From words to action: Building a Sustainable Safety Textile Industry with Ardon s.r.o.

Executive Summary

Representatives from leading sustainability companies RS Circular Economy Consulting, Sustainova and Ardon s.r.o.: Veronika Smazakova, Raphael Schranz, Klaudia Salkova, Robin Dufek (left to right)

In an era where sustainability is often more about buzzwords than real impact, we decided to do things differently. Instead of just talking about the climate crisis, circular economy, and carbon reduction, we put tangible actions into place. Under the leadership of Raphael Schranz Circular Economy Consulting, in partnership with Sustainova, we embarked on a project for Ardon s.r.o., a leader in the Czech safety textile industry, that went beyond just making promises—we redesigned and created a blueprint for the future European Safety Textile Industry grounded in real data, real analysis, and real change.

From April 2024 to December 2024, we conducted a Scope 1-3 Carbon Footprint Assessment, a Circular Economy and Sustainability Analysis, an Impact Assessment, and a Sustainability Strategy Roadmap. This was not a theoretical exercise—it was the start of a full-scale transformation involving hundreds of suppliers and customers across a multi-continental value chain.

The result? A data-driven, highly advanced Industry 4.0 enabled Sustainability Strategy based on circular (bio-)economic systems to significantly reduce carbon emissions, waste and resource consumption with the aim of transitioning Ardon s.r.o. into a sustainability leader in the safety textiles industry and the circular bioeconomy. Here’s how we did it:

Strategic meeting on objectives, system boundaries and expectations, followed by the validation of calculation methodologies according to regulatory standards, such as the GHG Protocol and ISO frameworks.

The Story Behind the Work: Where did we start?

Too often, corporate sustainability initiatives fail because they lack structure, depth, and execution. At the beginning of this project, we knew that for real change to happen, we needed a strategy that was both actionable and measurable. That’s why we took a systematic and impact-oriented approach.

Phase 1: Data Collection & Stakeholder Engagement

The foundation of our strategy was built on data—not assumptions. Our first step was to conduct a full supply chain assessment according to the 15 categories of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, collecting data from hundreds of upstream suppliers and downstream customers across the entire world. We also analyzed extraction, production and consumption patterns to determine key environmental metrics, such as energy carriers and consumption, linear material flows, water, land and chemical use among others. Additionally, we implemented Training Modules about Sustainability to continuously educate suppliers and customers in the global value chain through short, but impactful virtual workshops.

Phase 2: Scope 1-3 Carbon Footprint Assessment & Circular Economy Analysis

Once the data was in place, we conducted a comprehensive carbon emissions inventory.

Scope 1 Emissions (direct emissions from owned operations): Significant and exact areas for optimization were identified.
Scope 2 Emissions (purchased electricity, heating, cooling): Opportunities for renewable energy integration were outlined.
Scope 3 Emissions (indirect value chain emissions): Out of the 15 categories, 4 key areas, or emissions hotspots, for carbon footprint reductions were highlighted.

Beyond emissions, we conducted a thorough circular economy analysis to identify opportunities for material efficiency, waste reduction, and closed-loop product life cycles. This was achieved by using a Circular Design Gap Analysis across the Ardon s.r.o. portfolio.

We developed specific R-strategies according to the various products used in the value chain, such as vests, trousers, masks, helmets, fall arrests and others to improve reuse, refurbishment and remanufacturing, We specifically focused our efforts on R-strategies which are higher in the scale of circularity.

