Environment

Corporate social responsibility

Van Heek Textiles wishes to operate in an environmentally sustainable manner. Whilst executing the company activities, labour circumstances and environmental aspects, next to care for continuity, profit and employment, constitute a full and integral part of the company policy.

According to the 3P’s (People, Planet and Profit) this signifies that:

“People”

• We are responsible for the safety, health and well being of our employees.
• We are actively carrying out a labour and environmental policy, on one hand based upon the mutual interest of a good cooperation and on the other hand based upon the requirements resulting from the Labour Circumstances Law (ARBO), the Environment Management Law and the Law Defilement Surface Water.

“Planet”

• We are fulfilling the applicable environmental law and environmental rules, during which we will early anticipate developments.
• We are continuously aiming at improving the environment achievement and are emphasizing:


  • restrict defilement of water, air, soil and the emission of noise;
  • prevention, control and diminish waste materials;
  • reuse of residual materials and production waste;
  • the environmental aspects with the choice of raw materials, resources and chemicals;
  • the environmental aspects with process development and the purchase of machinery and apparatus;
  • energy-, water- and raw material sparing processes;
  • anticipation on social technologic developments;
  • a good involvement, training and education of personnel for environmental care;
  • an integrated approach of the environmental problems;
  • to promote a good understanding on environmental domain with the government and third parties.
  • we do not use volatile organic compounds during our production process.
  • we are introducing the requirements for environmental management systems (ISO 14001 -2004)

“Profit”

• Our tradition of textiles continues over 150 years. Our innovative ideas have put us at the forefront of our industry and we continue to innovate our products. To keep this high level of innovation our employees are being motivated to attend courses and training programs. We will take the most responsible technical and economical measures and provisions to the best of our ability, whilst controlling any detrimental consequences of company activities on labour circumstances and the environment.
• Van Heek Textiles subscribes the branch directives (environment convention). The execution of the policy will take place by translating this in challenging and improved aims. In reference to the policy and its’ aims an active external communication with the government will take place. Active communication upon request will take place with clients, neighbours, accompanying companies and suppliers.

Van Heek Textiles and the environment

One of the specific characteristics of our material is its friendliness towards the environment. All components can be recycled and do not contain any dye components or pigments which are mentioned in the MAKIIIA1 or MAKIIIA2 list.

Raw cloth
Van Heek Textiles has it its own weaving production and chooses yarns of natural fibers like cotton, cellulose and flax.

Dyeing
For dyeing, coating and further finishing of the cloth we select ingredients which are as friendly to nature as possible. For paper lining we use acid free paper. The paper we use is made of wood and is produced according to the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC); the glue is a polyvinylacetat and acid free. This contrary to Nitro and PVC which have to be separated and dumped in the waste and are not biodegradable.

The use of chemical substances (for example dye, glue):
Our chemical suppliers need to classify all their chemicals according to: REACH. This European Union regulation concerns the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and restriction of Chemicals. REACH applies to substances manufactured or imported into the EU in quantities of 1 tonne per year or more. Aim is to provide a high level of protection of human health and the environment from the use of chemicals.

The emissions to the air, waste-water and soil as a consequence of production:

• The waste water of our finishing department is controlled every 15 minutes to measure the PH-value, temperature and the eventual presence of dyeing material. The settling basin is cleaned periodically.
• The exhaustion of air is done by filters to avoid both air pollution and noise nuisance.
• Levels are set by the government and are not allowed to exceed. On account of our environmental license, analysis having to be carried out, to be sure levels are not exceeded.

Waste products (especially products or substances which are specified as harmful):
Waste products are only permitted to be transported and collected by qualified waste collectors. The collectors have special licenses to transport, collect and handle these waste products, in order to be sure that nothing harmful is returning in any way to the market.

With regard to the environment, most issues are instructed in our environmental licenses, or are instructed by additional rules of the (local) government.