In recent years, clear progress has been made in the area of sustainability. Among other things, it is about the EU's new green initiative, which was concretized during the year in new frameworks for sustainability reporting, proposals regarding requirements for the phasing out of harmful chemicals and definitions of sustainable commercial activities, where, among other things, the textile service industry is concerned. Other initiatives at EU level also mean an increased focus on control, prevention and remediation of deficiencies linked to the working environment and human rights in the supply chain. The textile sector has been identified as a risk area for these types of issues, and if proposed initiatives materialise, our industry will be one of the first to face these new regulations.
The Swedish Textile Service Association views this development positively, which can both contribute to increased transparency, a joint industry movement and a clearer awarding of players who are ahead. At the same time, we see a need for active work towards decision-makers so that the new proposals that are put forward take into account the distinctive character of the textile service industry as a service supplier member with a fundamentally circular business model.
Something we can be happy about is that we have received a two-year Erasmus+ project together with our Danish sister organization BVT (Brancheforeningen for Vask og Tekstiludlejning), to develop the authorization control based on inclusion, diversity and the increased sustainability requirements set, among other things, in the EU - Green Deal. All those affected will receive continuous information and the opportunity to record on several occasions during the project period.
This year's report reflects an industry that continues to take great environmental and social responsibility. Some examples are an increasing percentage of member companies that choose 100% renewable electricity in their facilities. In addition, four member companies have together in 2022 produced over 5,6 million kWh of electricity through their own solar cell installations, which corresponds to the annual electricity use of almost 3 apartments. A total of 000 establishments state that they support various types of youth activities and aid organizations through various efforts. A large part of the member companies also work actively in cooperation with municipalities, the Employment Service and other organizations to offer internships or job training, and thus constitute an important step into the labor market.
The 2023 sustainability report clearly shows the great social and environmental responsibility that the textile service industry takes. An industry with just over 500 workplaces, 5 employees and a turnover of almost SEK 000 billion in 5,9.
The Swedish Textile Service Association's sustainability report 2023 is the tenth in the series. By selecting a number of indicators and annually following up and describing the development within these, we create an increased awareness of how the industry is developing in terms of sustainability issues. The sustainability report gives us a good basis for how we, as a trade association, can best support the member companies in continuous improvement work. Because the day we stop getting better, then by definition we get worse. And none of us want that!
