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European Climate Pact
non-profit organisationETSA

European Textile Services Association (ETSA)

Overview

Location

Belgium

Sector

Chemicals, Transport manufacture, management and services

Organisation type
Non-profit

Pathway Pledges

Multi-Topic

ETSA aims to make a positive contribution to the environment, business and the communities in which we all live and work. For this reason, ETSA members are signing up and agreeing to the following Pledge commitments organized in 8 steps, the so called ETSA SMALL STEPS STRATEGY

STEP 1 - Encouraging the share of crucial sustainability data on ETSA Climate Pact Ambassadorship page.

ETSA members' latest measures and reports from independent 3rd parties auditors (such as Ecovadis, external financial auditors/MS financial authorities and internal departments) will be made available on ETSA's  dedicated Climate Pact Ambassadorship page providing audited quantified information on circular business models certification. For example, the sector is using among the following standards and/or their national versions:
• ISO 9001: quality management system
• EMAS: eco-management and audit scheme, EMAS is a quality certification of the European union and is known as EU-eco-audit or eco-audit
• ISO 50001: energy management systems
• DIN EN 16247-1: energy audits

STEP 2 - Facilitate a benchmarking of new and innovative CSR (Corporate Social Responsibilities) approaches. 

The benchmarking of data, best practices and especially sustainability reports will serve as example to the industry as a whole to maximize the beneficial effects for the environment and to have a positive impact on the local/national community exchange of views/debate. This specific analysis which will also be communicated to an external target audience should cover the following: 
• Implemented ethics measures
• Implemented diversity measures
• Implemented vocational training measures
• Reduced emissions measures
• Minimized resource use (raw material, water, energy, detergents, chemicals)
• Improved products durability
• Improved wastewater treatments
• Implemented recycling measures and projects

STEP 3 - Create a new expert team on sustainability in the framework of the climate Ambassadorship. 

STEP 4 - Promoting the right training and exchange of information.

Developing and implementing strategies in synergy with other climate ambassadors at country and EU level, to engage with foundations, academies, hands on training & new communication tools to empower textile service workers (and cross sectoral workers) and provide them with educational tools and to allow for an extremely flexible working experience and constructive debate. ETSA had the pleasure to participate in an Erasmus+ project, "Educate! E-Learning for the Textile Care Sector" and could encourage the additional inclusion of a climate ambassadorship module to the recently developed mobile app E-WASHBOARD. Furthermore, ETSA will synergise with the LIFE Programme project partners of ‘LIFE RECYCLO’, a three - year project starting with TREE WATER and other partners across Europe. A lot of more training and debates could follow these important discussions.

STEP 5 - Decreasing carbon emissions starts with correct assessment and measurement.

Since 2015, ETSA is providing its membership with a CO2 calculator for workwear and hotel linen based on 3 internationally recognised reporting standards. It is now time to facilitate when possible common measurement/denominators to reach first interim goals
across the ETSA spectrum. This could be achieved via a thorough assessment of:
• Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) which addresses and specifies how to report on greenhouse gas emissions
• The Greenhouse Gas Protocol of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and World Resource institute (WRI) where detailed methodology and default emission factors is provided
• ISO 14064–1 Quantification and reporting on GHG emissions which provide information on how to structure the work to assure traceability and verification of data

STEP 6 - Bringing new evidence at the table of discussion!

As ETSA, we have always conducted regular WECO studies - Resource efficiency of water, energy, oil and gas to help members benchmark best practices and innovative tools/products.

STEP 7 - Ensuring & promoting sustainable Mobility/Transport.

With the development and implementation of sustainable mobility strategies to use green energies such as green electricity and efficiency driving improvements (optimizing directions tools for vehicles and fleet, energy efficiency driving trainings). Sustainable mobility was the topic of the first EU Climate Pact campaign and ETSA was pleased to participate and showcase electric vehicles use by its members. ETSA is working on further raising awareness activities for its membership.

STEP 8 - communicating GLOCAL!

ETSA membership work strategy is to look forward to world-wide reach by having a local presence in every significant national, EU & global market. The goal is to be able to reflect ecological conditions, sustainable economic priorities, community empowerment and local involvement throughout the value chain. The textile service sector creates jobs in our communities and is less prone to restrictions such as the ones that target outside EU manufacturers in times of pandemics.

ETSA’s pledge to help create a more inclusive and sustainable world: BREATH CIRCULAR! From the top excellence of the OLDEST textile care industry circular models to today's new challenges, towards an even more sustainable future FOR ETSA AND BEYOND. To accompany its members in the new Climate Ambassadorship journey, ETSA is not only promoting green innovations and best practices but is also a platform for those in the textile service industry and textile care to network and share their green commitments and evidence based supporting studies. ETSA is raising awareness about the sector and how sustainability is at the core of its activity via campaigns and webinars to ensure stakeholders have access to accurate INFO and work better OVERALL.

Status date: Progress updated (27/04/2023)

Data source: https://www.textile-services.eu/etsa_climate_ambassadorship/