Sustainability report 2024 EN by Hejco

We Care

SUSTAINABILITY REPORT 2024

WE CARE

We care for those who care about others. Our aim is to make the best workwear for all the people within healthcare - the people that care for others every day. For us it is important that they have functional and comfortable workwear that they feel good in. But our mission to care goes much further than this. We also do our best to care for people, the society, and the environment around us.

As a company with an intercontinental supply chain, we have a responsibility to make sure that our business does not harm the people who help make our products, and that we do everything we can to minimize our environmental footprint.

It is about choosing good quality materials that make the garments last longer so that the impact on the environment of every product we make is spread over a long time. It is about changing unsustainable materials and fibers to more sustainable ones, of choosing the ways of transport that does the least harm, and being innovative. This is on top of our agenda in everything we do. It is also about contributing to a sustainable society with projects and initiatives, helping our customers to find the right clothes for work and to give advice on how to best care for and manage the clothes so that they last longer.

We know that every small step counts – and together we can make a change.

CONTRIBUTING TO A SUSTAINABLE SOCIETY

MINIMIZING OUR ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT

SUSTAINABILITY PERFORMANCE TRANSPARENCY TRACEABILITY

WE WILL ALWAYS STRIVE TO BE BETTER

When it comes to sustainability, no one is perfect. Neither are we. But we strive to be a little bit better every day. And with that in mind, we try to make decisions that will have a positive impact on the environment.

We all know that the textile industry needs to become a more responsible version of itself. The production of textiles leads to pollution of water and air. It requires natural resources such as water, which is already scarce in large parts of the world. Adding to the equation, textile production is an industry associated with new trends and fast fashion. Something that contributes to the overconsumption of clothes around the world. Furthermore, it is an industry known for bad working conditions and lack of transparency. All in all, the textile industry faces many urgent environmental and social challenges.

When it comes to workwear, the challenge is also to secure and maintain a high and uniform quality level to provide functional and comfortable products with a long lifespan. On a positive note, we have noticed an increased customer demand for traceability,

transparency, performance, and sustainability, which we really encourage. It will strengthen us as a supplier and improve our customer dialogue and offer. But more importantly, the effect of a more sustainable way of doing business will improve the future of this planet.

The industry needs to increase efforts to develop sustainable solutions, and we can already see signs of positive change. Many great initiatives are taking shape within the industry where several actors have joined forces to make a real change.

The initiative offers national support for reducing greenhouse gases, and for creating plans to make concrete progress and collaboration. This type of initiative is unique for our industry and offers hope for future sustainable developments.

PROUD CARING DEDICATED

CORE VALUES

For us, values are not just something that is printed on a piece of paper or handed out to our co-workers from the management. We believe that the values have to origin from the organization itself to become a real asset for a company. Our values are rooted in our DNA and is part of our heritage.

CARING, PROUD, DEDICATED and EASY reflect and stand for how we want to work, act and be perceived by both employees, customers, and partners.

CARING

• We care about our customers, our colleagues, the society and the environment.

• We care by understanding.

• We care by taking responsibility.

• We care by taking action.

PROUD

• We are proud of the Hejco brand.

• We are proud of our products.

• We are proud of our customers.

• I am proud of mine and my colleagues’ contribution to our result.

DEDICATED

• We make it happen by prioritizing right.

• We are taking responsibility for our own actions, our performance and the contribution to the team.

• We are brave and dare to be different.

• We are prepared and focused in each situation.

EASY

• We strive for simple ways of doing business by a high level of communication and understanding.

• Doing business with Hejco is easy due to outstanding products, services and people.

SUSTAINABILITY STATEMENT

Caring is in our genes. Since 1954 we have been caring about all those caring for others, and we will keep on doing that. Here are our sustainability goals for 2025.

• We care for those caring for others, but we also care for a sustainable future and environment.

• We take full responsibility of what we produce, how we produce it, where we produce it and how we deliver our products to our warehouse.

• We want to leave as small a footprint as possible on the environment and the future.

• We want to participate in creating a better future, and through our Hejco garments make it easier for our customers to make more sustainable and environmentally friendly choices.

• We support and collaborate with organizations and initiatives that share our vision for sustainability, and work towards the same goals as we do.

