Groenendijk's commitment to transparency and sustainability
Groenendijk, a full-service supplier of workwear clothing, work shoes and personal protective equipment in the entire Benelux, partnered with tex.tracer to enhance their commitment to transparency. As part of their ongoing innovation efforts in products and services, Groenendijk recognised the importance of transparency in achieving its sustainability goals. Their previous method of managing supply chain data through large Excel files proved inefficient and unsustainable as the company continued to grow.
Seeking a more streamlined approach, Groenendijk turned to tex.tracer to centralise their supply chain data onto one single platform. The tex.tracer platform did not only tap into the need for efficiency but also aligned with their values of transparency both externally with customers and internally within the organisation. Furthermore, with upcoming laws and regulations, such as the CSRD, reporting on transparency and social conditions in the supply chain becomes mandatory, thus, Groenendijk recognised the urgency of adopting a robust transparency solution. By working with the tex.tracer platform, Groenendijk positions themselves at the forefront of sustainable practices, demonstrating their commitment to transparency and social responsibility.
"The tex.tracer platform enables us to meet the increasing demands for sustainability information coming from customers by providing customer-specific supply chain transparency and environmental data"
Puck Jager, Corporate Responsibility at Groenendijk
Overcoming challenges: miscommunicaton and language
Ensuring transparency within their supply chain posed several challenges, with one of the most prominent being miscommunication between them and their supply chain partners. Despite clearly explaining the information they needed and the intended use of that data, there were instances of misunderstanding due to language barriers. Trust and understanding were crucial in their attempts to obtain the necessary information from their suppliers. This underscores the importance of fostering open and honest communication and effective collaboration to achieve supply chain transparency.
In February this year, the tex.tracer team visited the supply chain partners of Groenendijk. We had meaningful conversations about their experience with the platform, their opinion on the future of transparency and the collaboration between them and Groenendijk. It was encouraging to notice the dedication and enthusiasm coming from the partners towards fostering a more transparent and responsible future.
Furthermore, during these visits, the tex.tracer team learned about the positive momentum of the collaboration between Groenendijk and its partners, as Mac Selvan, Managing director at Gloria Casa Moda, elaborated on personally. This affirmation not only reinforced the commitment to transparency but also highlighted the effective synergy between the parties.
"Our communication with Groenendijk is very good, almost on a daily basis. This is crucial as it helps us work well together and understand each other's needs".
Mac Selvan, Managing director at Gloria Casa Moda
Empowering Groenendijk’s supply chain efforts with tex.tracer
At Groenendijk, the primary goal was to enhance their understanding of the supply chain and identify the various tiers involved. They emphasised the importance of this insight to their supply chain partners, highlighting the significance of transparency and explaining their intentions with the collected data. In recognising sustainability as a fundamental aspect of the company’s operations, they aimed to integrate sustainability seamlessly across all departments rather than treating it as a separate department. tex.tracer, serving as a link that interconnects all stakeholders within the supply chain, including product development, the purchasing department, and the corporate responsibility team, emerged as a fitted solution.
The tex.tracer platform revolutionised their approach by centralising all supply chain data on one platform, facilitating effortless collaboration across departments. Moreover, the platform enabled Groenendijk to meet the increasing demands for sustainability information coming from customers by providing customer-specific supply chain transparency and environmental data.
Overall, the use of the platform not only streamlined operations but also elevated our commitment to transparency and sustainability.
Key insights
Up untill now, the biggest insight we have gained was seeing a comprehensive view of the entire product journey, from raw material to end product. This gives the opportunity to pinpoint areas within the supply chain where meaningful impact can be created, both socially and environmentally. By understanding the origins of their products and the complexities of their journey, Groenendijk is empowered to make informed decisions that alignw ith their sustainability goals.
Future goals
Next up, Groenendijk has set ambitious goals to enhance supply chain transparency and sustainability through its partnership with tex.tracer.
By 2025, they aim to trace 40% of their own production up to tier 3, with a targeted 20% of this traced by 2024. This commitment extends to onboarding all supply chain partners involved in their production processes. Looking further ahead, by 2030 the aspiration is to trace 50% of their own production up to tier 4 and provide 10% of products with a digital product passport by 2025.
In addition to this, the recent incorporation of Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) into the tex.tracer platform allows for the inclusion of product footprint data. Groenendijk’s goal in regards to this is to have 10% of their products analysed by 2030. These forward-looking objectives underscore Groenendijk’s dedication to enhancing transparency, sustainability, and innovation throughout its supply chain.
The tex.tracer platform revolutionised their approach by centralising all supply chain data on one platform, facilitating effortless collaboration across departments. Moreover, the platform enabled Groenendijk to meet the increasing demands for sustainability information coming from customers by providing customer-specific supply chain transparency and environmental data.
Overall, the use of the platform not only streamlined operations but also elevated our commitment to transparency and sustainability.
Feel free to reach out to Groenendijk with any inquiries. Send them an e-mail: duurzaam@groenendijkbedrijfskleding.nl or visit their website: www.groenendijkbedrijfskleding.nl
