ABP staff, Fiona Brown and Nicole Smith, in the new sustainable PPE workwear at ABP’s Port of Cardiff
Associated British Ports (ABP) has become the first UK port operator to provide a new range of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) workwear with an SA8000 certification of social responsibility. Working in partnership with ARCO, experts in safety, and MASCOT workwear, who share ABP’s commitment to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, the new fully certified PPE workwear was successfully trialled by a network of ABP’s female colleagues in a variety of roles across Britain.
This is the second time ABP has achieved a first in terms of PPE workwear for the industry: it was the first UK port operator to offer specialised women’s PPE in 2019. The range, which was designed to improve safety through a better fit, includes better, more comfortable designs for women as well as maternity-focused products that can be ordered as a special measure item.
The launch of ABP’s new MASCOT PPE workwear, which has been manufactured using the highest quality materials available and in award-winning production facilities with SA8000 certification, aligns with ABP’s commitment to its social responsibility to its own staff and minimising its impact on the environment, ensuring a more sustainable future. All the MASCOT PPE workwear carries Oeko-Tex® Standard 100, which is the best-known label for textiles tested for harmful substances. The Oeko-Tex® label means that products have been tested and approved for zero content of health-hazardous or presumed health-hazardous chemicals and dyes.
ABP has been decarbonising its own operations (achieving a reduction of over 35% in carbon emissions so far) and helping its customers to build more sustainable supply chains, by bold investment in low emissions technologies and electrification of port equipment and vehicles. ABP’s 21 ports are also integral to the UK’s energy transition to renewables and low carbon technologies.
The provenance of the new PPE aligns with ABP’s own core values of providing a safe and secure working environment for staff and a focus on reducing impact on the environment. MASCOT prides itself on producing high quality workwear with an extended use-phase, which in the long run lowers the total impact as well as having a responsible approach to the environment and their workforce.
The result is a range of PPE workwear that is not only lightweight and comfortable to wear but also ensures maximum visibility, breathability, weatherproofing and comfort, and has been made with an ethical and environmental vision in mind. The new range of PPE workwear for men and women has been chosen in close collaboration with safety experts, ARCO, and MASCOT, to suit ABP’s needs.
Alan Tinline, ABP’s Group Head of Health, Safety & Environment says:
“We’re proud to pioneer this new PPE workwear at ABP and achieve another first for the industry, leading the way towards a greener, cleaner future. It is one of many plans we have in progress to help achieve our sustainability goals at ABP. We look forward to seeing all our colleagues adopt this new PPE workwear as it is rolled out.”
Jackie Ironmonger, ARCO’s Key Account Manager – Transport says:
“At Arco we are proud to be able to offer, through our partnership with Mascot, a PPE & Workwear solution to ABP which includes a fully compliant, fit for purpose and well received range specifically designed for females.“
Michael Tottman, MASCOT’s UK Sales Director, says:
“As a global textiles company, we do not only have a responsibility towards our customers to supply them with well-fitting and comfortable workwear that keep them safe. We also have an enormous responsibility to safeguard the people and the environment at our production sites and throughout the rest of our supply chain. This is a responsibility that we take very seriously.
We constantly strive to influence, adjust and develop towards a future, where long lasting products and a strong focus on the use of resources are crucial parts of the strategy.”
