Circular Economy, a challenge for the textile sector
We live in a world of constant change, in every sense; people, companies, climate, processes, trends, concepts, etc… Evolving is necessary and beneficial if we approach it in the right way. And for those of us who dedicate ourselves to creating/producing, it is no exception. Currently, production in a company is based on a cycle where raw materials are transformed into products, marketed, and then discarded. At GDI, we have adopted the concept of Sustainability as part of our core values. We seek to go beyond recycling and reusing materials, implementing actions in recent years to achieve a Circular Economy. In other words, produce, use, and throw away? No! Our approach is Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle. “The circular economy advocates using as many biodegradable materials as possible in the manufacture of consumer goods that can return to nature without causing environmental damage when they reach the end of their useful life. In cases where it is not possible to use eco-friendly materials, the objective will be to facilitate a simple decoupling to give them a new life by reincorporating them into the production cycle and composing a new piece. When that is not possible, it will be recycled in an environmentally friendly way.” Some of the principles of the circular economy that we already implement in our operation are: Reuse: reusing certain waste or parts of it, which can still be used to make new products. Repair: giving broken products a second life. Recycling: using materials found in waste. But you might ask: how do you apply it? Which products have it? Well, a few years ago we started with the dream of contributing more and we began with research, tests, many tests with which we achieved extremely valuable processes that we are proud of: Garments made with recyclable material. This consists of the development of garments with fabrics made from PET bottles; it is one of the most convenient ways to recycle plastic bottles and prevent their accumulation. At GDI we produce an average of 230,000 garments annually with 50% PET, which represents the recycling of more than 688,000 PET bottles. Regeneration: Development of new garments with fabrics obtained from the recycling of clothing that has gone through a circular system. At GDI we produce an average of 68,000 regenerated trousers annually using fabrics from recycled garments. Also within this process, through our garment destruction program designed to protect our clients' brands, as part of our care for the environment, the material resulting from said destruction is reprocessed to generate new by-products: Fabrics for carpets, yarns for upholstery, among other things. At GDI, we strive to minimize our environmental impact with eco-friendly products and processes, reducing energy consumption and improving the environmental quality of our processes through sound resource management. Today, given the times we are living in, it is more important to reflect on the fact that we do not live in isolation. We share the same air, the same planet, and therefore, everything you or I do has a ripple effect. This is our small contribution as a responsible company, as the GDI family, for you, for me. Get in touch with us and together we'll develop a program that protects your corporate image and makes you part of this cycle for the environment! Liliana Jiménez Figueroa – Senior Account Executive by GDI
Innovation and sustainability at GDI
Today more than ever, it is essential to turn our attention to clean technologies, both new and established, that have the capacity to meet the growing demand for energy and contribute to mitigating climate change, as well as the professional development of the protagonists of this transformation. Today, there is a shared commitment to leave the planet better than we found it. Sustainable Development in organizations is the engine of a sustainable future that must ensure social equity, ecology and the environment. Technological advances have allowed us to improve our quality of life. Beyond economic and social resources, technology allows us to achieve sustainable global development. ICT systems and tools enable improved energy efficiency and intelligent energy management. Therefore, most companies only look for efficient products supported by sustainable equipment. Among the most prominent technologies we find: What are the advantages of sustainable development? At GDI Uniforms we create optimal processes to always obtain a high quality result. We always strive to create innovative, high-performance fabrics and accelerate our processes thanks to the new technologies we implement. We are at the forefront of developments and innovations in the textile industry, which includes various factors such as production technologies; coloring techniques; denim, dyes and auxiliaries; finishing treatments; innovative and high-performance fabrics; always analyzing the changes in the textile and clothing industry, respecting environmental sustainability at all times. At GDI we are clear that new advances and technologies will drive a new type of industry where the main characteristics will be interconnection, which will be more collaborative and automated. Since 2019 we have had the Gerber Technology Atria cutter, the most modern and efficient fabric cutter in the world. This cutter is unique in its class, as it incorporates an integrated IoT technology solution that guarantees precision, optimizes productivity, and increases material utilization when cutting fabric. This cutter, in addition to increasing our production capabilities, incorporates innovation into our organization with its comprehensive solution that ranges from design, pattern creation, mark generation and production planning, thus achieving a reduction in material costs of up to 30%, minimizing our environmental impact. Investing in innovation and sustainability brings us many advances, because in addition to improving the ecosystem it allows us to gain competitiveness and thus increase profitability. We are proud to say that we are the only uniform company in the region that has this type of state-of-the-art technology. At GDI we are convinced that by implementing these types of actions the world will be more inclusive and sustainable, improving the quality of life for all people.
Do you know what Clean Technologies are?
Clean technologies are those that, when applied, produce no side effects or disrupt the environmental balance. They are based on sustainability and primarily use natural and renewable resources such as aerothermal, geothermal, and hydrothermal energy. The main reason for the existence of so-called "clean technologies" is none other than to reverse the global environmental imbalance that affects us all. Some of the objectives of clean technologies are based on three pillars: Types of Clean Technologies. Within clean technology, there are branches or categories that share a common goal but operate in different strategic sectors. Some of these are: There are various sectors where the implementation of these technologies has begun, but it is a process that takes time, as it involves creating a completely different culture from the traditional one, but one that is necessary for the well-being of the ecosystem. At GDI, we are concerned about the environment, and therefore we contact suppliers who seek to use these new technologies to ensure that the garment creation process includes fabrics made from natural fibers. We also have a software and cutting system that allows us to make a more precise cut without generating so much waste or fabric scraps.
A correct way to consume goods and services
Sustainable consumption is a way of consuming goods and services to meet our basic needs, contributing to a better quality of life, while reducing the consumption of natural resources and toxic materials, and decreasing waste and pollutant emissions throughout the product or service's life cycle. All of this is aimed at not compromising the future of the next generations. Every day, at every moment, we make some kind of purchase, whether large or small. Sometimes it's in response to a basic, fundamental need, and on many other occasions, to a desire or whim. We are always immersed in constant commercial exchanges, yet we almost never stop to think about the implications of this daily action. And the fact is, buying has environmental and social consequences. By acquiring a certain good or service, we can be promoting an important environmental action or participating in a social inclusion initiative that benefits vulnerable sectors of the population. This is precisely what sustainable consumption is about: acquiring products or services that take the following into account. In other words, sustainable consumption encompasses the three pillars of sustainable development. The COVID-19 pandemic has offered countries the opportunity to develop recovery plans that reverse current trends and shift our consumption and production patterns toward a more sustainable future. Sustainable consumption and production mean doing more and better with less. It also involves decoupling economic growth from environmental degradation, increasing resource efficiency, and promoting sustainable lifestyles. It can also contribute substantially to poverty alleviation and the transition to green, low-carbon economies. At GDI, we strive for responsible and sustainable consumption, considering our planet and the future. We aim to produce minimal waste; for example, in the production of our products, we use a cutter that makes more precise cuts, thus generating less fabric waste. We strive to make our products environmentally friendly, so that when our customers use them, they know they're helping to improve the planet. That's why we include sustainable clothing items (vests, pants, and face masks) in our product line. Consume responsibly and think about the future.