What we can teach you about sustainable textile projects in

Ecodesign as the starting point for sustainable performance

Sustainable workwear starts with smart design. We develop each garment according to ecodesign principles that focus on maximum longevity, ergonomics and efficient use of materials. For caregivers, this means:

• Cuts and patterns that offer natural freedom of movement during long shifts
• Stitching that withstands 800+ industrial washes at 75°C without losing shape
• Fabrics that remain soft to the touch, free of harmful dyes and are fully traceable

Each fabric is tested in three phases: laboratory wear, laundry simulation and a real-life pilot in a care unit. Only what really performs goes into production. This way we guarantee comfort and sustainability in one clothing line.

Circular recycling with demonstrable environmental benefits

When clothing reaches the end of its first life cycle, we don’t stop. On the contrary: we start a second one. In collaboration with Utexbel (Ronse), we recycle worn textiles into white hospital cloth. Thanks to this approach, by 2023 we could:

• Produce more than 6,000 new doctors’ coats and heat coats
• Save more than 9 tons of cotton
• Save approximately 150,000 liters of water per year (calculated via Centexbel-LCA, validated by VLAIO)

After sorting by fiber quality, we reuse each piece wherever possible as a uniform, cleaning cloth or insulation material. Only when this is no longer possible, we apply thermal processing with energy recovery. In this way we work towards a textile chain without waste.

Transparency and audit as standard

We believe that sustainability is only possible if every link in the chain is reliable and verifiable. Therefore, we work exclusively with production partners who are audited annually according to the Business Social Compliance Initiative (BSCI), with a minimum score of B.

As a healthcare institution, you also get:

• Full origin and consumption data per garment (raw materials, water, energy)
• Material sheets in accordance with ISO 14001
• Insight into our innovation projects with VITO and HOGENT on germicidal and antistatic technologies

This openness gives you control, and your employees the assurance that their clothing has been produced ethically and responsibly.

Compliance with standards and regulations

All our circular fabrics are tested according to applicable standards, such as:

• EN 13795 for surgical textiles (barrier effect, lint formation, tensile strength)
• ISO 14001 for environmental management

So you don’t have to worry about conformity. Our products fully comply with the regulations for healthcare institutions in Flanders and Wallonia, including use in critical areas where safety takes precedence.

Conclusion

By approaching healthcare clothing as a closed system, from design and use to reprocessing, we realize tangible added value for healthcare institutions.

Fewer frequent purchases, lower waste streams and a demonstrable reduction in environmental impact per garment go hand in hand with reliable, compliant and comfortable textile solutions for your team.

This translates not only into ecological gains, but also into budgetary efficiency and increased job satisfaction

Frequently asked questions (FAQ) about sustainable healthcare clothing in Belgiumë

1. Is circular hospital clothing allowed by Belgian and European standards?
Yes. Recycled cloths are tested in Belgium according to EN 13795 (surgical textiles) and EN ISO 14001 (environmental management). If the cloth meets the requirements for barrier effect, tensile strength and lint formation, recycling is fully compliant with the regulations in force for hospitals in Flanders and Wallonia.

2. How great is the environmental savings of circular cloth in practice?
Internal measurements of a Flemish university hospital show an average saving ± 1.5 kg CO₂-eq. and 25 liters of water per coat, compared to identical models made of virgin cotton. These figures were calculated via the Centexbel-LCA tool and verified by the Flemish Agency for Innovation & Entrepreneurship.

3. What happens to workwear that is not suitable for high-risk departments?
Clothing that no longer meets strict hygiene standards is divided into three streams:

• mechanical recycling into cleaning rags or insulation mats;
• material for low-risk work (logistics, cleaning);
• incineration with energy recovery, when fiber strength is completely lost.

The route chosen depends on the remaining fiber quality after sorting in regional textile hubs (e.g. in Lokeren and Verviers).

4. How are Belgian workshops monitored for social conditions?
Workshops inside and outside Europe that produce for the Belgian market are audited annually under the BSCI protocol. Van Moer maintains a minimum B-score; lower scores will result in an improvement trajectory or disinvestment. Audit reports are available on request for healthcare institutions that want full chain transparency.

5. Can my institution receive subsidies for circular textile projects?
Yes. Via the Flemish Green Deal Circular Textiles and the Kmo-groeisubsidie (VLAIO) healthcare institutions can recover up to 25% of the project costs for circular textile solutions. Partnership with recognized knowledge centers (e.g. VITO, HOGENT) increases the success rate of the application.