Social Procurement Award
This category awards the use of procurement as a tool to provide enduring positive benefits for communities, employee of suppliers, and the environment, alongside acquiring the goods, services and works required.
Sponsored by
NZAS
Giving old uniforms a new life through local partnership
finalist
Social Procurement Award
New Zealand Energy Excellence Awards 2024
New Zealand Aluminium Smelters partnered with Workwear Recycled to repurpose about 10,000 items of clothing made redundant by a change of uniform for its 750 employees. Textiles were diverted from landfill and transformed into useful products like insulation and packaging materials, reducing waste and carbon emissions. Plastic from safety glasses and hard hats are upcycled. A research project is also underway as part of the firms' ongoing relationship to investigate ways to recycle steel-capped boots.