Making people's lives better

This page provides an overview of our CSR initiatives - actions that create value for both our company and the communities in which we operate. We firmly believe in the power of shared value, benefiting all our stakeholders, including employees, suppliers, clients, governments, shareholders, partners, and society as a whole.

COVID-19 products

Sioen products save lives during COVID-19 pandemic.

Circle A, a new business model

The collaboration between customer, garment manufacturer, distributor and cleaning firm leads to a new business model of professional Protective Clothing.

Global Sourcing Strategy

Cost, supplier reliability, production capability, engagements towards society, corporate values and the willingness to subscribe to similar ethical, social and environmental codes as us are just some of the conditions we require from our suppliers.

Award: wave breaker

Our client, Jel-Tom in Croatia used our technical textiles to produce an award-winning wave breaker. It not only protects the coastline, but also generates electricity from the sun and the force of the sea.

We pay taxes, contributing to society

Our reported taxes can be found in our ESG-report.

Sun protection products

Sioen is producing technical textiles that are used as sun protection in verandas, gazebos, pergolas, car park shadings and in vertical sunscreens, on windows and even facade scrims on whole buildings.

Producing garments for firefighters

We're producing technical garments for firefighters. Each day, over 200 000 firefighters are protected by Sioen Firefighter suits.

Stimulating diversity

We’re stimulating diversity, treating everybody as equal, regardless of their skin colour, religion, their sexe, age, ...

Donating mouth masks to all Valstagna citizens

We've donated filters to all citizens of Valstagna (home town of our production plant Manifattura Fontana) during the first weeks of the COVID-19 outbreak in March 2020 when the mortality rate in Italy peaked and availability of protection was scant.

All our suppliers

Sioen asks for similar efforts in the field of CSR from its suppliers. Standards, certificates and memberships act as guarantees for sustainable business. We’re putting lots of effort into obtaining them and ask the same from our suppliers.

Energy recuperation

In all of our coating plants, the air above the machines is extracted and purified. The energy that is released is used to preheat the furnaces. The optimisation of this process is one of the reasons why our gas consumption has decreased so much.

Training on the job

At the beginning of our new Sioen Talents’ careers, we always offer on-the-job training. This practical training helps them to get to know the job with useful tips and tricks. Participation in both internal and external trainings is encouraged.

Waste water

We're tightly managing our waste water. With the exception of sanitary water, we aim for a zero discharge status. Our online coating plant in Ardooie and our chemicals production plant in Bornem have already achieved this goal.

Coolbox

Veranneman installed the Coolbox, a communications hub that provides a place for meetings and for monitoring the loom data.

Sustainable bulk packaging

For bulk transport from our production centres, we use reusable packaging. That way, less copies have to be produced, less raw materials are needed and there is less waste. We are optimising bulk packaging in boxes and crates.

Ergonomic tools

Erroneous, prolonged and heavy lifting can lead to back problems. That is why we opted for ergonomic lifting equipment that puts less strain on the user. At Veranneman Technical Textiles, for example, we have added lifting aid to move the bobbins.

R&D investments

We invest more than 10 million euro in R&D on a yearly basis. Innovation is of major importance, as we ‘Protect through Innovation’. Thanks to having our own in-house testing laboratory, we can efficiently test our products.

Solar panels

Our electricity consumption has fallen sharply in recent years thanks to installing solar panels at our production facilities. At our headquarters in Ardooie, 10% of the total annual electricity consumption comes from the solar panels on the roof.

Robot Camp

Sioen supports ‘Robot camp’, a local project of a school in Poperinge (Belgium). During this summer holiday initiative, students can improve in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) by building a robot.

Amfori BSCI membership

Our membership of amfori BSCI, helps us realise our goals in the field of sustainability throughout our entire supply chain.

Award: Lifetime achievement award

Mrs Sioen won the Lifetime achievement award by Director-E, the leading magazine in the apparel industry. The award was a recognition for 57 years of hard work of Mrs. Sioen since the foundation of the company in 1960. She passed away in 2020.