The Schoolwear Association and its members are passionate about making sure their businesses are run in a sustainable way. This includes production here in the UK and overseas, from fabric creation to garment manufacture, from transport and storage to customer delivery.
The most important aspect of sustainability in Schoolwear is ensuring that the garments produced can withstand the daily wear and tear of a school environment. School uniform is worn 195 days a year on average and doesn’t tend to change in design year after year, so ensuring the uniform items last as long as possible helps all our members to reduce their impact on the planet. Industry suppliers ensure that their products are well-made, with sustainable fabrics that last. Specialist Schoolwear is extensively wash-tested and pushed to its limits to confirm it meets these high standards. School uniforms made by Schoolwear Association members hold significant value for money and can be handed down to siblings, minimising environmental impact and maximising affordability.
In addition, all members sign up to the SA Code of Practice which outlines ethical and fair trading and encourages members to innovate in an effort to reduce the environmental impact of their products. All members are also asked to have policies in place which minimise their impact, which are freely available to customers and stakeholders.