We take responsibility and drive social change.
As a pioneer for circular processes, climate protection, sustainable products and engagement, we combine high product performance with uncompromising responsibility for the coming generations. We believe that high customer requirements and sustainability go hand in hand and are not a contradiction in terms. It is therefore our aim to do not only what is legally required but what is technically possible in order to optimise our products at every level. We want to establish ecologically responsible thinking as a matter of course in the textile industry by setting an example for others.
100% circular by 2030
A bit better is not good enough. That’s why our goal by 2030 is zero waste – from the raw material to the finished product. We want to close the ecological loop in the functional textile sector. With our recyclable PES Sympatex membrane, which has been completely climate neutral since 2017, we are laying the ideal foundations to achieve our goal of closing the loop.
Our journey to being 100% circular:
- As of 2020, all of our business units offer laminates made from closed-loop recycled materials.
- By 2025, 50% of the raw materials for our functional laminates will originate from the closed textile loop and be recyclable.
- By 2030, we will only offer products made from closed-loop materials.
Our closing-the-loop projects
We don’t just want to optimise our own products, we also want to help create a circular infrastructure throughout the entire textile industry. That’s why we are involved in various industry-wide projects.
Sympatex is a co-founder and partner of wear2wear. For this innovative partnership, we joined forces with expert companies in Europe with the aim of producing new textiles from used clothing. Every company contributes to a specific phase of the textile recycling process in order to cover the entire recycling loop. Depending on the area of application, new textiles are created that meet high requirements and can be recycled again at the end of their life cycle. With wear2wear we have achieved a proof of concept, a milestone that clearly proves the feasibility of circular textile manufacturing. With this concept, we see great potential for sustainable textile procurement, especially for closed systems, such as the secure recycling of uniforms (e.g. police and postal services). https://www.wear2wear.org/en/
Sympatex is involved in the project Accelerating Circularity Europe, which was set up to accelerate the transition from linear to circular production in the textile industry. The project aims to reduce the millions of tonnes of textile waste that is sent to landfill every year by using the resources embedded in existing textiles for new products. Alongside this, the project also focuses on reducing the greenhouse gas emissions and microplastics produced by this sector. Sympatex uses its knowledge and experience to help develop solutions and make connections that are vital for the entire circular textile supply chain.
Political engagement
Following the EU Green Deal and the German government’s increased sustainability efforts, the topic of a circular economy has finally gained political relevance. For example, it is incorporated in the Waste Framework Directive, the Circular Economy Act (KrWG) and the Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR). Within this context, Sympatex positions itself as a driver of social change and calls for strict regulations and the promotion of a consistent circular economy at a political level.
As part of this, Sympatex participates in various working groups and initiatives, such as the EU Policy Hub. As a voice to the EU Commission, the Policy Hub unites the clothing and footwear industry with the aim of creating an ambitious political framework that accelerates the sector’s transition to a circular economy.
In addition to a circular economy, various other textile-related topics are also currently being driven forward by the European Commission. Sympatex actively participates in the development of these legislative proposals. Through this cooperation, every day we get closer to achieving our goal of systematic change in the textile industry towards greater sustainability.
In addition to the topic of the circular economy, various textile-related topics are currently being promoted by the European Commission. Sympatex is actively involved in the development of these legislative projects. Through this collaboration, we are moving closer every day to our goal of a systemic change in the textile industry towards greater sustainability.
Climate protection: less CO2
In its 2022 Global Risks Report, the World Economic Forum classified global warming as humanity’s greatest existential risk with the highest probability of occurrence.
The textile industry is responsible for approx. 8% of the total CO2 emissions worldwide – an increase of 35% in the last ten years alone. That makes our industry the second dirtiest in the world (with higher CO2 emissions than all ship and air traffic combined or the entire EU). Unless we act, this will have doubled by 2030. For Sympatex, this means that we must work together as an industry to bring about change.
Our journey to being 100% climate neutral:
- 2017 – 2030: 45% reduction in greenhouse gases
- 2025: 50% of the remaining Scope 1 – 3 emissions offset
- 2030: Sympatex is climate neutral
With our climate-neutral membranes and laminates, we are fighting back against the climate crisis. Thanks to the energy-saving manufacturing process, Sympatex membrane already boasts a significantly lower CO2 footprint than other membrane materials (e.g. PTFE). Through our continued efforts to improve our production processes and, for example, using bio-based, recycled plastics instead of new plastics, we have already significantly reduced our carbon footprint over the last few years. To be completely climate neutral, we have been offsetting the remaining CO2 through internationally certified climate protection projects in partnership with ClimatePartner since 2017. We therefore fulfil the requirements of the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change). Our next goal is to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the entire supply chain (Scopes 1 – 3) by 2030.
