Sustainability at MÖVE

Sustainability is a central guiding principle for MÖVE and is firmly embedded in our company values. Through numerous measures, we are continuously working to promote environmental and climate protection at our production site in Großschönau and beyond. Since 2008, for example, we have been able to significantly reduce our energy consumption and lower CO₂ emissions. These investments have so far enabled us to secure our production site in Germany – and have done so for almost 100 years. In this article, we inform you about the current status of our wide-ranging measures and our commitment to people, nature and the environment.

Energy Efficiency and Climate Protection at the Production Site

MÖVE terry products are largely manufactured in Großschönau in Upper Lusatia. With production “Made in Germany”, we rely on short, environmentally friendly transport routes to our customers and maintain control over a large part of the value chain. This also reduces the ecological footprint. As a manufacturing company, however, we depend on the use of energy. That is why we are clearly committed to conserving resources, reducing emissions and improving our processes.

Electricity Generation

For our own electricity generation, we rely on a combination of our own combined heat and power plant and a photovoltaic solar system. At present, this enables us to generate around one third of the electricity we require ourselves. In the past financial year, MÖVE generated around 420 MWh of electricity from solar energy. This means that, in equivalent terms, we were already able to operate our entire weaving mill using self-generated electricity.

Lighting

To use electricity more efficiently, a modern LED lighting concept was developed, which we are gradually introducing throughout the entire company and in our stores. This not only reduces consumption, but also improves working conditions in production and logistics, as the LED lights used imitate daylight and create a more natural light.

Since 2024, we have used only green electricity in all our MÖVE stores.

Increasing Efficiency

Overall, we are continuously working to improve our energy performance. This also includes investments in machinery and systems that consume less energy than previous equipment. One example is a highly efficient compressor, which has reduced the energy required for compressed air generation by 35%. The waste heat produced in the process is used to heat the employee showers as part of the integrated heat recovery system.

Through all of these measures, we have been able to save almost 1,000 MWh per year and reduce CO₂ emissions by more than 400 tonnes annually. The efficient use of energy resources is an important priority, which is why we regard improvements in this area as a basis for our day-to-day actions.

Resource Management: Water and Waste Management

In production, MÖVE works with various recyclable materials and uses water in a range of processes. Responsible handling of these resources is therefore essential.

Of course, we consistently separate all waste generated. Certified partners return it to the recycling cycle. Among other things, textile production residues are used as insulating materials in the automotive industry. They also find new uses in the construction sector.

In addition to energy consumption, we also monitor our water consumption and work to optimise it. For our production, we use only soft process water, mainly from our company-owned pond. The surface water from the mountains is soft, meaning that we can avoid chemical softening. The remaining water requirement is covered by our own well. With the help of a heat recovery system, the waste heat from wastewater is used to preheat process water. Through agreements with partners in the region, we ensure that water supply bottlenecks are avoided as far as possible, even during drier summer months. This also allows us to avoid using valuable and extensively treated drinking water.

Sustainability in Product Development and Logistics

Choosing MÖVE means choosing high quality and sustainability that is actively practised across all areas of the company.

Certification

Quality is at the heart of all our products. Through certification according to OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 (Product Class 1) for all yarns and accessories, such as buttons or zips, we ensure that there are no restrictions on use: products certified in this way are suitable both for sensitive baby skin and for allergy sufferers. This, too, is sustainability.

Sustainable Products and Collections

Sustainability is reflected not only in our internal processes, but also in our collections and products: the use of natural fibres that do not release microplastics into the environment is particularly important to us. When selecting materials, the use of natural, untreated cotton in collections such as MÖVE EDEN or MÖVE WELLNESS is also an interesting approach.

Both our Classics and Editions are characterised by timeless aesthetics and long-lasting colours. By using high-quality materials and careful workmanship, we create durable products that can be relied upon.

Packaging Optimisation

When it comes to packaging, we are working to reduce plastic even further. We already avoid the use of plastic wherever possible. For example, we present bathrobes folded rather than hanging, allowing us to save plastic hangers and 50% of the protective film previously used.

The plastic we use consists exclusively of PVC-free materials, and for the films we use, we rely on a recycled content of over 80%. In addition, the hang tags on our products are made from FSC-certified paper. For several years, we have also used paper carrier bags in our stores instead of plastic bags – or our bag made from recycled cotton.

What makes our upcycling bag special: because we use leftover yarn from our production, every edition is unique. The changing yarn composition creates ever-new designs.

Logistics

Sustainable action is also possible in logistics: by already supplying three quarters of MÖVE locations via a reusable transport system, we are able to reduce packaging materials and cardboard. Where cardboard is required, we consistently use recycled materials.

We also apply strict criteria when selecting our partners, so that we can both uphold our quality promise and meet the sustainability standards we have set.

Ecological Commitment and Social Mobility

Sustainability does not end at the gates of our production site – it goes much further. MÖVE is committed to nature conservation and has participated in regional reforestation projects in North Rhine-Westphalia. Areas within a landscape conservation area and EU bird sanctuary, which had already been affected several times by storm damage, were reforested with resilient tree species. The approximately 49,000 trees planted in total not only help bind CO₂, but also make the areas as a whole more resistant to climate change.

We are also involved in research: in cooperation with the University of Kassel, we support projects using production residues – such as lint – for example as part of research into the use of bio-based composite materials.

We motivate our employees through the JobRad model to switch easily from car to bicycle with minimal effort. In addition to saving emissions, this also creates health benefits that are sustainable on an individual level.

Sustainability at MÖVE at a Glance

Every day at MÖVE, we take a holistic approach to further developing sustainability within the company. In the past financial year alone, our company produced approximately 420 MWh of electricity from solar energy. In equivalent terms, this meant that the weaving mill was supplied entirely with self-generated electricity. Further progress is also to be achieved along the entire value chain in the coming years, in order to continue protecting flora and fauna and preserving resources for future generations.