WE CARE FOR THOSE CARING FOR OTHERS

GOVERNANCE

All our actions are based on a set of policies and codes that are unique for our operation. These rules structure and regulate all our activities, ensuring that we act in a responsible way.

QUALITY POLICY

Quality is integrated into everything we do, from our processes to our products. Our work aims to meet applicable requirements with regards to business decisions, and to meet or exceed customer expectation. Quality improvements are ensured through regular measurement of relevant goals, through our focus on appropriate work processes, and our work on continuous improvements.

ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY

We work for a long-term sustainable society, both for people and the environment. Our work is based on applicable laws and regulations. It’s about constantly looking for alternatives that reduce the negative impact our business has on people and the environment, without sacrificing quality or price. Our environmental goals are being reviewed and revised as we move forward. This approach is a natural part of the life cycle perspective and our quest to become more sustainable in everything we do.

CODE OF CONDUCT

The Code of Conduct is a tool for ensuring that our suppliers act in a responsible way. The Code lists the minimum requirements for suppliers as regards to human rights, labor rights, environmental management, and anticorruption. All suppliers are obligated to sign the Code before becoming Hejco suppliers. By doing so they undertake to act in accordance with the Code. Our work with sustainability is based on the 10 principles of the UN Global Compact which forms the basis for our Code of Conduct.

SAFETY POLICY

Development of the work environment is an integrated and natural part of the company, and questions regarding the working environment are handled in connection with daily activities. Hejco strives to work preventively and directly with questions and issues connected to physical safety, mental health, and work environment. For us it is important to secure a safe and healthy workplace for all employees.

THE UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

Hejco’s long-term sustainability efforts are guided by the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Our sustainability commitments are based on a materiality analysis performed in 2019, which covered stakeholder and impact assessments.

Hejco engages in dialogue with all key stakeholders through our daily business. But to gain further insight, into our stakeholders’ perspective on sustainability, we have engaged in additional discussions with two representatives from our key suppliers and customers. Looking towards 2030, we intend to continue to maintain an open and honest dialogue on sustainability with all key stakeholder groups. With our stakeholders’ perspective on material sustainability topics as a foundation, we assessed Hejco’s impact

on environmental, social, and economic sustainability. Positive as well as negative. We worked together with RISE and amfori BSCI to analyze our impact on the value chain. We also mapped our sustainability impacts against the SDGs and carried out a risk analysis on the most relevant topics. The result of the materiality analysis was verified by the management and used to identify our key sustainability topics, divided into the focus areas people, planet, and profit.

CONTRIBUTING TO THE UN SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS

We are committed to bring about positive change and minimize the negative impact from our business. Both for the environment and for all the people who help make our products. Our sustainability strategy aims to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals and will guide us to focus even further on those areas where we can contribute the most.

The UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGS), also known as the Global Goals, were adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030. When we assessed Hejco’s negative and positive impact on environmental, social, and economic sustainability, and mapped it against the SDGs, we realized that our sustainability commitments potentially address 11 of the 17 SDGs. We also found that three of the goals are of particular relevance for us. Those are Responsible Consumption and Production, Climate Action, and Partnerships for the Goals.

RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION

Consumption and production are closely linked, and both affect the environment greatly. For us it is important to approach a more responsible production from a broad spectrum, starting with decisions on what products to develop and garments to design. And our products are made to last, since quality workwear one can use for a longer time leads to fewer garments produced.

RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION AND PRODUCTION

CLIMATE ACTION PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE GOALS

CLIMATE ACTION

Climate change is affecting our world every day. As a company doing business in all corners of the world, we see it as our responsibility to make sure we take action to minimize our impact on the climate. By continuously evaluating our products, production, processes and logistics – and by always looking for alternatives with the lowest climate impact – we can reduce emissions and secure a more sustainable business.

PARTNERSHIPS FOR THE GOALS

We are in this together. We believe that by combining our efforts we can create a bigger change. That’s why we put a lot of effort into collaborating with others – both within our sector but also in the field of research. We have been part of the Chemical Group since 2007, led by research institute RISE, enabling the substitution of hazardous chemicals in products and processes with less hazardous alternatives.