Phase 3: Impact Assessment & Sustainability Strategy Roadmap

Final presentation of the findings in the Ardon s.r.o. Sustainability Project

With a clear picture of the challenges and solutions, we created an actionable sustainability roadmap for long-term impact. These initiatives were included but are not limited to:

The development of up- and downstream communication- and data transfer channels for stakeholders in the Ardon s.r.o. value chain across the world.
The transition to specific circular design choices according to the products in the Ardon s.r.o. portfolio.
Innovative and tailored strategies for reduction in raw material input through circular, bio-economic value loops.
Highly advanced strategies for production related impacts to simultaneously eliminate chemical, pesticide and high water use through the implementation of circular bio-economic structures and bio-based materials.
The electrification of operational and supply chain energy consumption, which is sourced from renewables by 2030.
The creation of Circular Business Models through the implementation of take-back programs for specific product lines by 2027.
The creation of a Blockchain-based digital product passport strategy to track and trace specific products of Ardon s.r.o., running on specific DLT protocols.

What This Means for the Future of Sustainable Business

This project is proof that corporate sustainability and circular economy strategies can create real business impact. If an industry player like Ardon s.r.o. can transition toward circularity with the right strategy, so can others.

This isn’t just about compliance or greenwashing—it’s about creating sustainable, profitable businesses that thrive in a future where responsible resource management is the norm. Our work proves that with the right carbon accounting, ESG strategy, circular economy principles and digitalization efforts, sustainability becomes a competitive advantage through the combination of all sustainability dimensions: social, ecological and economical.

Moreover and most important: It is proof that we have managed to deal not with the dual transition, but with the triple transition, namely in the digital, physical and biological realm for business operations.

Thank You, Sustainova & Ardon s.r.o. Team!

At this point I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the incredible team at Sustainova and Ardon s.r.o. for their outstanding contributions to the Ardon Sustainability Project. Your dedication and expertise in project management and the safety textile industry respectively have been instrumental in driving meaningful change and fostering a more sustainable future.

A special thank you to Veronika Smazakova, Klaudia Salkova, Patricie Andruscakova, Robin Dufek and Thomas Svoboda, for their hard work, commitment, and innovative approach throughout this journey. Your efforts have not gone unnoticed, and I truly appreciate the passion and professionalism you bring to sustainability.

This project wouldn’t be the same without each of you, and I look forward to continuing this important work together.

Thank you for making a difference!

Helping Your Business Achieve Real Sustainability

Looking to integrate real sustainable business strategies into your company and not just talk about it? Me and my partners are helping you with the following services:

✅ Circular Sustainability Training & Regulatory Compliance Workshops: Learn how to implement real sustainability through circular economic systems, carbon accounting (Scope 1-3 assessments), and regulatory compliance with the CSRD and others. Additionally, we are training you to set up your own internal databases and digitalization processes, such as communication channels and data transfer mechanisms.

✅ Scope 1-3 Carbon Footprint Assessments: Gain deep insights into your company’s emissions inventory and subsequent actionable strategies to reduce your environmental impact, while identifying cost reductions at the same time.

✅ Tailored Circular Economy Solutions: Development of circular and sustainable closed loop systems in matter, energy and water to combine social, environmental and economic dimensions in your value chain.

💡 Are you ready to move from sustainability talk to circular sustainability action? Let’s connect and take the next step toward real impact—together.

📩 Visit the website: www.ceconomyc.com

📅 Book a free consultation: www.calendly.com/raphaelschranz

Raphael Schranz is a certified Circular Economy Specialist and Blockchain investor with nearly a decade of practical experience in the field of sustainability. He has multiple years of practical experience as a waste management and reverse logistics expert, where he provided advice and action plans on waste management (collection, prevention, disposal) and environmental protection to communities, households, businesses, educational institutions, and organizations. Following this, he founded his own company, where he now collaborates with clients worldwide to assist them in transitioning to circular value loops and towards a global circular economy. He has worked on the Circular Economy Complexity Analysis for the Green Deal. He serves as the Chief Circular Economist at the AGR Project, the world's largest nature-based climate solution. He holds the esteemed position as Senator in the Senate of Economy Austria and is a former Ambassador and Board member of the European Technology Chamber. Moreover, he is a member of the Circular Economy Forum Austria and the African Circular Economy Network (ACEN).