Sustainability pays off! AW is a laureate of the "VOKA Charter for Sustainable Entrepreneurship".

With conviction, expertise and an innovative approach, Associated Weavers (AW) is constantly taking steps towards more sustainable flooring production. The results of these efforts were rewarded with the "VOKA Charter for Sustainable Entrepreneurship."

The "Charter for Sustainable Entrepreneurship" is an initiative of   the entrepreneurial network VOKA. It rewards companies that make corporate social responsibility the centrepiece of their operations. In doing so, VOKA takes the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals as its guide. Good intentions are not enough to earn the charter — the positive impact of sustainability actions must be demonstrated by measurable results. AW drew up a plan for 2022, implemented a series of actions, had their efficiency evaluated by an external appraisal agency, and - successfully - presented the results to the VOKA jury. Until June 2024  , AW can call itself a laureate of the "VOKA Charter for Sustainable Entrepreneurship."

The jury appreciated the many-faceted nature of AW's actions. The production process focused on energy efficiency, water treatment and waste reduction to mitigate environmental and climate impact. The plan also addressed employee safety and wellbeing. In terms of sustainable product development, VOKA was particularly interested in AW's recently developed "Product Carbon Footprint Calculator" (PCFC). This tool calculates the carbon footprint of a carpet based on parameters such as the choice of material, yarn consumption and carpet structure. This allows AW to inform customers quickly and correctly about the CO2 emissions per square metre of any item in the collection. When developing new products too, the PCFC quickly became a fixture, says Peter Van Den Berghe, Senior Product Development Manager: "By creatively playing with the parameters, the team can simulate potential products and adjust them to the desired result. Traditionally, we were mainly guided by quality, style, colour and cost. Today, the carbon footprint also determines whether or not a carpet is brought to market. That choice is the essence of corporate social responsibility."

By being awarded the "VOKA Charter for Sustainable Entrepreneurship," AW proves once again that it takes its role as a pioneer in the textile sector seriously and aims to be a leader in the field of corporate social responsibility too. Of course, AW continues to focus on action items that have a tangible impact on the environment, climate, safety and welfare. With the continuation of an overall action plan for 2023, the renewal of the "VOKA Charter for Sustainable Entrepreneurship" also comes into view, so that this recognition can become a lasting asset for AW's partner relations.

The "Product Carbon Footprint Calculator" is one of many actions through which AW anchors corporate social responsibility in its operations. Read more about AW's other sustainable actions here.