Our responsible products and services
Ensuring the longevity of our products
The Group's business model, based on the concept of the functional economy, relies on offering high-quality, highly durable products and services, unlike traditional consumption patterns, which can encourage disposable products or planned obsolescence. Some products can be washed more than 100 times before being taken out of circulation, particularly white clothing and many flat linen items.
Ensuring the longevity of our products is therefore an integral part of our strategic vision and business model. We develop innovative, durable, repairable and shareable items, and are increasingly working on their recyclability from the design stage onwards.
In addition, we carry out scientific studies to demonstrate the benefits of circular models (life cycle analyses).
More responsible ranges
Elis is committed to evolving its product offering towards more responsible alternatives in each of its categories.
Eco-design
Thanks to our eco-design strategy and responsible purchasing policy, we control and optimise every stage of a product's life cycle, from design and sourcing onwards.
The Group is also working on other areas of the circular economy, such as sharing, repair, reuse, reconditioning and recycling, in order to extend the life of its products and keep materials in use for as long as possible.
Designing a jacket with buttons and a zip that are easy to replace means that it can be repaired, thereby extending its life.
Our textile products: workwear
All our cotton and polyester garments are OEKO-TEX 100 certified, guaranteeing that they are free from harmful substances. Some products also carry the European Ecolabel, demonstrating our commitment to more sustainable fashion. We are regularly transitioning our collections to more responsible alternative materials (certified or with recycled content, for example).
Our professional linen
Elis is also working to find more sustainable alternatives to the materials used in the production of linen for hotels, restaurants and healthcare facilities. The range of glass towels is made from recycled cotton. The Bio's Fair bath linen collection is produced from fair trade organic cotton.
Le Jacquard Français
For over 130 years, we have been perpetuating the art of Jacquard weaving in France. Invented in the 19th century by Joseph-Marie Jacquard, this technique automates the weaving of damask fabric. Damask is a fabric with patterns that are visible on both the front and back.
Today, thanks to our 54 Jacquard looms, the company produces a wide range of original patterns with remarkable precision and finesse. In 2010, Le Jacquard Français was awarded the EPV (Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant) label for its excellence in craftsmanship and industry, which remains a source of pride for our teams to this day.
Our sanitary appliances
The Group is working to offer services that reduce impacts during the design and use phases, and in particular to support responsible consumption by users.
Our industrial wiping products
A reusable cleaning cloth can replace four metres of paper roll and reduce your environmental footprint. What's more, our industrial towels are made from 100% recycled cotton and manufactured in Nordic Swan-certified factories.
This means up to:
- up to 68% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions;
- up to 64% reduction in land use;
- up to 62% reduction in fossil fuel use.
Source: Comparative life cycle analysis between a reusable cleaning cloth and a paper cloth, conducted by Miljogiraff in accordance with ISO 14040, 2021.
Our mats
Our classic anti-dirt mats are made from fibre sourced from 100% recycled materials, including PET bottles and fishing nets.
We go even further with our re:Tech range of mats, made from 75% recycled polyester and 25% recycled cotton, for an even more responsible alternative.
Cleanroom
During visits to production workshops, ‘visitor’ kits are offered to customers as an alternative to traditional disposable solutions (gowns, shoe covers, hairnets, etc.).
Reusable sterilisation bags are also offered with a view to reducing waste while ensuring that equipment is sterilised.
Pest Control: pest prevention
The Group offers more responsible alternatives such as insecticides based on plant-derived products (Origin Captiv, Origin Mosquilock, Diatomaceous Earth, etc.), as well as encouraging the use of natural systems such as installing nesting boxes for tits and bats to combat processionary caterpillars, mosquitoes and other flying insects.
The Workwear to Workwear range
After several years of research in partnership with textile industry players, the Group has developed a process for recycling Elis workwear and flat linen into new workwear, thereby closing the loop. This unique project relies exclusively on the expertise of French players. The Group is reinventing workwear by offering the Workwear to Workwear range in several markets, made from 100% recycled material, 60% of which comes from end-of-life Elis textiles.
A major project for the Group, it has won numerous awards in recent years both in France and abroad, particularly in Denmark.
Our life cycle assessments (LCA)
In order to continuously contribute to reducing pressure on natural resources and reducing the environmental footprint of its activities, the Group carries out life cycle assessments (LCAs). These highlight the benefits of the Elis model compared to other solutions (purchase or single use) and also contribute to discussions on eco-design (design, choice of materials, origin and production methods, recyclability, etc.).
What is an LCA?
Find all the LCAs carried out:
1. Our products
2. Elis model
- Rental maintenance vs. purchase of professional clothing
- Reusable vs. disposable surgical gowns
- Cotton rolls vs. paper rolls (study conducted by ETSA) :
Compared to paper rolls, cotton rolls generate:
-95% less waste
- 48% less energy
-29% less CO2 emissions
Reusable industrial wiping:
One reusable wiping cloth can replace four metres of paper roll and reduce your environmental footprint. What's more, our industrial towels are made from 100% recycled cotton and manufactured in Nordic Swan-certified factories.
This means up to:
- 68% fewer greenhouse gas emissions;
- up to 64% in land use;
- up to 62% in fossil resource use.
Source: Comparative life cycle analysis between a reusable wiping cloth and a paper cloth, carried out by Miljogiraff in accordance with ISO 14040, 2021.
If you need information or a quote for your project, our teams are here to help. Contact us!
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