Our sustainability goals

 

Image Wear is a Finnish family business and operational responsibility is part of our ownership and business strategy. For a long time, we have been systematically developing our operations to be more sustainable and have provided annual sustainability reports since 2015. Read our sustainability reports here.

Our strategic corporate responsibility is built around three focus areas: Rewarding Work, Reliable Partner and Environmental Impact Management. The Framework below illustrates the key themes and priorities within each area.

Rewarding work

We value our people and are committed to providing a safe and healthy workplace, together with the conditions needed for success. We continuously improve working conditions, employee wellbeing and leadership practices to enhance engagement and job satisfaction. As an equal opportunity and non-discriminatory employer, we foster an open, inclusive and respectful culture across the Group.

Reliable partner

We create better working days together with our customers and partners. We make it easier for our customers to source, maintain and recycle workwear, while providing solutions that support the long service life and reuse of garments. As a trusted partner, we promote responsible practices throughout our value chain, including working conditions, human rights, supply chain transparency, audits and environmental impact management. We require our suppliers and subcontractors to commit to responsible business practices and monitor compliance through audits and other assessments. We conduct our business ethically and transparently, prevent corruption and bribery, and ensure responsible communications and the appropriate protection of personal data.

Workwear supply chains are often complex, and we continuously work to improve transparency throughout our value chain. The majority of our products are manufactured at our own factories in Narva and Viljandi, Estonia. All employees are committed to our Code of Conduct, which is based on the principles of the United Nations Global Compact.

In addition to our own factories, we work with manufacturing partners in Europe and Asia. All subcontractors and suppliers are required to comply with our Supplier Code of Conduct. We are a member of amfori BSCI and utilise amfori audit information in our supplier monitoring processes. Our objective is for all long-term subcontractors operating in countries identified as presenting elevated sustainability risks to become members of amfori. Subcontractors operating in such countries are audited regularly in accordance with amfori BSCI requirements. The social compliance requirements applied by BSCI correspond to the principles of the SA8000 standard.

At subcontracting facilities located outside countries identified as presenting elevated sustainability risks, our production specialists monitor compliance with social requirements during each site visit and document their observations using the amfori Buyer’s Checklist. We work closely with our subcontractors to support corrective actions arising from audit findings. Furthermore, we carry out continuous product-level demand forecasting to help ensure a balanced and predictable workload for our manufacturing partners, allowing them to plan their operations and workforce requirements effectively over the longer term.

We are committed to supporting the local communities in Narva and Viljandi, where our factories operate. We donate €0.04 for every product manufactured at these locations to projects that promote community wellbeing. In 2025, this included donations of footballs to Viljandi Tulevik football club and garden furniture and swings to a children's home in Narva.

Beyond local community initiatives, we allocate a share of our annual profits to charitable causes, supporting Save the Children Finland and the John Nurminen Foundation's work to protect the Baltic Sea.

Environmental impact management

We believe that long-term business success is built on the principles of the circular economy, climate resilience and resource-efficient operations. We reduce the climate impacts of our activities, increase material circulation, expand the use of recycled, certified and product-specifically verified materials, and minimise waste generation. We also consider environmental impacts throughout our value chain, including the use of chemicals and impacts on water resources, in order to meet the expectations of our customers and society.

We operate a Group-wide environmental management system certified in accordance with ISO 14001. As required by the standard, we have assessed the environmental impacts of our operations by examining the life-cycle impacts associated with our activities, processes, facilities, products and services.

In 2025, we conducted a double materiality assessment of our operations. During the process, we identified the material impacts, risks and opportunities related to our business in accordance with the requirements of ESRS 2. The assessment covered our entire value chain and analysed potential impacts across our supply chain, own operations and customer relationships. The process was carried out in collaboration with key stakeholders.

Based on the assessment, the following sustainability topics were identified as material:

• E1 Climate Change: Climate change adaptation and climate change mitigation
• E2 Pollution: Water pollution
• E5 Circular Economy and Resource Use: Responsible materials (material origin, recycled content and traceability) and waste
• S1 Own Workforce: Working conditions, occupational health and safety, and equal opportunities
• S2 Workers in the Value Chain: Human rights, working conditions and employment security
• G1 Business Conduct: Corporate culture, anti-corruption and anti-bribery measures, and honest and responsible communication and marketing

Our products are manufactured from fabrics and materials specifically developed for workwear, selected to withstand everyday use and industrial laundering. We are committed to increasing the share of recycled fibres in our materials. As a first step, we are replacing virgin polyester with recycled polyester in selected fabrics where the material meets the quality and durability requirements of professional workwear. Our target is for recycled fibres to account for 5% of all materials used by the end of 2028. In 2025, the share was 4.1%.

We continuously develop services that support the reuse, repair, rental and recycling of workwear.

Through our Aarre service, reusable garments are redirected for reuse within the customer's organisation from one user to another. Surplus garments, for example when an employee leaves the company, are returned via a laundry partner to Image Wear's warehouse and then supplied to the next user as required. The new user is informed that they have received a reused garment.

Through our Työvaatelainaamo (Workwear Rental Service), companies can rent workwear for the period they need. After use, garments are returned either to the nearest store or directly to the laundry, from where they are returned to Image Wear's warehouse following laundering and any necessary repairs.

With Vaatelaastari (Garment Patch), users can easily repair small holes and tears in their workwear themselves, helping to extend the lifespan of the garment.

At the end of their useful life, garments can be directed to our Kierre® service. Suitable textiles are processed into Cliff® textile composite products. The garments are shredded and combined with recycled plastic flakes and binding agents to produce granulate, which can then be used to manufacture products such as park benches, planters and tables. Recycling through the Kierre® service requires that the garments meet the acceptance and processing criteria established for the service.