Choose a sustainable yarn manufacturer

Today, sustainable companies and manufacturers have a competitive edge. Consumers as well as purchasing professionals in the carpet industry increasingly want to buy green. However, it’s not always easy to know what to look for in a sustainable company.
Let’s have a closer look at what makes a yarn manufacturer sustainable.

SUSTAINABLE YARNS Stoneblue Pantone16 4114 RSH014

How to recognize a sustainable manufacturer?

How can you differentiate the well-meaning sustainable manufacturer from the greenwasher?

Here are six things to look out for.

The products

A company’s sustainability efforts are crystallized in its product portfolio. What’s the impact of those products on our planet? Is there a focus on eco-design or circularity? And to what extent does the company invest in innovation and sustainable development?

The process

How committed is the company to operational excellence to reduce its impact on our planet? How is the company reducing energy use, water consumption, and waste in its production processes?

The mission

How is sustainability reflected in the company mission? Does the organization have a clear vision on the future? Has it set measurable and achievable sustainability targets? To what extent is the company a source of inspiration for sustainable manufacturers?

The energy

Is the company taking advantage of green energy sources, such as solar power or wind, for its production facilities? Is the organization only doing the strict necessary or is it setting an example as a green energy frontrunner?

The footprint

Is the company striving towards net-zero in the near future? Is it fully engaged in the energy transition, reducing scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions, and sustainable sourcing of raw materials? Is it engaging the value chain to reduce complex scope 3 emissions as well?

The proof

Are the company’s sustainability claims backed by proof? Does the company have an ISO 14001 system in place? Can it demonstrate green supply chains with GRS and REDcert2 certifications? Is the company exhibiting transparency through its EDPs and LCAs?

Shaping sustainable living, together

Sustainable manufacturing in practice

B.I.G. Yarns is a leading manufacturer of polyamide (PA), polypropylene (PP) and polyester (PET) yarns for commercial, automotive and residential applications. The company has made it its mission to build a sustainable future and wants to set an example as a sustainable yarn manufacturer. But does the company walk the talk? Let’s see how it puts sustainable manufacturing into practice.

Net-Zero by 2030

Beaulieu International Group, mother company of B.I.G. Yarns, is on course to achieve a zero environmental footprint by 2030. The company developed a roadmap that reflects the sustainable approach with 5 routes leading to a zero footprint future.

In the sustainability report 'Destination: zero environmental footprint', B.I.G. offers customers, partners and other stakeholders a clear and transparent insight into the sustainable path that B.I.G. is following and the made progress towards it.

B.I.G. Yarns is EcoVadis rated!

B.I.G. Yarns earned its first Silver Medal and scored a 60/100, which places the company among the top 25 percent of companies assessed by EcoVadis.

The EcoVadis process validates our sustainability commitments, practices and performance, and offers a clear roadmap for how we can continue to increase our impact over time.

The highest performing sustainability assessment themes were "Environment" and "Labor & Human Rights".

Sustainability Pioneer 2022

B.I.G. Yarns is fully committed to integrating the UN Sustainable Development Goals into its business activities. In 2022, the organization was recognized as an SDG Pioneer for its sustainability efforts for its factories in Belgium and France.

Towards 100% green electricity

B.I.G. Yarns is committed to attaining 100% renewable electricity in its operations by 2030.

Our plants in Belgium and France partially utilize green electricity obtained through the acquisition of green certificates.
In Belgium, the company independently generates energy with 2,400 solar panels.
Furthermore, all our operations in China are exclusively powered by green electricity.

Recycled and renewable content in products

B.I.G. Yarns is aiming high in terms of sustainable innovation. With the introduction of the EqoYarn, EqoBalance and EqoCycle yarn portfolios in recent years, the company is upscaling its efforts towards the circular economy.

Virgin-based EqoYarn offers a reduced carbon footprint.
EqoBalance yarns save on fossil resources by using renewable sources in the value chain.
EqoCycle yarns contain recycled content that is collected from post-industrial waste.

This way, less virgin raw materials need to be used, which reduces the carbon footprint.

Backed by official certifications

The best guarantee against greenwashing is being able to present the right certifications.

B.I.G. Yarns is ISO 14001 certified, which means it maintains an efficient environmental management system to limit the impact of its activities on the environment.

Products certified to the Global Recycled Standard (GRS) contain recycled content that has been (independently) verified at each stage of the supply chain, from the source to the final product. In addition, social, environmental, and chemical criteria related to processing are required.

EqoBalance yarns are REDcert² certified. REDcert² is a certification scheme which covers the use of sustainable biomass as a material in the chemical industry.

B.I.G. Yarns offers additional proof and transparency by providing Carbon Footprint Declarations or Environmental Product Declarations (EPD) for its products. These declarations are based on extensive Life Cycle Assessments (LCA).

A heart for water

B.I.G. has made the Operation Clean Sweep (OCS) pledge, hereby supporting the prevention of plastic granulates from entering waterways and the world’s oceans.

The goal is zero pellet loss in five production sites. The company has already implemented several effective measures to avoid lost pellets to flow into rivers, finding their way to the ocean.

Protecting the oceans.

Our oceans need help.
So, let’s join hands to make a difference today.
We believe in the power of change.
Making a positive choice for sustainability now is not only good for the oceans, it’s good for business too.