In our ongoing commitment to sustainability, the UAJV team - a joint venture between UGL and Altrad Services APAC - initiated the opportunity of managing outdated and non-compliant personal protective equipment (PPE). These items, while still functional, no longer met the client’s minimum specifications. Rather than disposing of these garments, the team saw an opportunity to make a positive impact.
To avoid contributing to landfill waste, they partnered with Loop Upcycling, a West Australian social enterprise that specialises in transforming redundant textiles into new, valuable products. Loop Upcycling is Australia’s first corporate upcycling company, dedicated to providing innovative, circular solutions while creating meaningful employment opportunities for individuals experiencing vulnerability in our community.
With Loop's expertise, they upcycled 199 shirts and coveralls into 90 padded laptop sleeves, complete with long and short handles, and 100 durable duffle bags. The process was managed to ensure zero waste, with even the smallest offcuts utilised by adding handles to the laptop sleeves and duffle bags.
"By upcycling non-compliant PPE into valuable products, we're not just reducing waste, we're setting a new standard for sustainability and innovation." Kevin Miller, UGL Senior Project Manager.
UGL’s recognises that sustainability is a long-term and strategic imperative, and we are committed to incorporating it into every aspect of our operations. By transforming non-compliant PPE into useful products, we’ve reinforced our commitment to reducing waste and supporting sustainable practices in everything we do.