New Wave Group AB Hållbarhetsredovisning_2017_SV_HQ[1] | Page 17

CHEMICALS
Our products are safe and free from restricted chemicals. We have made
this work a priority, both in efforts and resources.
Chemicals are needed in our everyday-environment and part of a modern lifestyle. However,
it is important to handle chemicals in a correct and safe manner with adequate knowledge. For
this reason, New Wave Group is a member of the Swedish Chemicals Group, led by the testing
institute Swerea IVF. From the Chemicals Group, we receive the most updated information
on legislation and research on chemicals, which supports our active work to reduce and replace
chemicals in line with best available technique.
The Swedish Chemicals Group
meets on regular basis to discuss
the latest news and updated
of REACH and other chemical
legislations.
All New Wave Group-suppliers must follow the requirements stated in our Restricted
Substance List (RSL). The list has been designed in accordance with legislations such as
REACH (European Union) and other industry recommendations and standards. As a result,
our requirements sometimes are stricter than the applicable legislation. In order to censure that
our requirements are being respected and adhered to, we are conduct testing and spot checks.
We conduct about 300 different chemical lab tests in a year, including textile products as well
as products made out of plastic or ceramic. A test report is never a guarantee of a products
chemical content, but an important tool for us to get an indication of product compliance
and maintain a systematic work regarding chemicals. We also benefit from product labels. For
example the Oeko Tex label, mentioned on page 19, demonstrates that the complete compo-
sition of the product has been independently tested and certified for safe textile in regards to
chemicals and restricted substances.
PRODUCTS WITH EXTRA
CARE FOR PEOPLE AND PLANET
Human consumption causes one of the biggest ecological footprints in the world. We want to increase the
amount of products coming from sustainable sources and help our customers to imbed social and environ-
mental criteria in their purchasing decisions.
PRODUCTS WITH SUSTAINABLE ATTRIBUTE
Working with ecolabels and certifications is an important part of our work with sustainability. It is a
tool to help our customer to identify the best performing products in terms of social and environmental
responsibility. However, we think it is important to also highlight other products which are made of
material and/or environmentally sound processes not covered by specific labels. Therefore, we have
chosen to report products with some type of sustainability attribute.
In 2017 New Wave Group had 7 488 unique active products (color/size excluded). For the textile
products, 835 products had one or more sustainability attributes. The corresponding figure for hardline
products was 384. Due to difficulties in data collection we are not able to report how the distribution of
total number of products looks between textile and hardline products. Roughly, they account for 50 %
each, which implies that the share of textile products with sustainable attributes is approximately 22 %,
and the share of hardline products with sustainable attributes is approximately 10 %.
TEXTILE PRODUCTS
Textile products with sustainable attribute include one or more of the following labels, materials or
processes: The Nordic Ecolabel, GOTS, Oeko Tex, Fairtrade, recycled polyester, spin dyed polyester,
EXP 4.0 treated wool and Primaloft® Black insulation Eco. Oeko Tex is by far the most represented
attribute and accounts for more than 90 % of the products with sustainable attribute. The goal is that
in 2025, 90 % of the textile products should have some type of sustainability attribute.
HARDLINE PRODUCTS
Hardline products with sustainable attribute include one of the labels TUC GS or FSC. Also included
are crystal products from Orrefors Kosta Boda made of so-called “eco-crystal” that are free from lead
and arsenic, which is unfortunately still common in the industry. Compared with textile products, the
selection of ecolabels and certifications for hardline products is limited, which is also reflected in the
number of reported hardline products with sustainable attribute. The goal is that in 2025, 50 % of the
textile products should have some type of sustainability attribute.
17
7 488
ACTIVE PRODUCTS
835
TEXTILE PRODUCTS WITH
SUSTAINABLE ATTRIBUTE
384
HARDLINE PRODUCTS
WITH SUSTAINABLE
ATTRIBUTE