EVERYONE HAS THE RIGHT TO GOOD WORKING CONDITIONS

Hejco strives for the business to always have a positive social impact on everyone involved in our operation. That is why we are part of amfori BSCI and have been since 2016. Amfori BSCI is the leading supply chain management system that supports companies to drive social compliance and improvements in factories and farms in global supply chains.

Amfori BSCI stands for Business Social Compliance Initiative, and it provides a system for companies to work with assessing and improving social and environmental standards in the supply chain. By joining forces with amfori BSCI we aim to guarantee ethical working conditions for all workers in our supply chain. The amfori BSCI organisation follows the ILO core conventions and the UN Global Compact.

The amfori BSCI Code of Conduct must be disseminated in the workplace to inform workers of their rights, and in addition to the Code there are rules for workers’ safety and health.

Furthermore, the Code sets the standard for zero tolerance against child labor, bribery, bonded labor and shortcomings in occupational health and safety. Hejco’s own Code of Conduct follows the amfori BSCI Code of Conduct.

TOLERANCE AGAINST CHILD LABOR

To ensure that we live up to these standards, factory inspections are regularly carried out by accredited third parties with trained auditors well versed in the amfori BSCI Code of Conduct. We support the factories before and after the inspections, but do not take part in the actual inspections. Deviations that occur during a factory inspection must be corrected and followed up by a new inspection. Therefore, the remediation plans are very important in the process as the aim is to constantly improve working conditions.

As amfori members we work in many ways to make conditions better for workers in the factories. Fair compensation is very important for us, ensuring that the workers know how much they earn and how their wages are calculated.

Amfori BSCI stands for Business Social Compliance Initiative, and it provides companies with a structured approach to work on assessing and improving social and environmental standards in the supply chain.

Amfori BSCI’s aim is to guarantee ethical working conditions for the workers, and it implements the principal international labor standards that protect workers’ rights.

WE CARE FOR THE SOCIETY

We support volunteers with workwear, and we also donate garments to organizations, healthcare centers or hospitals in poor countries. One example of this is Tujereng Health Center Gambia.

PLOGGA – Pick n’ run is a grassroot organization and movement that Hejco has been supporting since it started in 2016. The objective is to combine movement with doing something for the local environment. It can be as simple as going for a walk and picking up the litter you see. Because every little thing counts. We engage

our staff in this, organize Plogga events and support the organization to be able to grow and continue to spread the message.

STADSMISSIONEN – Göteborgs Kyrkliga Stadsmission is a non-political, idea based, non-profit organization that works with the local society in Gothenburg to help people in need. May it be with food, shelter, clothing, healthcare, or support. Hejco provides parts of the organization with workwear and donates garments to secondhand sales.

WE AIM HIGHER

As a market leader, we always strive to do better and be one step ahead. We aim to be a little bit better tomorrow than we are today. And we have set goals to work towards in our sustainability plan.

THESE ARE OUR GOALS

• To change all cotton to organic cotton (75 % organic by 2025).

• To change all polyester to recycled polyester (75 % recycled by 2025).

• To use more lyocell and sustainable materials in the assortment.

• To use left-over fabrics in production (1-2 collections/year).

• No air freights.

• To reduce the use of plastic and to use recycled materials in hangers, hangtags, and stickers for example.

• Total transparency in production.

QUALITY CHECK AND ENVIRONMENTAL ISO STANDARDS

Hejco is certified according to the ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 international standards. The ISO standards have been a part of our daily work since 1999. This require that we work systematically with improvements regarding our products, production, and the minimization of our environmental impact. In ISO 9001: 2015 customer satisfaction is in focus, which is in line with Hejco’s focus areas. This means that in everything

we do, we strive to create quality and effective processes for developing and producing our products, to be able to satisfy our customers. In ISO 14001: 2015 the Life Cycle perspective is an important aspect. This is something that we have integrated as a natural part of our business. This means that the standard sets the requirements for how we work systematically to limit the environmental impact of our operation.

YEARS OF EXPECTED LIFE SPAN

YEARS OF RECORDED LIFE SPAN

DESIGNED TO LAST

Design plays an important part on the road to becoming a more sustainable company.

We always work with quality. It is something that we never compromise on. And it plays an important role in determining a garment’s environmental impact during its life span.

