Saving Lives Through Sustainability

TST Sweden is widely known for our iconic red protective clothing for water jet operators. With ‘Saving Lives’ as a promise to the operators and their families, our dedication goes beyond protective clothing, extending to a strong commitment to a sustainable future – a mission that spans broad actions and local initiatives. This is our story, highlighting parts of our journey toward a more sustainable and safe tomorrow.

Since the start in 1990, we’ve had one goal in mind: to save lives. Over the years, this mission has grown to include not only personal protective equipment (PPE), but a broader commitment to social, environmental, and economic sustainability.

– We are focused on addressing our impact across the three dimensions of sustainability. Naturally, our greatest efforts are where our impact is largest – in our production and logistics – but we also believe in the importance of doing good wherever we can, whether it’s contributing to local biodiversity or supporting our community. It is an ongoing journey, and we always strive to be better than we were yesterday, says Peder Lindström, Market & Sales Director at TST Sweden.

We develop products that create safer working conditions for water jet operators, while also taking responsibility to ensure a safe and sustainable work environment for our employees and the extended textile worker teams. Working with long-term, trusted producers based in Sweden and Latvia, we better oversee our value chain, aiming to uphold fair working conditions for everyone involved. With our production based in Northern Europe, we also reduce the need for long-haul transports from producers to our warehouse in Sweden.

– Serving a global market often means long distances to our customers. To reduce shipping impact, we aim to consolidate shipments and choose more sustainable transport options when possible, explains Peder and continues,
– With a strategic network of distributors, we’re able to supply customers worldwide. To ensure our distributors provide the best guidance to end customers and to gather valuable feedback for future product development, we need to visit the distributors occasionally. These trips often require air travel, and we are conscious of the environmental impact, yet we consider them essential to our mission of saving lives.

TST Sweden is an innovation-driven company, constantly seeking new techniques and materials to enhance the safety, comfort, and sustainability of our products. We look for our products to not only enhance safety for people, but also benefit the environment. Two of our Workplace Safety Solutions products are a great example of this:

The Safety Pipe Cap, for cleaning out pipes, and the Safety Funnel, designed for cleaning out heat exchangers. Both protect operators, bystanders, and equipment from being injured or damaged by water and flying objects, while also simplifying the process of collecting the waste water, preventing environmental contamination. An additional advantage is that these products help reduce the noise level, creating a better working environment for operators and others nearby.

Our chemical footprint is a key focus at present. We comply with the EU’s REACH regulation, which governs the registration, evaluation, authorization, and restriction of chemical substances. Fabric treatments including chemicals are essential for creating protective clothing with long-lasting durability, adding water and dirt resistance. 

The treatments extend the performance and lifespan of the protective clothing in the tough conditions of water jetting.
– We regularly evaluate new ways to minimize our chemical use, without compromising the life-saving quality of the garments, says Peder.

Sharing knowledge and inspiration is essential for driving the shift toward sustainability. We are dedicated to fostering safer work environments for employers and workers worldwide. This work is carried out through participation in trade shows, open days, workplace visits, as well as via social media and other communication channels. In 2023, 

we held Safety Academy Days, an event designed to equip distributors with key insights for guiding end customers in choosing the right PPE, understanding protective textiles, the quality standards signified by CE certification, and fostering a safe workplace.

At TST Sweden we actively support the local community by sponsoring associations that contribute to a stronger, more vibrant community.
– For us, it’s important to help wherever possible, says Peder. Our sponsoring includes sports organizations for all ages, mentorship for students in entrepreneurship and textile programs, anti-bullying initiatives, and associations focused on eradicating critical illnesses in children.

A recent local project can be found right outside our office windows: a well-kept lawn transformed into a wild meadow, creating a haven for endangered pollinators and enhancing local biodiversity.

– At TST we try to take action where we can make an impact, whether it is creating a wild meadow or minimizing our chemical footprint. We believe in the power of collective action – through our efforts, we hope to inspire others to join us in making a difference. As the saying goes: no one can do everything, but everyone can do something, concludes Peder Lindström.