Gratte Brothers Group leading by example
Gratte Brothers Group, a third-generation, family-owned business established in 1946, has grown to become a multifaceted organisation delivering services across building engineering, foodservice solutions, security systems, networking, software, and building services maintenance. With nearly 80 years of innovation and experience, the company continues to evolve, placing strong emphasis on sustainability, security, and operational excellence.
Recognising that waste is one of the biggest environmental impacts across their sites, Gratte Brothers recently partnered with Avena to implement our SecureBrand® solution for the secure and sustainable disposal of branded workwear.
“Waste is one of our biggest environmental impacts that we have across our construction sites and across the group. So, it’s one of the areas that we’re always looking at to try and reduce.” – Alice Kilner
A sustainable solution for branded textile waste
For Gratte Brothers, every opportunity to reduce environmental impact matters. That’s why our SecureBrand solution has been integrated seamlessly into their operations. Employees now place their end-of-life branded uniforms into dedicated Avena bags within their offices before heading out to site. Upon return, the used garments are deposited securely for collection and destruction.
“This has been a convenient situation for Gratte Brothers… when they come back they take the workwear off… they can put them straight in the bags, which then can be removed and disposed of.” – John Madgwick
Avena’s SecureBrand service ensures that every item is shredded securely and where possible repurposed through our zero-landfill policy. Where possible, High-quality fibres are spun into new textiles, while others become insulation, geo-textiles, or acoustic padding, supporting circular economy goals and keeping textile waste out of landfills.
This approach helps Gratte Brothers meet their ambitious pledge to become net zero by 2050.
“It’s all about us finding really easy ways that we can make changes to activities that are already taking place to improve our sustainability.” – Victoria Gratte
Measurable environmental benefits with every collection
A key component of this partnership is Avena’s Environmental Impact Statement, a custom report issued regularly that quantifies the tangible carbon savings achieved through responsible workwear destruction.
“The tangible carbon emission savings that are provided by Avena are so important for our environmental goals, because as I said, we’re on that journey to net zero… they directly impact our performance as a business.” – Victoria Gratte
This report enables Gratte Brothers to feed accurate data into their Scope 3 emissions calculations, improving transparency and audit-readiness.
“We can directly take those emissions and put them into our scope 3 calculation as opposed to having an estimate or a number from previous where it was taken away by the skips.” – Alice Kilner
Why security matters in workwear disposal
While sustainability is a major focus, so is brand protection. Branded clothing that is improperly disposed of can damage a company’s reputation or even create security risks if misused. Through Avena’s SecureBrand® service, all garments are destroyed in a secure facility by DBS-vetted staff, using vehicles fitted with GPS tracking and CCTV.
“Your logo, that is the face of your brand, so you really have to be in control of where that is because wherever that is, is reflecting your business and your brand values.” – Victoria Gratte
By preventing any branded garments from reaching the public domain, Avena helps companies like Gratte Brothers ensure that their brand identity remains protected—maintaining customer trust and internal values alike.
“If that goes wrong, it all falls apart and our reputation is built on those brand values.” – Victoria Gratte
A smooth and well-received rollout
The implementation of Avena’s SecureBrand® system was supported through on-site briefings and toolbox talks, ensuring employees understood the importance of secure disposal and how to use the system effectively.
“The uptake for the Avena system has been fantastic so far. We’ve done briefings and toolbox talks on how the system works.” – John Madgwick
By aligning the solution with existing workflows, Gratte Brothers made it simple and intuitive for employees to contribute to sustainability and security goals.
“The guys now have got a disposal system that works for the guys and the business.” – John Madgwick
A model for the industry
Gratte Brothers is not only enhancing its environmental performance but also setting an example for other businesses across construction, maintenance, and security services.
“I would recommend this solution to others in our industry and in the different areas we operate as a group. And it’s been something which has been really easy. It’s allowed us to reduce that portion of our carbon footprint and report on it as well. So from a sustainability point of view, I would really recommend it.” – Alice Kilner
Their partnership with Avena demonstrates how thoughtful, secure, and sustainable textile disposal can be both impactful and achievable, no matter the size or sector of the business.
Are you responsible for workwear disposal at your organisation?
If you’re looking to reduce your environmental footprint while ensuring the secure destruction of branded uniforms, Avena’s SecureBrand® solution is tailored to your needs. Whether you manage a single site or multiple locations, we can help you protect your brand and contribute to your sustainability goals.
Interesting in learning more about our services? Speak to one of our experts today.
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