Our materials are made to live up to the standards set by us and our customers. Those standards entail high usage and washing in high temperature for years. The material is made in the best possible way with fibers that are more sustainable such as organic cotton, recycled polyester or lyocell, and we always work towards a more sustainable production process by using as little water as possible, for example.

The construction of the garment is also something that we take into consideration during the design process. We strive to keep the material in the garment as clean as possible.

This increases the possibility to recycle the product into new fibers and products. By doing so, we can be a part of closing the loop.

We listen to our customers’ needs and have our ears to the market. During the past years there has been a shift regarding the textile industry and how people look at it. Many are starting to understand the environmental impact of the fashion industry and therefore also appreciate the value of good quality products.

And we design for longevity – with a good fit, a classic design, and the best quality. Many of our customers return to us for a change of garments after 5, 10 or even 20 years. That’s when we know we have done our job well.

GARMENTS THAT WILL HAVE A SECOND LIFE

Imagine if worn-out workwear can be valuable again. Through recycling, reuse, re-design or updating. If a nursing dress can become a fashionable dress. Or a work uniform can be reused within charity. Imagine if you can make new fibers of old garments to weave new fabrics for new products. Imagine if we can give old workwear the opportunity to become something new. Giving them another chance, a second life. These were the ideas that formed Re:Hejco.

FROM BED LINEN TO SHIRT

This shirt is made from old ben linen. By giving old fabrics a new life we are saving the earth’s resources. This is a part of changing to a circular economy.

CUDORP E TRANSPORT

USE

ELCYCER

NGISED

CLOSING THE LOOP

Circular purchasing, disposal and recycling is part of the circular economy that is on everybody’s lips now. This is something that we are working on consistently with initiatives and actions towards a more circular model. We are, when possible, working with leftover fabric that is already available from over production, rather than to produce new material and increase the fabric stock situation in the world.

With Re:Hejco we are giving our garments a second life by enabling an easy return of used garments for our customers, and therefore looping the products. When receiving the products, we make sure that each individual garment is taken care of in the best possible way. Some may be suitable for a secondhand purpose, some for an upcycled collection, and some will be shredded into new fiber.

To be able to do this fully, we cooperate with several local organizations internationally and nationally. The objective is to find new ways to handle the garments

that are produced, sold, and returned into the loop again. By doing this, we take full responsibility for our products during the whole chain.

A few of our important partners are Re:textile, Borås Science Park and Textile Fashion Center in Borås, Sweden, among others.

In the design process we are always thinking about the possibilities for closing the loop and the next possible life for each product – designing for second life.

LESS IS MORE

The materials and fabrics we choose for our workwear not only affect the performance of the garments, but also the environmental impact of the finished garment. The materials selected, and the production methods we use for our fabrics, are of great importance when it comes to reducing the environmental impact of our products. RECYCLED

RECYCLED POLYESTER

Recycled polyester is made from an already produced resource – instead of using virgin fossil resources – and it has the same qualities as synthetically made polyester fiber. Recycled polyester can be produced in several ways, either mechanically from PET bottles or chemically from various waste materials. One example of this is production waste from the textile industry. When choosing recycled polyester, it is important to work with transparent suppliers who can provide certificates for traceability.

Very durable

Strong material

Good abrasion properties

High launderability

Recyclable

Based on fossil resources

Release of microplastics

LYOCELL

Lyocell is a fiber made from cellulose from fast-growing wood, such as eucalyptus and beech. A biodegradable chemical is used to extract the fiber from the wood material. The process is closed, which means that about 99 percent of the chemical solution can be recycled and reused. The left over is broken down in biological treatment plants. After the chemical processing, a viscous cellulose pulp is obtained. This mass is then pressed through a nozzle, kind of like a large shower nozzle, to form long fibers. The fibers then sit to dry, are washed, spun into threads, and finally woven into a textile material.

Very durable

Cool and comfortable

Excellent moisture absorption

High color-resistanse

More resource-efficient than cotton

High production costs

ORGANIC COTTON

Organic cotton requires an even higher standard for cotton cultivation than the standards set by the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI). It includes the health of soils, surrounding ecosystems and usage of natural processes, as well as eliminating the usage of toxic fertilizers, pesticides, and Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs).