Launched by six leading brands in 2011, the ZDHC Programme has since grown to 22 signatory brands, four value-chain affiliates and three associate contributions. Coats has joined as a value-chain affiliate.

“We’re excited to see growing industry support for greener chemistry practices, and encourage others within the textile and footwear industries to follow the lead taken by ZDHC brands, now including Coats, towards this end,” said Frank Michel, Executive Director, The ZDHC Foundation.

Corporate Responsibility report

This announcement coincides with Coats publishing its Corporate Responsibility (CR) reporting to reflect performance in 2015 for its global operations. 

Now in its fifth year, the reporting gives an overview of Coats’ activity and progress in the area of CR.  As well as updated data, it also includes a wide range of performance and case study details from across the Group. In line with prior years, it continues to report against the requirements of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI).

According to the report, the company has achieved a 7% reduction in overall carbon footprint compared to 2014. There is also an ongoing reduction in water usage – by more than 12% since 2013 – as well as generating 22% less waste per unit of production than four years ago. Another highlight includes the continuing high levels of overall employee engagement – score of 83%.

Ongoing improvement

“I am encouraged that our CR performance continues to show an ongoing improvement in our manufacturing operations and the impact we have on the world around us,” commented David Manns, Head of Corporate Responsibility, Coats.

“In 2015 we revisited our materiality assessment analysis and expanded the scope of our reporting to cover a wider range of issues of importance to us and our stakeholders, including more detail about the way we engage with our stakeholders, our tax strategy and our economic contribution to wider communities.”

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