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The Problem With Commercial Textile Waste in NZ
New Zealand generates around 92,000 tonnes of textile waste every year. Most of it ends up in landfill. Commercial workwear — overalls, uniforms, food processing garments, hi-vis gear — makes up a significant portion of that total. These fabrics are typically blended synthetic fibres that take decades to break down and release microplastics into the soil and groundwater as they do.
For businesses on managed uniform programmes, the question of what happens to old garments has historically had a frustrating answer: nothing formal. Garments wore out, got damaged, fell out of compliance with hygiene standards — and ended up in a skip.
ImpacTex changes that.
- End-of-life garments go to landfill
- No formal end-of-life tracking
- Business carries reputational risk
- No sustainability reporting data
- Synthetic fibres break down over decades
- Garments collected and processed
- Certified recycling stream
- Landfill diversion data provided
- Supports ISO 14001 environmental reporting
- Textiles repurposed into insulation and industrial fibre
How ImpacTex Works — Step by Step
ImpacTex runs alongside your existing Alsco managed service. There is no separate contract, no collection fee, and no additional admin. Here is how garments move through the programme:
Alsco’s laundry technicians inspect garments at every service cycle. When a garment is beyond repair — whether due to wear, damage, contamination, or hygiene standards — it is flagged for retirement rather than returned to your stock.
Retired garments are sorted by fibre type and condition. Cotton-rich fabrics, polyester blends, and synthetic workwear go into different processing streams. Metal components such as buttons, zips, and buckles are removed before recycling.
Textiles are processed through certified recycling partners. The material is mechanically shredded and broken down into fibre, then repurposed into secondary products: industrial insulation, acoustic panels, geotextiles, and recycled fill material. Nothing goes to landfill.
Retired garments are replaced with fresh stock from Alsco’s managed service as part of your existing agreement. Your team always has the right number of garments — you never need to purchase replacements separately.
Alsco provides clients with data on the total weight of textiles diverted from landfill through their account. This can be used in your own environmental reporting, sustainability disclosures, or stakeholder communications.
What Garments and Textiles Are Eligible
ImpacTex covers the full range of textiles managed under Alsco’s service. If it comes from your Alsco rental programme, it is eligible for the recycling stream.
| Textile Type | Eligible? | End Use |
|---|---|---|
| Workwear uniforms & overalls | Yes | Industrial insulation, recycled fibre |
| Food processing garments | Yes | Processed separately, industrial fibre |
| Hospitality uniforms | Yes | Fibre recycling, acoustic material |
| Commercial linen (sheets, tablecloths) | Yes | Wiping rags, industrial fill |
| Tea towels and napkins | Yes | Recycled fibre products |
| FR workwear (fire retardant) | Assessed case by case | Specialist stream — depends on fibre composition |
ImpacTex and ISO 14001 Environmental Compliance
Alsco holds ISO 14001 certification for its NZ operations — the international standard for environmental management systems. ImpacTex is a direct output of that commitment. For businesses that report on environmental performance, or operate in supply chains with sustainability requirements, Alsco’s certified approach provides a documented, auditable textile waste solution.
Why Managed Rental Is More Sustainable Than Buying
The environmental case for managed uniform rental over outright purchase goes beyond end-of-life recycling. The entire lifecycle of a garment under Alsco’s managed service is more resource-efficient than the buy-and-replace model.
How to Access ImpacTex as an Alsco Client
If you are already an Alsco Uniforms NZ client on a managed rental programme, ImpacTex is available as part of your existing service. There is nothing to sign up for separately.
Not yet an Alsco client? ImpacTex is exclusive to Alsco’s managed rental service. Businesses that buy their own uniforms and manage laundering in-house do not have access to the programme — it is built into the managed service model. Talk to Alsco about switching to a managed rental arrangement to access ImpacTex alongside all the other benefits of the programme.
To get your ImpacTex diversion data for environmental reporting, contact your Alsco account representative and request a sustainability summary for your account. This shows the total weight of textiles diverted from landfill over your chosen reporting period.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Keep your uniforms out of landfill.
Switch to Alsco’s managed rental service and your end-of-life garments enter the ImpacTex recycling stream automatically. No extra cost. NZ-wide.
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