Workwear under the microscope, Tricorp achieves B Corp certification

Good work trousers should protect, fit comfortably and last a long time. But that is no longer enough. Clients, employers and dealers increasingly want to know what happens behind a garment: where it is made, what materials are used, what impact the producer has on people and the environment, as well as business operations.

Tricorp Workwear is responding to this shift and is officially B Corp Certified. This means that the Dutch workwear company is not only putting its products and production process, but the entire company, to an international benchmark.

According to Tricorp, certification was never the original goal.

"We didn't start this journey to become B Corp. We started it to become better."

 

The first step was not certification, but a critical question

“Our goal was never to become B Corp certified as quickly as possible,” says Simone Snepvangers, sustainability specialist at Tricorp. "We were looking for a way to critically examine our organization."

Tricorp used the B Impact Assessment for this purpose: an extensive assessment of, among other things, management, employees, environment, customers and social impact.

"The assessment made visible where we already had a strong foundation, but especially where there was still work to be done. Only during the process did we realize that we could easily qualify for certification."

What started as an internal improvement instrument grew into a broader course for the company. Not driven by the desire to obtain a quality mark, but by the belief that a workwear company has more responsibility than just supplying good clothing.

For the professional, Tricorp workwear may therefore not change from one day to the next. The world behind work clothing is changing. And it is precisely that world that is increasingly weighing more heavily in the choices of employers, buyers and clients.

 

Good work clothing alone is no longer enough

In the workwear market, safety, quality and comfort have long been the most important criteria. These do not disappear, but are supplemented with new requirements. Transparency, origin, working conditions, use of materials and environmental impact are increasingly becoming part of tenders, supplier selections and long-term collaborations.

“The companies behind workwear are becoming just as important as the products themselves,” says Snepvangers. "Quality will soon no longer just be about how trousers perform, but also about how they were created."

According to Tricorp, this is not a temporary development, but a structural change in the market. That is why the company has been investing in the entire chain for years. From in-house product development and responsible material choices to long-term partnerships with suppliers, Life Cycle Assessments, Digital Product Passports, QR codes that offer product transparency and further digitalization of the supply chain. In combination with existing quality and process certifications, such as ISO, this creates an organization that not only meets high standards in terms of quality and reliability, but also responds to the growing demand for transparency, responsible entrepreneurship and social impact.

Tricorp thus positions itself emphatically as a partner for organizations in construction, infrastructure, logistics and industry that are increasingly asked to provide insight into the sustainability and origin of the products they purchase.

 

A certification for the entire company

A B Corp certification does not assess one collection or product, but the entire business operations. Topics such as governance, employees, environment, customers and social impact are independently tested against internationally recognized standards. That is precisely what makes certification relevant according to Tricorp.

“B Corp doesn't mean you're perfect,” says Snepvangers. "It means that you are prepared to continuously critically assess yourself, take responsibility for the impact you make and be transparent about where you stand. That independent confirmation is much more valuable to us than the certificate itself."

According to Tricorp, the standard in the workwear industry is shifting from product quality alone to the quality of the entire organization behind the product.

 

Growing also means more responsibility

With activities in more than eighteen European countries, more than 1,500 dealers and a strong international growth strategy, Tricorp's impact is also growing.

“Growth is not just about more products or more countries,” says Snepvangers. "The greater our impact becomes, the greater our responsibility. This requires better choices. Better materials. Better data. More transparency. Stronger cooperation in the chain. And above all: the willingness to challenge yourself again and again."

Tricorp develops its collections entirely in-house and does not view sustainability, innovation and transparency as separate projects, but as an integral part of business operations. The company not only wants to provide customers with high-quality work clothing, but also help them to be prepared for changing legislation, tenders and ESG requirements.

 

The bar will only be higher from today

For Tricorp, the B Corp certification therefore does not mark the end of a process, but the beginning of a new phase.

In the coming years, the company will continue to invest in more sustainable materials, further digitization of the chain, expansion of Digital Product Passports, Life Cycle Assessments for the entire collection, circular solutions and maximum transparency towards customers and partners. 

Because according to Tricorp, B Corp is not a destination. It is a way of doing business.

“The world is changing. Our industry is changing. And we believe that the companies that want to remain relevant tomorrow must take responsibility today. Good can always be better. That is the real meaning of B Corp for us.”