SUSTAINABILITY & CSR
The NCU system is made from a value chain that is highly focused on quality, ethics, and environmental protection.
Environmental Responsibility
Longevity
To make the garment last for a long time is the single most important aspect to keep the environmental impact low. The chosen material is strong, well tested, and lasts for a long time. To ensure the highest quality and safety of our products, all material used are certified according to Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX®.
A lot of effort was put into understanding how the uniforms would be used and they were designed to last as long as possible. Knees and elbows are typical areas which determine the lifetime of the product. Some base layers items in the system have been used for decades by the armed forces, so we know that they are going to last for a long time.
Durable flame retardancy
The battle uniform and all garments used underneath are flame retardant or have no melt, no drip properties. This is achieved by using inherent solutions that can’t be washed away. No bromine or similar chemicals are used.
Low Energy Consumption
Most of the energy used, when producing the garments, comes from renewable energy and all our suppliers have their own solar energy parks. Siamidis has an “electrical consumption accounting” programme in place through which the energy needed to produce the NCU layers is compared with the energy produced by the company-owned solar energy installations (which produces more than 3.000.000 kWh per year).
Short transport and supply chain
Since the value chain is based in Europe the emissions for transport can be held low, both when it comes to transport of material to factories and readymade garments sent the factory to the warehouses of each nation.
Environmental management system
All suppliers are certified according to the Environmental Management System ISO 14001.
Repair option for enhanced durability
A repair kit is included in the uniform system so the soldier can repair the garments themself.
Future
During the contract period we are determined to continue this path of lowering the environmental impact of the uniform system even further.
Together with the four nations we decided to focus on the areas: energy use, transport related emissions, prolonged lifetime of garments, improving production and replacing hazardous chemicals without compromising the performance of the products
Social Responsibility
Value chain
Our value chain is based in Europe and act according to European law and regulation. This ensures a high level of social responsibility on a culture level as well as for monitor and control.
Fabrics are produced in Germany, Greece, Italy, Denmark and Sweden.
Sewing factories are based in Greece, Albania, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia and Poland.
UN Global Compact initiatives
Our CSR principals are based on the UN Global Compact initiatives
- Human rights
- Labour standard
- Environment
- Anti-corruption
Animal welfare
All wool is mulesing free.
