CWS Workwear

CWS Workwear’s commitment through Workwear as a Service: for over 125 years, CWS Workwear has supported Europe’s workforce with durable, high-quality solutions, always guided by a strong sense of responsibility.

Today, our Workwear-as-a-Service model takes this further: by designing, maintaining, repairing, and reusing garments, we extend their lifespan and reduce waste. We also promote more responsible sourcing, for example by supporting initiatives like Cotton made in Africa.

At CWS Workwear, sustainability is not a marketing add-on. It is embedded in the company’s corporate strategy, which is built around a circular model. The goal is straightforward: make products that last longer, use materials that are produced responsibly, and continuously reduce the environmental footprint of the entire production chain.

Leonie Biesen, Head of Sustainability & ESG at CWS Workwear, says it clearly: the company is fully aware of the negative environmental and social effects that conventional cotton production can have. “We want to practise corporate responsibility by establishing a fair and sustainable supply chain,” she says. That awareness made finding the right cotton standard a matter of principle, not just procurement.

The search for a partner that met CWS Workwear’s standards led to Cotton made in Africa. The fit was clear on two fronts.

On the environmental side, CmiA promotes cultivation methods that minimise the use of water and chemicals, a direct match for CWS Workwear’s goal of reducing the ecological impact of its materials. On the social side, CmiA works to improve the living and working conditions of smallholder cotton farmers across sub-Saharan Africa, aligning with the company’s commitment to fair supply chains.

For Biesen, it was precisely this combination that made CmiA the right choice: “The CmiA initiative meets our high standards of social and environmental responsibility. This synergy of environmental protection and social responsibility supports our goal of building a responsible supply chain while contributing to the creation of fair working conditions.”

Partnering with CmiA is not something CWS Workwear keeps quiet. The company actively communicates its sustainability commitments through its website, marketing materials, and social media channels, and addresses its CmiA partnership directly in its annual Responsibility Report 2024/25.

The response from customers has been positive. As awareness of environmental and social issues in the textile industry grows, buyers increasingly expect the companies they work with to demonstrate accountability. For CWS Workwear, transparency around sourcing is part of delivering on that expectation.

The partnership with CmiA is part of a broader sustainability agenda that CWS Workwear aims to further develop over time. Key priorities include extending the lifespan of those materials, increasing the share of responsibly manufactured materials and reducing emissions across the supply chain.

For CWS Workwear, the long-term goal is not just to source better cotton, it is to demonstrate that responsible and sustainable business models can work at scale. Partnerships with organisations like Cotton made in Africa are central to making that possible.

A company built on durable workwear is now building something else as well: a supply chain durable enough for the future.