In addition to calculating the product carbon footprint for our membranes and laminates, we also calculate our annual corporate carbon footprint. As a result of this, we switched our entire company over to using green electricity in 2019 and we are gradually replacing our fleet of vehicles with electric vehicles.
As a signatory and an active participant in the development of the Fashion Industry Charter for Climate Action, we are committed to continuously reducing harmful greenhouse gases across the entire textile supply chain and achieving net zero emissions by 2050. The charter was launched at COP24, the world climate conference held in Poland in 2018. It consists of a list of minimal targets which representatives from the clothing industry have agreed on, under the direction of the UN, in order to curb this industry’s impact on the environment. The current charter is available here
We report annually on our impact on the climate. According to our CDP ranking, from the largest international reporting platform for greenhouse gas emissions data, Sympatex achieves a B-. This score means that we are above average globally for the textile industry. The aim of the CDP is to make environmental data transparent and accessible to all and to promote societal and economic change towards more environmentally friendly alternatives. In addition to calculating the product carbon footprint for our membranes and laminates, we also calculate our annual corporate carbon footprint. As a result of this, we switched our entire company over to using green electricity in 2019 and we are gradually replacing our fleet of vehicles with electric vehicles.
It doesn’t stop with us. Avoiding CO2 emissions and reducing them as much as possible is the main priority for Sympatex. That’s why we give our customers the opportunity to reduce their environmental impact to an unavoidable minimum. The remaining CO2 emissions can be offset with the support of climate protection projects. A real win-win for the environment, our customers and end users.
Sustainable products
Leaving as little trace as possible behind on our planet – that’s our stated goal. To achieve this, we look at our products as a whole. In addition to minimising our carbon footprint, we also focus on saving water, reducing pollutants, minimising microplastics, recyclability, manufacturing long-lasting products and supporting our production partners to continuously improve working conditions.
Saving water
Vast quantities of water are used every day for washing, dyeing and finishing clothes. According to estimates from the World Bank, dyeing processes in the textile industry are responsible for approx. 20% of industrial water pollution worldwide. Our Sympatex membrane made from 100% polyester has always had a low water footprint (50% less than a PTFE membrane, for example). However, we are working hard to reduce our water consumption even further and stop industrial processes that contribute to the pollution of this valuable resource.
Mono-materials make all the difference
Water can also be saved by using recycled laminates made from a single raw material. The lamination of our Sympatex® polyester membrane with recycled polyester outer and lining materials results in mono-material laminates. This has two advantages. First, the laminates can be returned to the closed textile loop at the end of their product life cycle without any problems. Secondly, recycled polyester requires much less water during production than new, crude oil-based polyester fibres. In fact, when you compare the production of 1kg of recycled fibres with 1kg of mineral oil-based polyester fibres, the water saving of approx. 90 percent is very impressive – instead of 60 litres of water for 1kg of fibres, you only need around 3 litres.
Minimising pollutants
Sympatex laminates are non-toxic and therefore safe for people and the environment. We have been dealing with the issue of how to manage harmful substances for many years and we are a trailblazer among functional specialists in the textile industry.
The Sympatex membrane is PFAS-free and therefore PTFE-free. PFAS is a group of substances which, among others, is classified by the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) as posing high environmental and health risks. PFAS do not occur naturally. Once created, they are persistent, i.e. non-degradable substances, that are permanently present in our environmental system and they have been linked to serious health problems such as cancer, miscarriage, birth defects, reduced immune response to vaccinations and weakened immune systems.
In place of these extremely risky chemicals, that are frequently used in other membranes, the Sympatex membrane is made from polyetherester, a chain of polyester and polyether molecules. It is therefore environmentally friendly, kind on the skin and can be recycled like a PET bottle. The performance of fluorine-free polyester membranes and PTFE-based membranes is very similar, in terms of being windproof, breathable and waterproof.
Sympatex has been campaigning intensively at a political level for a ban on PTFE and fluorine-based water-repellent coatings in the textile industry for many years. In its Chemicals Strategy for Sustainability adopted in 2020, the EU took a stand for the first time and discussed a PFAS ban to help ensure that they meet their ambition of zero pollution. Taking an active role in this process and protecting the environment and people from these substances is a matter very close to our hearts.
