Category: TRIMS
Country: India
By Roxana Caia
Coats Group
GTS NewsDesk
17th March 2025
-Coats’ use of natural and recycled materials grew to 46% in 2024, meaning nearly half of its thread and footwear components are now produced using non-virgin oil-based materials.
-As it approaches this landmark, Coats’ new sustainability report shows significant progress across all five key targets: materials, energy, water, waste and people.
-The company has shrunk its own operations carbon footprint significantly in the last two years and reduced emissions by 51% – or 92,000 tonnes – since 2022; the equivalent of taking 78,000 cars off the road
-As consumer demand rises for eco-friendly brands, the global sustainable fashion market is predicted to hit $33 billion (£26 billion) by 2030, a 323% rise since 2023.
-Threads of Change, a film by award-winning director Craig Leeson, reveals how Coats is weaving innovation into its fight to make the textile industry more sustainable.
London, UK, March 13 – The world’s leading thread manufacturer Coats Group, whose products are found in one in five garments globally, is poised to pass the tipping point of using 50% preferred raw (non-virgin oil-based) materials within its products.
According to Coats’ Sustainability Report 2024, with metrics assured by EY, the company is ahead of target in its transition to the sustainable use of materials, energy, water, waste and people; and is approaching a critical milestone in the production of the world’s sustainable thread.
Last year, Coats’ increased its use of eco-friendly recycled and bio-based raw materials to 46%, a rise from 31% in 2022. The rapid increase comes off the back of significant investment in innovation, and in response to heightened demand for sustainable products from fashion brands, including global apparel and footwear brands.
Coats saw revenue rise for its 100% recycled thread products by 144% to $405 million (£314 million) last year as industry adoption continues to accelerate. Global consultancy Coherent Market Insights has forecast the global sustainable fashion market will reach $33 billion (£26 billion) by 2030, quadrupling in size from 20233.
Over the past seven years Coats has opened three Innovation Hubs around the world, based in America, Turkey and China. In 2023 it unveiled a state-of-the-art Sustainability Hub in Madurai, southeast India, designed to help develop new generation materials free from the virgin oil that are linked to the bulk of the company’s emissions. Coats is on course to hit its target of using 60% recycled materials by the end of 2026 and moving away from virgin oil-based materials entirely by 2030.
The company’s innovations in sustainability and the work being done in Madurai are the focus of Threads of Change, a film by award-winning film-maker Craig Leeson, which also shows how Coats’ sustainability strategy is delivering a competitive advantage.
David Paja, Coats Group Chief Executive Officer, comments: “Sustainability is at the heart of Coats’ DNA and business strategy. It is the biggest challenge facing our industry and we want to lead by example.
“By connecting talent, textiles and technology we can show that innovation-led sustainability can not only be good for the planet, but also positive for business.”
Energy
The manufacturer, specialising in threads, yarns and structural components for apparel and footwear as well as performance materials, accelerated its transition to renewables and improved its energy efficiency in 2024. This has driven a 51% reduction in scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions, a cut of about 92,000 tonnes, on its 2022 baseline1, the equivalent of taking 78,000 cars off the road2. Coats’ use of renewable electricity now stands at 74%, up from 29% in 2022 and on course to reach 100% by 2030.
Water
Coats increased its water recycling rate by 14% in 2024, compared with its 2022 benchmark. With two major recycling installations planned for this year, the company is expected to hit its target of recycling a third of all water it uses within its processes by the end of 2026. It has reduced freshwater extraction by more than 4.5 million cubic metres since 2019, saving enough water to fill about 4,750 Olympic swimming pools. Meanwhile its water intensity – the amount needed to manufacture products – has now fallen to 35.3 litres per kilogram, a 55% reduction since 2019.
Waste
The FTSE 250 member is aiming to become a zero-to-landfill business by the end of next year. In 2024 it accelerated its reduction in waste disposal by 87% based on its 2022 level of 2,300 tonnes. In the sustainability report, Coats achieved a 99.8% compliance rate for its treatment of effluent in accordance with the industry-leading Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals (ZDHC) standards; it is targeting sustained full ZDHC compliance by 2026.
People
Coats exceeded its employee satisfaction target in 2024, as 95% of its workforce were covered by Great Place to Work certification. The company also hit its 2026 target of having 30% of females within senior leadership roles, up from 19% in 2022. It aims to reach 40% by 2030.
Chris Dearing, Coats Group Sustainability Director, comments: “As we approach the 50% milestone for the use of preferred raw materials, we’re witnessing a transformative moment for Coats and a sustainability shift that will have a positive ripple effect through the textile world.
“Disposability was our industry’s calling card for too long and manufacturers gave consumers precious few options to make sustainable choices. Those days have gone and if a 270-year-old business can make the change, anyone can.
“We are proud of the achievements we have made over the past year, but while we celebrate the company’s progress in the sustainability report, it is another step in our journey rather than a final destination. We will continue to set ambitious targets for Coats across all our five pillars as we strive to make a difference and build a sustainable future together.”
To learn more about Coats’ sustainability mission watch Threads of Change.
About Coats Group plc
Coats is a world leader in thread manufacturing and structural components for apparel and footwear, as well as an innovative pioneer in performance materials. These critical solutions are used to create a wide range of products, including ones that provide safety and protection for people, data and the environment. Headquartered in the UK, Coats is a FTSE250 company and a FTSE4Good Index constituent. Revenue in 2024 was $1.5 billion.
Trusted by the world's leading companies to deliver crucial, innovative, and sustainable solutions, Coats provides value-adding products including apparel, accessory and footwear threads, structural footwear components, fabrics, yarns and software applications. Customer partners include companies from the apparel, footwear, automotive, telecoms, personal protection, and outdoor goods industries.
With a proud heritage dating back more than 250 years and a spirit of evolution to constantly stay ahead of changing market needs, Coats has operations across some 50 countries with a permanent workforce of more than 16,000, serving its customers worldwide.
Coats connects talent, textiles, and technology, to make a better and more sustainable world. Worldwide, there are four dedicated Coats Innovation Hubs, where experts collaborate with partners to create the materials and products of tomorrow. It participates in the UN Global Compact and is committed to validated Science Based sustainability targets for 2030 and beyond, with an aspiration of achieving net-zero by 2050. Coats is also committed to achieving its goals in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, workplace health & safety, employee & community wellbeing, and supplier social performance.
To find out more about Coats visit www.coats.com.
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