SGS is pleased to announce that it has acquired a 50% shareholding in Bluesign Technologies Group, a St. Gallen (Switzerland) based company specialising in the management of Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) issues along the supply chain of the textile industry.
Founded in 2000, Bluesign Technologies is a leader in this new and rapidly growing market. They have developed corresponding tools and techniques for the bluesign® system partners such as textile manufacturers, chemical companies, retailers and brand owners including well known sporting goods brands such as Patagonia Inc. (California, USA) and MEC (Mountain Equipment Co-op, Canada). Bluesign Technologies identifies concerns and make improvements in EHS parameters in such areas as energy consumption, water usage, air emissions and work place safety. Bluesign Technologies currently has 8 employees and revenue of CHF 1 million.
Commenting on this acquisition, Chris Kirk, CEO of SGS, said: “Bluesign encompasses state of the art technologies in the management of EHS throughout the entire textile industry value chain. We expect many of our valued textile customers around the world will benefit from the additional tools and techniques offered by being a bluesign® system partner.”
The partnership will facilitate the implementation and growth of the bluesign® standard by using the SGS network of trained professionals throughout the world.
For further information, please contact:
Jean-Luc de Buman
Corporate Communications & Investor Relations
SGS SA, 1 place des Alpes, CH - 1211 Geneva 1
t: (+41-22) 739 91 11
f: (+41-22) 739 98 61
ABOUT SGS
The SGS Group is the global leader and innovator in inspection, verification, testing and certification services. Founded in 1878, SGS is recognised as the global benchmark in quality and integrity.With more than 50,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 1,000 offices and laboratories around the world.
