MSP Graham Simpson visited sustainable clothing company Advance Clothing Solutions (ACS) at their Circular Fashion Hub to discuss the work they’re doing to reduce the affects of fast fashion and the various initiatives available to their 150 staff.
He met with COO Anthony Burns and Head of Sustainability Michael Cusack, at their site in Motherwell, to have a look around the facility and hear more about their plans for the future.
ACS, which first launched back in 1997, is a leading enabler of the fashion industry’s circular economy in the UK and Europe by providing brands and retailers with a profitable, circular fashion solution that extends the life of clothing and diverts textile waste from landfill.
They provide this service for a number of brands, including Next, M&S, Moss Bros and Asos, and have more than 50,000 items of clothing on site at any time.
Mr Simpson was given a tour of the hub where he saw the scale of the operation, chatted with the CEO Andy Rough about sustainability before being shown how to clean a garment by staff member Dorota Nowak.
There was also an opportunity to discuss the work ASC are doing in the community and for their staff – who are paid a Real Living Wage.
He heard about a variety of work schemes including electric bike rental, No Limits (a 1 year programme for young people with learning difficulties) and their refugee development programme in conjunction with North Lanarkshire Council.
The company are also keen to offer more registered disabled people full-time positions. Currently, 16% of their staff are disabled but they are working towards a target of 50%.
Graham Simpson, MSP for Central Scotland said: “I was delighted to visit ACS’s site at Eurocentral and was very impressed with the work they are doing both as a business and in the community.
“In an era of fast fashion and with the amount of waste going to landfill growing rapidly, businesses like this are going to be play a crucial role going forward.
“It was good to catch up with Anthony, Andy and Michael to hear about their plans for the future and see first-hand how the business operates. Their huge list of commendations and work programmes are a testament to the company’s great work”.
