For over 150 years, Trutex have supplied high quality school uniforms to customers across the UK and the world. We have always been committed to nurturing the future, now more than ever.
Key statistics
- 4 million+ garments manufactured every year
- Selling to customers in 30+ countries
- Teams in the UK, China, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka
- Distribute via 700+ independent retailers in the UK
Our pledges
We pledge to do the following by 2025:
- Keep and improve our manufacturing high ethical standards
- Continue our status as a Carbon Neutral organisation
- Use only sustainably sourced fabrics where possible
- Reduce single-use plastics by 50% in packaging
- Work towards a commercial solution to recycling used clothing
Our memberships
- Foundation Stage member of the Ethical Trade Initiative (ETI)
- Slave Free Alliance
- SEDEX
- The Schoolwear Association
- BIFFPACK Waste Management Scheme
Here is a summary of our sustainability highlights achieved over the last 12 months:
- Increased use of recycled polyester, now 100% recycled polyester fabric used in our blazers, each one saving 46 bottles from landfill* (not marl colours)
- 77% reduction in plastic packaging in our shirts & blouses, with 4.5 tonnes of single use plastic removed from internal packaging
- Biodegradable and recyclable plastic used in our outer shirts & blouse packaging
- Annual carbon usage report completed, analysed and carbon emissions offset
- Trialling with 35 schools providing a garment recycling and pre-loved uniform service
- Management training enhanced with focus on mental health and well-being
Manufacturing with Trutex
We work with twenty Tier 1 factories across Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the UK, and we visit them regularly. We’re proud that all our manufacturers have signed the Anti-Bribery statement and all those in Bangladesh are members of the Bangladesh Accord agreement.
As an ETI member, every production facility is audited using approved methodologies from SMETA or BSCI in line with local laws and Human Rights frameworks. We don’t allow subcontracting unless reviewed and approved by us in advance to the same standards as our Tier 1 factories. Trained team members are on site at our offices in China, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to maintain strong relationships with our suppliers, many of which have been with us for five or even 10 years.
Modern Slavery Statement
As a responsible and ethical business, Trutex has a zero-tolerance approach to all types of modern slavery and human trafficking within our business and supply chains. You can read the full statement here.
Trutex products
All our Trutex garments are Made to Last, with superior fabrics and construction that ensure our school uniform will be grown out of before it’s worn out.
- 60% less micro-plastic fibre shedding than other leading brands
- 100% stronger trousers and 100% less shrinkage on polo shirts than competitors
- 100% recycled post-consumer polyester fabrics used in our blazers, skirts and trousers Learn more about Re-vive polyester here
- Using sustainably sourced viscose in our trousers and skirts
- Using responsibly sourced cotton in our 100% cotton knitwear
- Choosing Teflon EcoElite, the world’s first plant-based textile repellant, as our stain resistant finish on trousers and skirts
Carbon neutral
We are the UK’s first carbon neutral schoolwear company and have been a carbon neutral organisation since 2012. Our operations are audited against ISO 14064 and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and we continue to find ways to reduce our carbon footprint as well as offset it in a range of global projects. Learn more about this project here.
Plastic reduction
In 2020 we changed our plastic carrier and mailing bags to carbon neutral, fully recyclable sugar cane material, and we’re currently looking at ways to reduce our plastic used in our packaging further. Going forward at least 30% plastic content will be from recycled materials.
Waste reduction
All our waste is separated to ensure as little as possible goes to landfill and we are always looking for ways to reduce our waste in every area of our business.
- Uniform items that we can’t sell are sent to Giving World, a charity which redistributes these garments to families in need across the world
- We use FSC certified, carbon balanced paper from the World Land Trust
- We use energy saving lamps in our head office, resulting in a CO2 reduction of over 19,000 kg a year
- All data about our recycling and disposal of waste is independently monitored through our BIFFPACK Waste Management Scheme membership