Rethinking workwear transparency
As industries move toward stronger sustainability standards, workwear producers face increasing expectations to show where materials come from and how products can be reused. Through its participation in SwePass, Ted Bernhardtz At Work is exploring how shared data methods and digital tools can support a clearer, more circular future.
Ted Bernhardtz At Work maintains a strong focus on supply chain transparency, documenting traceability throughout the entire supply chain and setting clear sustainability requirements for its suppliers. This groundwork enables the company to engage early in developing structures for future product data.
Their motivation to join SwePass stems from a wish to better understand the broader ecosystem behind traceability. Sustainability Manager Lina Carlsson explains that the initiative offers insight into how different actors manage information and what brands need to prepare for when data formats become harmonised.
– We wanted to learn more about how data carriers can efficiently present relevant information and how they can support better waste sorting.
Digital product passports are seen as a practical tool for sharing structured information with customers and procurers. Material composition, origin and production processes could all become more transparent. Still, clear frameworks and verified data are essential to ensure comparability.
Even though Ted Bernhardtz At Work has access to much of the information needed, gathering and structuring it is time-consuming. As an SME, it is challenging to know what to prioritize while the final delegated acts are still pending. The approach is therefore stepwise: start with what can already be digitized and build further as regulatory clarity increases.
The potential benefits for circularity are significant. With reliable information on fibre composition and chemical treatments, recyclers could identify materials more accurately and avoid elements unsuitable for certain processes. This supports safer and more efficient sorting.
– The next phase of work involves testing the process with existing digital documentation and evaluating suitable data carriers. As the requirements become clearer, additional information will be added gradually, says Lina Carlsson.
SwePass offers a structured environment for this collaboration, bringing together brands, suppliers and technology partners. For Ted Bernhardtz At Work, the initiative provides both guidance and a practical path forward as the workwear sector prepares for a more transparent and data-driven future.
If you are interested in learning more or exploring participation, you are welcome to contact Malin Rosqvist, our Programme Manager in SwePass. She can provide further information and invite you to the next Open Project Meeting next year.
