Our sustainability promise

We need to do more by producing less

Global climate change and environmental degradation are the challenges of our time and the textile industry needs to do its part to protect the planet. At Fristads, we are dedicated to reducing our environmental footprint, from the time we design a garment until it has reached the end of its life. We have set an ambitious goal to cut our emissions of greenhouse gases by 50% by 2030 and are working on finding alternatives to hazardous chemicals in products. Thanks to our ground-breaking Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), we have set a new standard for sustainable workwear by measuring the environmental impact of our garments. We are continuously replacing materials in our garments with more sustainable alternatives and are adding more Green collections to our product offering every year.

Still, we need to do more. The best way to reduce the environmental impact of clothes is to produce less of them, something that both requires consumers to change their behaviour and producers to compete with quality rather than price. At Fristads we take great pride in producing premium workwear that stands up against wear and tear and doesn’t go out of style. And when garments do break, our first choice is to repair them rather than replace them with a new one.  

Still, we need to do more. The best way to reduce the environmental impact of clothes is to produce less of them, something that both requires consumers to change their behaviour and producers to compete with quality rather than price. At Fristads we take great pride in producing premium workwear that stands up against wear and tear and doesn’t go out of style. And when garments do break, our first choice is to repair them rather than replace them with a new one.  

Using a lifecycle perspective

At Fristads, we use a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to help us determine areas that can be improved from a sustainability perspective. From the moment we envision a new garment to the day it is discarded we consider the impact it has on the environment and what we can do to minimise the negative effects. All Fristads’ departments are guided by the LCA, as it provides the framework for our environmental work.  

The UN goals that guide us

Our sustainability strategy aims to support the UN Sustainable Development Goals by setting science-based targets to align with the 1.5°C warming pathway in the Paris Agreement. The goals will guide us to focus even further on those areas where we can contribute most. Three of the 17 Global Goals are of particular relevance for us. These are Responsible Consumption and Production, Climate Action, and Partnerships for the Goals.

Responsible consumption and production
Consumption and production are closely linked, and both greatly affect the environment. For us it is important to approach more responsible production from a broad perspective, starting with decisions on what products to develop and garment design. Having said that, it is equally important for us that our products are made to last, as quality workwear that can be used for a longer time means that fewer garments need to be produced.
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Climate action
Climate change is starting to show its effects around the world. As a company doing business in all corners of the world, we see it as our responsibility to make sure we take action to minimise our impact on the climate. By continuously evaluating our products, production, processes and logistics and always looking for alternatives with the lowest climate impact, we can reduce emissions and secure a more sustainable business operation.

Partnerships for the goals
​​​​​​​We believe that by combining our efforts we can make a bigger change. That is why we put a lot of effort into working together with colleagues – both within our sector and also in the field of research. We have been part of the Chemical Group led by research institute RISE since 2007, enabling the replacement of hazardous chemicals in products and processes with less hazardous alternatives. We are also a member of the Swedish Textile Initiative for Climate Action, which helps us track our climate footprint on an annual basis.


Key focus areas 2025

Our goal is to lead the workwear industry when it comes to sustainability and inspire others to follow suit. To get there, we have divided our efforts into three focus areas covering the social, environmental and economic aspects of sustainability. Within each area, we will challenge the traditional way of producing workwear and are committed to finding more efficient ways to design, develop and manufacture our products.

Satisfied employees
Within the social aspect we focus on taking joint responsibility for making sure that our business has a positive social impact on everyone who is involved in the operation. Key considerations are fair jobs, ethics, health, employee satisfaction and diversity. We have made two long-term commitments: Act in accordance with our Code of Ethics and ensure that everyone working for us has good working conditions.

​​​​​​​Sustainable product offer & operation
We are dedicated to developing products that are manufactured in a sustainable manner to reduce our environmental impact. Within this aspect our key considerations are emissions, use of resources, raw materials, dyeing methods, chemicals, use of plastic, closing the loop and transport & travel. Our long-term commitments for the environmental aspect are to adopt circular thinking throughout the product process, and reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030.

Reliable partner
Within the economic aspect of sustainability, we focus on making it easy for our customers and suppliers to make better choices by being knowledgeable about issues of sustainability. That is why our focus lies on improving our knowledge and communication in the field of sustainability. Our long-term commitments are to become the workwear industry’s experts on sustainability, and to help our customers and suppliers to fulfil their sustainability goals.