A two-sided position paper and the corresponding report are available to view here.
Sympatex was one of the first companies to use the OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 testing and certification system, which was established in 1993. Textile products are tested for potential harmful substances according to strict rules and, if successfully certified, are classified as harmless to health. In many cases, the limit values set for STANDARD 100 exceed national and international specifications. Our membrane as well as all laminates and tapes are certified according to OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100, product class 1 or product class 2. This allows our products to be used in principle with babies and small children or in areas of application with direct skin contact. Our compliance with the European chemicals regulation REACH is also assessed and confirmed by means of the annual OEKO-TEX® certifications.
As a bluesign® partner since 2008, we fulfil the strictest guidelines in environmental protection, health and safety. We therefore have a high-quality and environmentally sound production chain. Our certificates and product lists have been featured in the new bluesign GUIDE since 2022.
As the first functional specialist, Sympatex has been offering an environmentally friendly, fluorocarbon-free DWR finish for textiles since mid-2008 with the Bionic-Finish® Eco from Rudolf GmbH. DWR stands for “durable water repellent”. Textiles that are treated with a DWR finish remain dry because water droplets can’t hold on to the surface of the material and simply roll off. This allows the integrated, waterproof membrane to “breathe” as designed and perspiration can escape.
The Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MRSL) details chemicals that are either restricted to set concentration limits or completely prohibited from use in the production process. The Restricted Substances List (RSL) only applies to the finished product and it details substances or substance groups that must be restricted or not detectable in the finished product. Sympatex ensures compliance by adhering to the ZDHC MRSL in order to reduce the human and ecotoxicological burden caused by chemicals and to meet customer requirements in the textile and footwear industry.
ZDHC stands for “Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals”. It is an industry forum founded by internationally leading brands with the aim of eliminating the discharge of dangerous chemicals in waste water. The German Partnership for Sustainable Textiles has adopted the ZDHC list of harmful substances and, as a member of the partnership, Sympatex commits to monitoring its entire supply chain with help of the ZDHC MRSL.
We also check our supply chain for harmful substances on a regular basis. Sympatex uses, among other things, the Higg Index by the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC), which is an assessment tool that measures and evaluates the sustainability performance of companies. Our suppliers evaluate different aspects of their production facilities using the Higg Facility Environmental Module (FEM). This includes, for example, energy and greenhouse gas emissions, water consumption and waste water, waste management and chemicals. We support them in identifying opportunities and developing and implementing measures to improve their performance.
Social supply chain
We strive for the best – including in our supply chain. That’s why we incorporate our suppliers in our drive for greater sustainability – not only in terms of better environmental protection, but also better working conditions in our supply chain and the entire textile industry.
Sympatex has been a BSCI participant since 2018. The Business Social Compliance Initiative is a leading initiative for companies that are committed to improving working conditions in factories and farms all over the world. The BSCI code of conduct is based on international conventions such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, OECD directives, the UN Global Compact and recommendations from the International Labour Organization (ILO). BSCI participants commit to continual improvement, collaboration and empowerment. As a BSCI member, Sympatex uses the code of conduct as a guide for our business practices.
Sympatex uses the Higg Index by the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC). This index is an assessment tool that measures and evaluates the sustainability performance of companies and identifies priority focus areas and opportunities. Using the Higg Facility Social and Labor Module (FSLM), our suppliers measure the social impact of their production with regard to working hours, wages and employee benefits, health and safety as well as community engagement. We support them in developing and implementing measures to improve their performance.
Microplastics
Microplastics are the Achilles’ heel of the outdoor and textile sector: as an industry, we are part of the global microplastics problem and one of the contributors to the contamination of the environment and our waters. The washing of synthetic textiles is responsible for approx. one third of the microplastics released into the environment, the disposal of clothes that are no longer worn, e.g. at landfill sites, accounts for another significant proportion. This is not sustainable.
As a pioneer in the field of green functional textiles, we want to be one of the first in the industry to earnestly and quickly address this issue. We are committed to implementing a global system for textile recycling, similar to glass recycling. The purer these used textiles are (i.e. mono-materials), the better they can be recycled. By producing our membranes and laminates from an increasingly higher percentage of recycled materials, we are already preventing used textiles from ending up in landfill or incineration plants and instead giving them a second life. By laminating our membrane, we can also reduce the microplastic fibres that are released by 50% compared to non-laminated textile materials.
