AILEEN’S UNIFORM ATLAS
The Pulse is pleased to present Aileen’s Uniform Atlas, a recurring feature written by Aileen Out.
Out is the owner of Prettybusiness, a news blog in the Netherlands that focuses exclusively on work clothing.

When it comes to sustainability in workwear, people often think of using recycled fabrics or incorporating old materials into new products. However, companies can also focus on sustainable shipping. In the Netherlands, they are now doing this by using bicycles for deliveries. And they are even taking it a step further to make the shipping of workwear as sustainable as possible.

Bicycle couriers

In the Netherlands, it has been common for years to deliver products by bicycle couriers. This isn’t surprising, as the Dutch love cycling. In fact, the country has more bicycles (22.9 million) than inhabitants (18 million). From groceries and online shopping orders to fast food, more and more items are being delivered this way.

Now, four local companies have joined forces to make workwear delivery as sustainable as possible. These include the healthcare organization Carinova, the workwear supplier Goal Promotions, the reusable packaging supplier Nobox, and the delivery service Fietskoeriers Deventer.

Through this initiative, workwear is delivered directly to the homes of healthcare workers. The package they receive contains reusable packaging. Instead of throwing it away, employees can return it to a collection point at their healthcare organization. There, the packaging is checked, cleaned, and possibly repaired for reuse.

Bikes are great, but there are drawbacks

Using bicycles is not only good for the environment — as no harmful emissions are released — but also beneficial for the couriers themselves. They get plenty of exercise, which is much better for their health than sitting for hours behind the wheel.

However, this delivery method isn’t suitable for every workwear provider. At Carinova, healthcare workers usually work in people’s homes, so they rarely need to be at their employer’s office. Therefore, it makes sense to deliver the workwear directly to employees’ homes. And a package of workwear for one person usually doesn’t weigh much, so it works well. But when employees all work within one building, delivering by bicycle becomes more difficult. Large deliveries can’t easily be transported by bike.

Additionally, the working conditions for couriers must be considered. In a truck, they stay dry, exert less physical effort, and can cover long distances. The question remains whether enough couriers are willing to deliver packages by bike. In the Netherlands, people live close together and are used to cycling in bad weather. But in other countries or areas people sometimes live further apart or don’t want to cycle when the weather is bad.

And there’s the matter of the transportation method itself. Carrying a few boxes on a regular bike is tricky. You will then need a cargo bike or another adapted bicycle, which also requires electric support due to its weight.

It’s better for the environment, healthier, and cheaper than purchasing a truck. However, it’s not the universal solution for every company with sustainable ambitions. Still, it’s certainly worth considering.