Old uniforms no longer needed by Northern staff are set to be shredded and turned into ‘furtherlife products’ such as insulation and sound-boarding as part of a new environmental push by the train operator.
End of life uniform will be collected from depots and train crew centres on a regular basis before being shredded and used in one of three ways by their recycling partner, Avena, a specialist in brand security through processes including textile shredding, clothing destruction and textile recycling.
Some of the material, if of a pure fibre structure, will be used to create new items of clothing; some will be used to make new products including insulation, sound boards and partition walls; and those not suitable for either of these avenues will be incinerated to create energy as an alternative to landfill. With a nearly 7,000-strong workforce, many of whom wear uniforms and workwear, the turnover of garments through natural wear and tear alone is significant.
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Many of the items feature the Northern logo and therefore have to be disposed of safely for security reasons – to avoid the possibility of items being used by those looking to impersonate rail workers and gain access to restricted areas of depots and stations.
Mike Roe, safety and environment director at Northern, said: “We already recycle 70% of our waste, but we’re on a mission to get that to 74% by 2026.