Sympatex participates in various partnerships with NGOs and research institutes in order to get a better understanding of the source of microplastics in the textile industry and to develop solutions. We cooperate with The Microfibre Consortium, Plastic Soup Foundation, PlanetCare, the Italian institute IPCB-CNR and the Plastic Leak Project, an initiative led by the consultancy firm Quantis and EA. Thanks to close collaboration with our partners, we can incorporate the latest scientific research into our product development and therefore continue to optimise our membranes and laminates.
Recycling and avoiding waste
Recyclable products are a key part of fulfilling our responsibility to the future. From today’s perspective, the most important consideration is the purity of the material. The raw material for all our membranes and laminates is 100% polyester (PES) and can be recycled just like a PET bottle. Polyester is the only plastic in the functional textile industry that can be efficiently recycled and it also has the lowest environmental footprint thanks to low water, chemical and CO2 consumption.
In the past, offcuts from the production of our membranes were often disposed of as waste. We have succeeded in changing this and now return the production waste back into the loop to produce more textiles. The result: we use approx. 15% less new material in the production of our membrane and therefore save energy.
Products made from unmixed materials are much easier to recycle. That’s why we laminate our polyester membrane using recycled outer and lining materials that are also made of polyester. This mono-material combination is ideal for returning textiles to the closed textile recycling loop at the end of their product life cycle. Most of the raw material that we use for our primary material currently stems from recycled PET bottles, by 2030 we will get 100% of the recycled polyester from the circular fibre2fibre textile loop, i.e. from used textiles.
Longevity
In contrast to membranes from other manufacturers, Sympatex membranes have a big advantage – they are non-porous. Products manufactured with Sympatex laminates therefore have very long life cycles when properly taken care of. Because it is non-porous, the membrane doesn’t clog due to residues from washing detergents or other substances (e.g. creams or sweat). On the contrary, products with Sympatex membranes reach their maximum breathability after one or two 40°C washing cycles. The dynamic breathability of our membrane (the more you move, the better the membrane “breathes”) is therefore a signature of top quality and longevity.
Furthermore, Sympatex membranes and laminates, as well as certified Sympatex partner products, undergo extensive testing before they are used by our brand partners. Apart from waterproof, windproof and breathability testing, the materials are also inspected for abrasion resistance (important when carrying a backpack for instance) and durability. Our membranes and laminates are therefore an ideal choice for heavily used textiles designed to last for years.
Stakeholder Engagement
You can’t change an entire industry alone. It is only through joint efforts that a truly circular economy can be achieved. That’s why our key word is cooperation. We need companies to work together and collaborate in order to share huge quantities of knowledge and open up opportunities. The system can only be changed if the entire industry unites behind certain standards and puts competition slightly to one side. As a member of diverse multi-stakeholder initiatives and organisations, we combine our strengths with other representatives from the textile industry and share experiences, solutions, research results and best practices. This unconditional transparency is a prerequisite for the transformation of the textile industry to a socially and environmentally responsible, circular industry.
Sympathy Lab
We rely on cooperation within the outdoor and textile industry, and since December 2021, we have been leading a visionary, open dialogue with the webinar series Sympathy Lab. In cooperation with various, high-profile partners and change leaders, Sympathy Lab hosts regular industry discussions. It is a platform for instigating change and learning how a circular economy can work for the entire outdoor and textile industry. The aim is to create a shared resource, therefore, Sympathy Lab invites all participants to share relevant information here – only together can a much larger movement occur.
Sympathy Lab
Multi-stakeholder initiatives
The Partnership for Sustainable Textiles is a multi-stakeholder initiative led by the German government with the aim of achieving sustainable social, environmental and economic improvements across the entire textile value chain. The partnership focuses on community projects, shared learning and individual responsibility. Every two years, every member identifies the opportunities and risks within their own business processes with the help of a roadmap and sets out measures to progress towards the partnership’s aim of a sustainable textile value chain. Sympatex has been an active member since 2015.
Find out more on our partnership member profile
The European Outdoor Group, founded in 2003, has developed into a high-profile, dynamic organisation that represents the outdoor sector. It was originally founded by 19 of the world’s largest outdoor companies, who recognised the need for a stringent, cross-border approach to representing the outdoor sector. Sympatex joined the EOG in 2018.
