Sustainable healthcare workwear? No choice, but responsibility.

At Van Moer, we do not consider sustainable healthcare workwear a nice-to-have. It is a shared responsibility. And that responsibility starts at the design stage, but certainly does not end when the first usage phase is over. What healthcare institutions need today is a closed and traceable textile chain — from sketch to reuse.

Sustainability starts with a pencil

True sustainability does not start in a tender process, but at the drawing board. At Van Moer, we apply ecodesign principles focused on:

• Cutting patterns that minimise waste while maximising freedom of movement.
• Designs that remain in their first life cycle for as long as possible.
• Well-considered garment construction that can withstand frequent washing at a minimum of 60°C while maintaining a professional appearance.
• Fabrics free from harmful dyes, traceable down to fibre level and produced in Europe.

Only fabrics that pass a triple testing procedure (Van Moer’s own laboratory, industrial laundry testing, and wear & washing trials in a pilot department) are included in our collections. In this way we maximise product lifespan — benefiting both the environment and the budget.

Recycling as the standard, not a last resort

In addition to extending product lifespan through ecodesign, Van Moer is also a pioneer in the circular processing of used healthcare textiles. As the first Belgian supplier, we developed — together with spinner-weaver Utexbel — a circular white hospital fabric made from mechanically recycled hospital garments.

Today, this fabric forms the basis for new doctor’s coats, thermal jackets and even chef jackets. Every garment that reaches the end of its first life is re-evaluated: can it be reused as a uniform, cleaning cloth or insulation material? Only when no further reuse is possible is thermal processing with energy recovery considered.

In this way we are working towards a closed textile loop where every fibre counts and waste is no longer an option.

No waste — only responsibility.

Transparency must become the standard

Sustainable textile production is only credible if every part of the supply chain is traceable. At Van Moer this means:

• Working exclusively with workshops that are BSCI-audited every two years (minimum score B).
• Full life cycle analysis or footprint calculations possible at product level, providing insight into origin, water and energy consumption and the CO₂ footprint of raw materials.
• Active partnerships with Saxion University of Applied Sciences, HOGENT and HOWEST.

Healthcare institutions purchasing textiles are entitled to this level of transparency. Those who do not demand it today are missing opportunities.

Certification is not an obstacle, but proof

Sustainable healthcare textiles at Van Moer comply with all relevant standards:

• EN 13795 (surgical textiles: barrier performance, tensile strength and linting)
• WIP guidelines

Our products are designed for healthcare environments across Flanders, Wallonia and the Netherlands.

Finally: if you want sustainability, you must be willing to demand it

Organisations aiming to integrate sustainable healthcare clothing must look beyond the price per garment. The real value lies in product lifespan, supply chain transparency and waste reduction.

Van Moer invites healthcare institutions to stop treating textiles as disposable products and start seeing them as reusable professional garments.

The technology exists. The standards are in place. Now it comes down to the choices we make.

Will you choose a sustainable textile ecosystem together with Van Moer?