Strong Together in the Region: Everyday Masks Protect Employees and Lead to a Joint Project With Local Companies

On 27.04.2020, the obligation to wear face masks came into force in Baden-Württemberg, mainly when shopping and on public transport. However, employees also have to worry about wearing them in the office: in the elevator, in front of the coffee machine or in confined spaces.

For this reason, we have endeavored to provide makeshift masks for all doubleSlash employees. "An important aspect in the selection of the provider was the regional production—we want to support local companies in particular during difficult times," says Nina Frei, responsible for health management at doubleSlash. In a joint project, a concept was created within a week on how the 600 or so masks could be produced sustainably and with ecologically correct materials - in the corporate design and with a logo, of course:

• For the cutting: Ehrmann & Co. from Markdorf
• For the sewing: Anna Ganje from Friedrichshafen and Elke Otto from Markdorf
• Printing of the logo on the mask: [be lake] from Horgenzell, which only uses water-based inks for printing
• Company cotonea Elmer & Zweifel GmbH & Co from Bempflingen supplies the organic cotton fabric

"I was amazed myself at how we were able to find all the suppliers here locally. Our region is very strong, we just have to take a closer look," says Anna Ganje, who creates the masks together with her colleague and her skilled craftsmanship  

The cotton used is grown in Uganda and Kyrgyzstan under fair trade conditions along the entire production and supply chain. It is certified according to the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) and IVN Best quality seal (International Association of the Natural Textile Industry). This guarantees that the processed textiles are made from purely organically produced natural fibers. "After all, you wear the mask directly in front of your mouth and nose and breathe through the fabric, so high fabric quality was very important to us," explains Nina. To make it comfortable to wear, everyone decided on a wire on the nose that can be individually shaped. The mask can also be easily adjusted to the appropriate size by the wearer by tying the straps and can be machine-washed at 60°C - 90°C. The respirators can be easily cleaned regularly. Every employee will receive two masks when they slowly return to the office from mid-May.

"We take our social responsibility seriously and are doing our best to ensure that we act collectively and sustainably in times of crisis. We will continue to—everything from coffee for our daily coffee breaks to gifts for our customers," summarizes Nina.