable supply chain.
All-Electric Vehicular Fleet
Transportation is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. Florence Roby has
replaced all company vehicles, including our delivery vans, with electric vehicles (EVs).
This drastically cuts our carbon emissions, aligning with our goal to lead in sustainability
within the beauty uniform industry.
We are also committed to limiting our production processes to those powered by electric
vehicles and equipment. By reducing reliance on fossil fuels at every step, we ensure
that each garment we produce leaves a minimal carbon footprint, supporting a cleaner, greener future for fashion
Donating Surplus Stock
One of the initiatives we’re most proud of is our policy of donating surplus stock to local
schools, colleges and clothing banks.
Recently, we donated 500 pairs of shoes to a school in a deprived area of Kirby, receiving
letters of heartfelt thanks from parents whose children benefited from this contribution.