Pioneers in SUSTAINABILITY

Fristads was the first workwear company to develop a comprehensive circular service – but we didn’t do it alone. Through extensive pilot projects with some of our key customers, we were able to test workflows, identify challenges and find solutions. Together, we created a model that works and successfully rolled it out on all our European markets. Here, you can read about some of our customer journeys.

Securitas, one of the world’s leading security service providers, was among the first to embrace Fristads’ comprehensive circular services. When the company introduced a new workwear collection, they faced the challenge of what to do with old garments that were still in good condition. Instead of discarding them, Securitas chose to adopt our Reuse  service – keeping the old uniforms in circulation while gradually phasing in the new ones.
​​​​​​​
Today, Securitas continues to rely on Reuse to make the most of every garment. Used items are collected and sent to our partner facility, where they are carefully cleaned and reconditioned. Once ready, they are made available for employees to order through Securitas’ ConceptShop, ensuring that perfectly good workwear gets a second life.
Securitas also uses Fristads’ other sustainability services. Garments that need only a minor fix are repaired through our Repair   service, extending their lifespan even further. Those that are truly worn out are sent to our Recycle  program, where they are processed into raw materials for other products. The result is less waste, lower costs, and a more sustainable workwear program that engages employees in making conscious choices.

Ahlsell, one of Sweden’s leading distributors of installation products, was an early adopter of Fristads’ Recycle service. As part of the launch, we supplied Ahlsell with custom recycling bins and trained their employees at our headquarters in Borås on how to run the program. But Ahlsell didn’t stop there. To learn how to maximise participation, they started a six-month trial in their stores in Gothenburg, Jönköping and Norrköping.

During the trial, customers in the Gothenburg store were asked to recycle their workwear as an act of goodwill, while the other two stores experimented with offering various incentives. At the end of the trial, it was clear that the incentives drove higher recycling rates. Participation also increased considerably when Ahlsell placed collection boxes at two of their business customers in Norrköping.

The program accepts mixed workwear such as trousers, jackets and sweatshirts – including garments from brands other than Fristads. Once collected, the clothing is sent to our Recycle partner, where items are sorted and as much as possible is processed into raw material for new products. To provide full transparency, Ahlsell receives reports showing the total volume collected, the share recycled and how the materials were repurposed – data that can be used for Ahlsell’s own sustainability reporting.

When the pan-European public transit company Arriva looked at how it was handling workwear, it saw a waste problem. Short-term employees such as bus and train drivers often left behind uniforms that were still in perfectly good condition. So, Arriva turned to Fristads for a solution. They were initially interested in recycling, but since most of the garments were still in good condition, we suggested something even better – our Reuse program.

​​​​​​​Now, we collect Arriva’s used workwear and send it to a local laundry partner in the Netherlands. Once there, the clothes are carefully cleaned, checked, and reconditioned before being shipped to Fristads’ warehouse in Borås, Sweden. Then, they are listed in Arriva’s ConceptShop, where employees order their own workwear through a point system. And the Reuse pieces are popular – not only because they are a more sustainable choice, but also because they typically cost half as much as brand-new garments.

Trousers, blazers, polo shirts, and outerwear such as parkas and softshell jackets are among the items given a second life. The garments that don’t meet the quality standards for Reuse are sorted out and sent to our Recycle program. With Reuse, Arriva has found a practical way to cut waste, reduce costs, and engage employees in a more circular approach to workwear. It’s a simple shift that adds up to a big difference.

More content for you: