RECOMMEND ETHICAL
AND ALTERNATIVE MATERIALS

COMMITMENT N°4

Find all our past actions

2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016

2021

Organic cotton and recycled polyester: the perfect mix for the planet

The qualities of organic cotton are clearly evident. Ten times more waterefficient than conventional cotton, grown without chemical inputs and produced in a way that respects Humans and the Earth, this certified raw material is even more interesting when mixed with recycled polyester (rPET).
Organic cotton, produced by melting polyester after having recycled small plastic bottles, helps reduce the amount of plastic waste that ends up in the environment, especially the oceans. The combination of natural and synthetic materials gives the fabric greater resistance and reduces the carbon footprint of the textile industry. Today, organic cotton represents less than 1% of world production. rPET enables energy savings of up to 60%.

commitment-4-material-bio-recycle

2020

Recycled polyester, the quintessential circular material

Protecting men and women at work is the raison d'être of protective clothing (PPE). To withstand accidents and bad weather, these garments have to meet specific standards (especially standard EN 340) and guarantee workers' safety while minimising the risk of bodily injury or disease. Their role is to prevent harm due to mechanical and chemical hazards. Technical protective garments are adapted to various occupational risks (chemicals, fire, heat, cold, humidity, insects, etc.).
CEPOVETT SAFETY works with its supplier TDV Industries in particular to manufacture PPE from recycled, GRS-certified polyester. Derived from plastic bottles, this material possesses insulation properties that make it suitable for outdoor use, and fits in perfectly with the circular economy.
Recycled polyester,
Flax fields CEPOVETT Group

2019

An ecologically designed Chamatex fabric made in France

Chamatex is a manufacturer of technical fabrics, and the brand is a staunch defender of the «Made in France» philosophy, which pushes for French-made products. Based in the Ardèche region of France, the company is a manufacturer of high-quality products. An established textile producer for more than 30 years, the company has successfully adapted to the evolution of trends and procedures to offer a wide range of technical fabrics for the leading players in professional and sports clothing. CEPOVETT and Chamatex have joined forces on this project to codevelop a fabric that meets the requirements of professionals working specifically in the mountains. They offer a perfect compromise between protection, comfort and durability, and all this comes with strong, ethical added value. CEPOVETT’s new collection for the ski instructors at the ESF Courchevel 1850 ski training centre therefore boasts an ecologically designed fabric. This is made from a yarn obtained through the European recycled polyester industry, which is woven, dyed and finished all in a geographical radius of less than 100km, 100% in the Rhône-Alpes region.

2019 Results

    • 4% of turnover from alternative fabrics/clothing75%
    • Deployment of linen in the Lafont 2020 collections50%
    • 100% of responses to calls for tenders with ethical solutions90%

2018

Eco-socially responsible workwear

Favouring innovative and bio-sourced materials. CEPOVETT Group offers its customers alternative materials such as recycled polyester, linen known for its exceptional resistance, its absorbent and anti-bacterial fibres which do not require any pesticides and little water to grow. The year 2017 marks a shift in the use of linen. By favouring this natural fibre, which has been used for hundreds of years by our grandparents, CEPOVETT Group is promoting local sourcing.
European flax is grown from the south of Normandy to the north of France, Belgium and the Netherlands. 80% of the world's production of flax fibre is of European origin and France is the world leader. Lafont, one of the CEPOVETT Group brands, integrates it in its new collection and mixes this natural local material with a recycled synthetic fibre from small plastic bottles: R-PET. In 2018, CEPOVETT Group will continue its work of evangelising to its customers so that, call for tender after call for tender, they favour the use of alternative raw materials, such as organic or fair trade cotton, linen or recycled polyester.

2018 Results

    • 4% of turnover from alternative fabrics/clothing40%
    • Use of recycled polyesterand linen in Lafont collections25%
    • Certification of procedures in the production of polyester from recycled plastic bottles100%

2017

2017 Report

Favouring innovative and bio-sourced materials. CEPOVETT Group offers its customers alternative materials such as recycled polyester, linen or hemp, known for its exceptional resistance, absorbent and anti-bacterial fibres that do not require any pesticides and little water to grow. In 2016, CEPOVETT Group is deploying hemp and linen fabric to eventually replace cotton.
By favouring these natural fibres, CEPOVETT Group favours local sourcing. European flax, grown from the south of Normandy to the north of France, Belgium and the Netherlands, is the only vegetable textile fibre originating from the continent and cannot be relocated: 80% of the world's production of flax fibre is of European origin and France is the world leader.
It is a rare product that represents less than 1% of the textile fibres consumed in the world. France is the leading European producer and the second largest producer in the world. Natural and local resources, therefore, from which CEPOVETT Group will be able to draw for the manufacture of its clothing of tomorrow. The company is also one of the leaders in the use of plastic bottles to offer eco-responsible fibres to its customers. R-PET can be easily recycled for a variety of uses, including polyester fibre used in the manufacture of warp and weft fabrics, fleeces and other technical clothing.

2017 Results

    • 4% turnover in alternative fabrics30%
    • Linen experimentation100%
    • 100% of responses to calls for tender with ethical recommendations80%

2016

2016 Report

With more responsible sourcing, CEPOVETT Group's professional clothing collections are made up of a majority of natural materials that have a reduced impact on the environment compared to synthetic materials. We favour supplies that guarantee sustainable cultivation. Chemicals and pesticides are limited in order to reduce the pollution of soil, water and living organisms.
In addition to the fair trade cotton approach, CEPOVETT Group offers its customers alternative materials such as recycled polyester, which is derived from the recycling of plastic bottles, and hemp, which could eventually replace cotton. In 2015 and in the future, a commitment to organic and fair trade cotton will help protect the environment and preserve biodiversity for local populations. Promoting traditional farming methods is also a way to use irrigation methods that consume less water than intensive production.

2016 Results

    • 3% of turnover in alternative fabrics (organic cotton, fair trade and recycled polyester)80%
    • Experimentation with hemp fabric100%
    • 100% of responses to calls for tender with ethical fabric recommendations80%