Responsibility throughout the value chain: how MASCOT approaches sustainability

Responsibility throughout the value chain: how MASCOT approaches sustainability

At MASCOT, responsibility is an integral part of the entire production process – from the SA8000-certified factories in Vietnam and Laos to the materials used in the finished products.

Workwear and safety footwear must withstand hard use, day after day, under demanding conditions. However, at MASCOT, it is not only about durability and comfort. Behind every product is a set of standards governing how it is produced, who produces it and under what conditions. This is not something that has been added along the way – it is the framework around which MASCOT has built its production for almost two decades.

 

SA8000-certified factories

MASCOT’s own factories in Vietnam and Laos are SA8000-certified – one of the most widely recognised international standards for social responsibility in production. The certification is based on ILO conventions, the UN Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and compliance is verified by independent auditors rather than through self-declaration.

In practice, SA8000 certification means that the factories must continuously be able to document that there is no child or forced labour, that working hours and wages meet reasonable standards, that employees have the right to organise, and that effective health and safety systems are in place.

Because MASCOT owns its own factories, the company does not have to rely on a third party to meet these requirements – MASCOT has full control over them and can document compliance.

 

A code of conduct that extends beyond MASCOT’s own factories

MASCOT’s own factories account for a large share of production, but workwear also depends on external suppliers: fabric manufacturers, dyeing facilities and suppliers of buttons, zippers and reflective tapes. MASCOT has a code of conduct for these business partners that sets out the same fundamental requirements as SA8000: no child or forced labour, a safe working environment adapted to local conditions, reasonable wages and working hours, and freedom of association.

Suppliers are assessed before an agreement is entered into, and MASCOT’s own employees regularly visit key business partners, such as dyeing facilities. The purpose is simple: responsibility must not stop at the factory gate. If a component for a jacket or pair of trousers comes from an external supplier, it must still be produced under conditions that MASCOT can stand behind.

 

OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100: what the material actually contains

The third area concerns what the workwear itself is made from. MASCOT’s textile products are certified according to OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 – an independent testing and certification system that screens textiles for harmful substances, ranging from dye residues and chemicals to heavy metals and other substances restricted under EU legislation.

For employees who wear workwear close to their skin for eight or ten hours a day, often in hot or sweaty conditions, this has a very practical significance. OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 certification means that the fabric quality has been tested against strict limit values – not only in terms of what is legally permitted, but also what is safe for the person wearing the clothing.

 

Quality and responsibility are not two separate objectives

Taken together, these three areas point in the same direction. Producing workwear that can withstand hard use goes hand in hand with producing it responsibly. This applies whether the products are manufactured at MASCOT’s own factories – as approximately 80% of all products are – or produced externally. The same suppliers that are subject to a code of conduct are also those that supply the fabric qualities tested according to OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100.

For you as an end user, this connection is worth knowing about. When you choose workwear from MASCOT, you are not only choosing a product that has been tested for functionality – you are choosing a product with a documented history behind it.

When the mornings get chilly and the hoodie is not enough, throw on the MASCOT® CUSTOMIZED 22365-318-09 Thermal Gilet. It can function as an insulating layer on the body or be worn alone. It keeps you warm on cold days and gives your arms complete freedom of movement as you work. The gilet is made with CLIMASCOT® Lightweight Insulation to keep you warm. It is water and dirt-repellent which is achieved by MASCOT’s PFAS-free finish surface treatment, C0. It is also breathable with reflective strips for your safety.

 

Complete the look with the MASCOT® CUSTOMIZED 22059-605 Functional Trousers, which have been designed with durability in mind. The ultra-light stretch material ensures unique freedom of movement and the water and dirt-repellent surface treatment help you stay dry and clean for longer. Add your favourite holster pockets using the Click Pocket System to keep your tools close while you work.