Cotton shirt producer Esquel receives Oeko-Tex certificate

Environmentally controversial substances such as APEOs and the dyestuff Blue Navy are not used as a basic principle. Moreover, outcomes such as energy savings, a reduction in water usage and waste water load plus the reduction of emissions have also had a positive influence. For John Cheh, the commitment to sustainability has been worth it: "Already as a result of high process-related water and energy consumption, our ongoing optimisation measures of all production processes have become a firmly embedded element of our corporate philosophy.

For instance, we have our own modern thermal power station which ensures our independence from external sources. Our recycling and reuse of process water in our water treatment facilities has contributed to make savings in our fresh water usage of 54 % between 2005 and 2011.

The successful certification in 2011 of two plants in Gaoming in Guangdong province as environmentally-friendly and socially-acceptable production sites in accordance with OEKO-TEX Standard 1000 impressively also proves Esquel's sense of purpose in relation to environmental protection issues. The areas covered by the certificate include spinning, weaving, knitting, dyeing, finishing and making up of garments, i.e. the production of cotton shirts and knitwear items such as dress shirts, T-shirts, polo shirts etc. Esquel also holds the OEKO-TEX Standard 100plus certificate for selected spinning yarns.

e-culture

The staring point for all Esquel corporate activities is the all-encompassing philosophy of "e-culture". This requires all employees to be a good citizen and a good employer (ethics), cherish the environment (environment), explore and embrace innovative solutions (exploration), reduce wastage through functional excellence (excellence) and dare to err, but learn quickly (education).

According to John Cheh, the specific importance of sustainability is not solely restricted to the savings made within one's own company: "We are always of the view that sustainability requires a holistic approach. It is a question of a continuous journey, not a final destination. The implementation of sustainable production conditions is not only of benefit to the environment, but also has a positive effect on business performance.

OEKO-TEX Association