Sympatex has been a member of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) since 2015. The initiative is made up of over 250 brands and retailers as well as manufacturing companies from the footwear and clothing industry that work together with trade associations, non-profit organisations and academic institutions to reduce the environmental impact of their products worldwide. The aim of the SAC is to develop a universal approach to measuring the sustainability performance of a company.
Higg-Index
With the 2011 Higg Index, SAC has developed a tool that measures and evaluates the sustainability performance of companies, products and processes across the entire supply chain and identifies priority areas of action and opportunities. It comprises a total of five modules. Sympatex works with the “Brand and Retail Module (BRM)” and has therefore committed itself to improving the company’s Higg Index annually. Sympatex also uses the product-specific “Materials Sustainability Index (MSI)” for all raw materials. In addition, Sympatex® assists various suppliers that work with the “Facility Environmental Module (FEM)” and/or the “Facility Social and Labor Module (FSLM)” and supports them in developing measures to improve performance.
amfori is a global business association that brings together over 2,400 retailers, importers, brands and associations from more than 40 countries. The aim is to embed ethical, transparent and sustainable practices in business. With the help of two initiatives, the BEPI (Business Environmental Performance Initiative) and the BSCI (Business Social Compliance Initiative), amfori members can monitor and assess their social and environmental performance, including that of their partners (e.g. suppliers). Participants of this initiative commit to continual improvement, collaboration and empowerment.
Sympatex has been a BSCI member since 2015 and we use the code of conduct as a guide for our business practices. In addition, we guide and support many of our suppliers in their efforts to continually improve working conditions for all employees.
We are one of the “Best for the World” B Corps! The B Corp Movement is a global movement led by companies that actively work towards an environmentally sustainable and socially fair future. It is an internationally recognised label and represents an approach to business that is not based solely on maximising profits but also on a deep commitment to transparency, environmental protection and social responsibility. In 2018, Sympatex was certified as one of the first German B Corp companies. In 2019, 2021 and 2022 we were in the top 5% of all B Corps in the environment category and were recognised as a “Best for the World” B Corp. Find out more
Our suppliers
We are committed to transparency
We believe that a sustainable circular supply chain is not possible without transparency. That’s why we have begun efforts to make our supply chain public. Through social monitoring, our industry will be in a position to quickly identify any “bad eggs”. We aim to build trust by acting honestly and showing our hand in order to achieve real change without wasting time with traceability bureaucracy.
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Choosing suppliers & empowerment
Trusting and cooperative partnerships are essential to a good supply chain and transparent communication – that’s why we visit our suppliers regularly. These visits are a valuable opportunity to strengthen our personal relationships and communicate face to face, not just over the internet.
Performance measurements
The performance of our suppliers with regard to sustainability is checked on a regular basis. To do this, we work with various tools such as Texpert, the Higg Index and the BSCI to identify possible areas for improvement among our suppliers and develop solutions together. We are therefore well prepared for the Supply Chain Act that comes into effect on 1 January 2023 and requires companies to conduct supply chain due diligence.
Personal relationship
Trusting and cooperative partnerships are essential to a good supply chain and transparent communication – that’s why we visit our suppliers regularly. These visits are a valuable opportunity to strengthen our personal relationships and communicate face to face, not just over the internet.
Local production
We source in Europe and Asia. Depending on where our customers are based, we try to produce as much as possible locally to avoid unnecessary transportation.
Employer
Here at Sympatex, we have been working in an agile organisational structure with flat hierarchies in interdisciplinary project teams since 2019. Our proactive way of working allows us to seize opportunities quickly in order to develop flexible solutions and implement them effectively. Our relationships are based on trust because we feel sure that every employee always acts with the best intentions and gives their best. That’s why we foster a cooperative, independent working style and cultivate respectful communication on equal terms. We base our cooperation on our core values, our “Big Five”: sustainability, responsibility, trust, respect and transparency.
Code of Conduct
Sympatex is committed to its social responsibility and to making the entire textile value chain socially, ecologically and economically sustainable. We take into account the direct and indirect impacts of our business activities on society and the environment and act in accordance with generally accepted values and principles such as integrity, legality and respect for internationally recognized human rights and labor standards. As a certified B Corp company, we have fundamentally embedded this belief in our Articles of Association and in our actions. Sympatex is also a member of the German Textile and Fashion Industry Association and recognizes its Code of Conduct as a guideline for our corporate actions. With our signature, we ensure that we implement and apply the requirements of the Code of Conduct.
