Moving Forward with Sustainability and Growth

Since 1822, Holdsworth has been leading the way in Bus and Coach Textile technology and now offers a total passenger

transport textile solution available from a single source. The range includes traditional plush fabrics, flat weave products and the new E-Leather ® plus engineered recycled leather upholstery fully compliant to fire resistant standards.

Textile ecology and sustainability are integral to the Holdsworth philosophy. Holdsworth was the first textile company to achieve the prestigious ISO 14001 environmental benchmark management system; it has also been recognized by the UK Government for environmental best practice in manufacturing. The parent company Camira also gained the Queen’s Award for Enterprise in Innovation and was named the Green Company of the Year in 2007 and 2008.

The company’s environmental and sustainability policy takes full account of environmental issues and covers all areas of

manufacturing. The objectives are set and reviewed by the Environmental Steering Committee whose principle targets are:-

Waste reduction and recycling

Both in terms of landfill waste and effluent reduction Holdsworth is at the forefront of progress.

The production of effluent water has been reduced by 33% per metre since 2000 and the use of yarn cones has been reduced by 130,000 per annum through successful re-use programmes. The company’s COD (chemical oxygen demand) levels are only 29% of the consent limit set by the water and sewage service providers.

Green energy, including, the use of renewable energy, cleaner transport fuels, and carbon-offset programmes to balance business travel. There have also been quantifiable reductions of both water and gas usage.

 

Supply chain monitoring

The company aims to source services and materials from companies who are themselves environmentally responsible. Developing fabrics and treatments is an important step in the process of sound environmental management. For example Holdsworth manufacture sustainable fabrics using high wool content with renewable fiber and cotton backing. Fabric ‘take back’and ‘re-use’ schemes are also being established.

 

The company has set a target to have zero manufacturing landfill by 2012.

Going green certainly doesn’t mean losing comfort or style.

Wool or Polyester plush? You Choose

Here are some environmental facts for you to decide whether to specify polyester or wool for your transport upholstery.

Although recycled polyester is a good move forward (in fact we use it extensively in our trim products and flat-woven contract fabric business), there are some environmental issues that need to be addressed before you choose which to specify for your seating needs.

Polyester

• Polyester is a synthetic polymer derivative and is oil based and as such is not sustainable
• Recycled polyester is manufactured from recycled post industrial product and can be used once only for seat coverings.
• At the end of its useful life (approx 5 years), it will go to landfill or be incinerated.
• It takes many hundreds of years for it to breakdown in nature
• Polyester is hydrophobic so it does not naturally absorb water and can feel wet in damp conditions
• Polyester fibers can get hydrostatically charged and may therefore attract soil particles

Wool

• Wool is a product of nature, evolved over millions of years to protect sheep.
• Wool is totally natural, renewable and sustainable. It is also recyclable.
• There are minimal amounts of energy used in fiber production (unlike man-made fibers)
• Wool is biodegradable and at the end of its useful life (approx 5 years), will decompose in landfill in a few months. Upholstery off-cuts can be composted in appropriate composting facilities.
• Wool is a ‘feel good’ fiber – it can absorb common odor air contaminants as well as up to 30% of its own weight in water before it feels wet. It acts as a temperature regulator, providing winter warmth and summer cool.
• Wool is inherently soil resistant and will retain its looks better for longer