uvex hearing protection - protecting people and the environment

We have managed to reduce energy consumption by 45% over the last five years and are keeping the energy requirement at a very low level by investing in modern machinery and innovative processes. We use energy resources efficiently in a bid to help protect the environment. Manufacturing 1,000 pairs of earplugs requires no more energy than manufacturing the paper for your favourite weekly magazine.

Protecting the environment by using renewable energy sources is one of our most important objectives. We never use gas or oil in our manufacturing processes or for heating and most of our energy requirements are met by wind and hydroelectric power, helping to significantly reduce uvex’s CO₂ emissions.

We want to protect global water resources over the long term and for years have been doing our utmost to reduce our water consumption to an absolute minimum. Result: we now only require 14 cl of water to manufacture 1,000 pairs of earplugs, which is equivalent to approximately one champagne glass. The water used in the manufacturing process completely vaporises and as a result we do not produce a single drop of waste water.

We have been able to significantly reduce our waste in recent years. Manufacturing 1,000 pairs of earplugs only generates 85 grams of waste, which is equivalent to the weight of one full coffee filter. Of our total waste volume, 60% generates new energy in the SYSAV incineration plant in Malmö. The remaining 40% is recycled. We do not produce any hazardous waste.

Short transport routes save valuable energy and reduce environmental pollution through harmful emissions. We source 90% of our raw materials and packaging from local Swedish suppliers and carry out all manufacturing processes at one location. Sweden has particularly strict regulations with regard to health and environmental protection. Regular inspections ensure compliance with laws and regulations.

Providing optimal industrial safety is of paramount importance to us and we have not had any occupational accidents since our establishment in 2005. This health and safety requirement also applies to our products: our earplugs are proven to be free from harmful substances*. We guarantee this through regular inspections by independent test institutes.

50% of our earplugs are sold in large, refillable dispensers. One dispenser holds 400 pairs of earplugs and can be restocked from refill packs, which contributes to reducing the volume of waste.

More than 90% of our assembly work is carried out by people with disabilities. Our long-standing collaboration with sheltered workshops ensures continuous high levels of quality and gives people with disabilities a professional future. We help young unemployed people to get their first job and introduce them into the employment market. The number of people we support per year is double that of our own employees.