Global port agency Inchcape Shipping Services introduces the Maritime-ENV boilersuit, the first in a planned range of fully sustainable PPE garments designed specifically for the maritime industry as part of its strong focus on Procurement as a Service (PaaS).
Inchcape’s sustainable boilersuit marks the port agent’s debut in supplying workwear to the shipping industry. How did this come about?
“In our Marine Supply Chain Solutions division, we have developed deep expertise in creating novel solutions for customers’ procurement problems. As part of that work we identified a supply chain gap in the form of sustainable PPE and boilersuits in particular. We are addressing this unmet demand with the launch of the Maritime Classic sustainable boilersuit,” says Robbie Mclellan, Head of Global Supply Chain at Inchcape.
While many ship operators are currently preoccupied with environmental issues such as eliminating single-use plastics, Mclellan’s team were surprised at the number of Inchcape’s customers, from small to some of the biggest names in shipping, who had never thought about workwear in terms of sustainability.
“In terms of what’s available, you can, of course, buy cheap garments likely produced in a sweatshop somewhere and using raw materials that are not ethically sourced, or you can buy higher-quality maritime products that have a very high price point but that still don’t focus on sustainability,” he says.
“The sustainable boilersuits that are available are very generic and not adapted for maritime use. Our product is completely unique in that it will be sustainable, specifically designed for day-to-day wear by seafarers on any type of vessel, and affordable – with a price point in the middle.”
Inchcape will be producing the garments with a fully sustainable supply chain, which includes a fully green manufacturing process in India that features renewable (solar) power and rainwater capture. “The process is in compliance with Sedex ethical trading standards, meaning workers are treated fairly and paid properly. The factory operator is also seeking registration as UN Global Compact participant,” adds Mclellan.
Full traceability
The raw materials used in the garment will be fully traceable. The cotton in the polycotton mix comes from ethically traded and sustainable sources, including a proportion of recycled material. “The boilersuits will carry the Better Cotton Initiative (BCI) logo, proving the cotton used comes from sustainable sources. The BCI was established by the World Wide Fund for Nature to promote better standards in cotton farming and practices internationally, meaning we can choose from a long list of BCI-approved suppliers in India and elsewhere. We will use the most cost-effective options closest to our manufacturing site to avoid additional carbon footprint from long-distance transport,” says Mclellan.
“Right from the growing process to the manufacturing process and minimising the carbon footprint of distribution, customers can rest assured the boilersuit is a fully sustainable product of exceptional quality.”
Each batch of cotton in a customer run will also have a unique BCI ID number that identifies its origin – which customers can use for ESG reporting. In addition, all seams are double stitched and company logos are embroidered on, not heat pressed logos that can fray and fall off, and recyclable solid brass zips are standard unless a customer specifically asks for plastic zips that are anti-spark.
Customers will also be able to request small tweaks to the basic boilersuit design, however any major alterations, such as changing the location of the velcro strips, are possible but would require a recertification process that would increase lead time and cost.
Made to global standards
In terms of accreditation, the garment is certified in line with European and international standards including EN ISO 11611 and 11612, ISO 9001, EN 1149, EN 471, IEC 61482-1-2 CLASSE-1, PPE testing organisation BTTG’s Module D 2016/245 as well as OEKO-TEX.
Old boilersuits can be returned for shredding and reused in the production cycle. Being fire-retardant polyvatex, the reflective tape elements on the boilersuits are not a sustainable material per se but can be stripped off at the end of life and also shredded for recycling.
“We’re also reducing emissions from packaging and distribution in a ‘farm-to-plate’ model. This includes reducing the use of single-use plastic in the packaging and ensuring that any plastic that is used is recycled. In addition, all the cardboard packaging is fully recyclable,” says Mclellan.
Positive market feedback
Mclellan acknowledges it is unusual for a port agent to launch a physical product. “Some people think it’s strange, but we really welcome this as no other agent has identified a similar procurement gap and presented a complete solution to customers. Having done the groundwork, we can save customers precious time, so they don’t have to scour the world for sustainable boilersuits themselves,” says Mclellan. “The feedback we’re receiving from the market is very positive, as the product can boost customers’ ESG reporting and wider sustainability efforts.”
The boilersuit fully aligns with Inchcape’s own ESG strategy. “It’s a small but pivotal step that supports both our own and our customers’ goals on several fronts, from reducing carbon footprint to fighting poverty,” says Mclellan. “The cheapest boilersuits available are likely not made in line with high ethical standards, plus there is a lot of ethically questionable cotton production around the world that we want to help eradicate. As an ethically responsible business, we want to promote that within our industry.”
Complete service package
As an agent, Inchcape can supply boilersuits in bulk with direct delivery in strategic locations that reflect customers’ port calls. “Let’s say the chosen location is Dubai; we can store garments in Dubai and deliver them directly to the vessel when your seafarers go on board. Right now customers typically courier PPE packages, including three or four boilersuits, boots and hard hats etc, direct to each seafarer’s home. He or she then has to lug all that with them when they fly out to join the vessel, which isn’t very convenient,” says Mclellan.
With strategic storage locations around the world, customers can essentially call down from their stock whenever they are in port, and Inchcape will perform the last-mile delivery. “That is much more sustainable than us shooting them off by plane around the world from a single distribution point,” Mclellan adds.
What’s next?
Inchcape’s long-term intention is to expand the product line to include sustainable underwear, rainwear, outerwear and boots, as well as vessel-specific garments that require additional licenses and/or slightly different specifications, for example, for work on board chemical tankers. “We can also offer a ladies’ range given the anticipated increase in the number of female seafarers,” says Mclellan.
The sustainable garment project reflects Inchcape’s focus on product sourcing, PaaS, and any other outsourced logistics or procurement functions customers may require. “We’re the only global agent that offers this kind of 360-degree capability. Our priority is to make customers’ lives easier by finding novel solutions to their procurement problems and providing continuity of service. They shouldn’t have to deal with a host of vendors across the globe when we already have an unmatched strategic vendor database with excellent discounts that we can pass on to customers,” says Simon Potter, Chief Procurement Officer at Inchcape.
Tackling the ‘tail end’
Potter explains the project forms part of Inchcape’s response to customers’ chunkier PaaS requests (quarterly stores or provisions requests). “We want to build a more proactive procurement model rather than being reactive to last-minute requests, concentrating more on customers’ tail spend,” says Potter. “When you do procurement training you learn about the 80/20 rule, meaning 80% of your spend is covered by 20% of your suppliers. In my experience, this is almost always true and means your remaining 20% of spend is spread across hundreds, or even thousands, of suppliers. Managing these relationships can be really complex and expensive, and it requires a great deal of knowledge, experience and time to minimise risks in your tail-spend supply chain.”
PaaS is a solution for customers looking to streamline their global supply chain. Inchcape provides local procurement solutions across hundreds of ports worldwide using its vetted list of vendors, plus it removes hidden costs and complexities, such as bank and exchange rate charges, and the need to maintain relationships with suppliers customers may use once or only a few times each year.
Many large ship chandlers claim they can offer similar last-mile services in different ports around the world, even if they don’t have a local office. “The big difference is that Inchcape is physically present in most of these locations as an agent, so we know when vessels are arriving, and we’re one step closer than the majority of our competitors. Traditional ship chandlers may be outsourcing to a third party in any case,” Potter adds.
Just as Inchcape has identified the supply chain gap for sustainable workwear, it is ready to custom-build solutions to whatever procurement challenges customers may present, working with approved suppliers that have gone through its strict governance process. “As ESG demands become greater, sustainability will likely become increasingly important across the operational supply chain, and we’re here to help,” Potter concludes.