Corporate Environmental Statement

Wearbest Sil-Tex Mills continues to design and develop innovative products for residential/contract jobbers and furniture manufacturers. It is our goal to create notable, unique, and proprietary fabrics for our customers.

We are responding to the market's needs for innovative designs and unique fiber choices, but at the same time we are cognizant of the need for environmentally preferable products and mill practices.

Through Innovation, Design, and Environmental Stewardship, we will continue to show our commitment to supplying the industry state of the art high quality cost effective fabrics

Across the industry, we are all taking steps to make textile processing more "Green and Sustainable". This is not an easy task as many steps in the textile process are not very environmentally friendly by nature. At Wearbest Sil-Tex Mills we have taken the approach to address each area of concern step by step.

Wearbest Sil-Tex Mills implemented a corporate "Go Green"" management approach some time back and continues to expand those efforts. The approach focuses on:

1. Insure the safety of materials used by our supply base and throughout our manufacturing process
2. Advance the development and use of our Environmentally Preferable Products and maintain the design and look that sets Wearbest Sil-Tex Mills apart

1. As a weaver, we do not use any water in the manufacturing operation.
2. We are working with our supply chain to monitor, (reduce where possible) the amount of water usage and residual effluents
3. All efforts are focused to insure compliance to all federal regulations

1. We continue to explore various alternative energy sources as well as green energy credits that will fit into our process, as well as within the boundaries of our entire supply chain
2. Internal energy reduction initiatives have been also put in place.

1. Wearbest Sil-Tex Mills has established and implemented a set of Production practices as listed below and continues to review and advance these procedures.

1. Wearbest Sil-Tex Mills has a clear set of high standards for the fair and ethical treatment of all its employees and resources.
2. Additionally our suppliers must comply with the same set of high standards and associated support programs

Environmental sustainability programs include the reduction or elimination of waste throughout the manufacturing processes and the supply chain. Below is a general summation of several of our mill practices and procedures:

• As a specialty weaver of jacquard upholstery fabrics, we generate a limited amount of mill trimmings. These trimmings are being accumulated for recycling into various products. There is some small amount of mill waste that cannot be recycled. Since we are not altering the raw materials in the weaving operation to make them carcinogenic waste, any mill waste that cannot be recycled are not in need of any special disposal efforts.
• Wearbest Sil-Tex Mills is very conscientious of its impact on the environment and we make ever effort to minimize our waste. All products are made to order with a low level of off quality. All of our off quality goods are re-cycled in closeout sales so there is no impact on the environment. Packaging material waste (i.e. cardboard) is segregated and recycled by our local waste management company. In addition our manufacturing has been set-up to eliminate the use of any water; classifying us as an insignificant water user.
• All suppliers/dyers to Wearbest Sil-Tex Mills are required to follow EPA government regulations on wastewater affluent. Dyes and pigments are not completely exhausted in the dyeing process. However, there are no toxins or carcinogens used in the various dyeing operations. All dyes, chemicals, and finishes used are non-toxic and in full compliance with ETAD, California Proposition 65, and REACH requirements. Our suppliers go through various testing programs that are mandated by the federal government and monitored by the local cities and municipalities.
• Wearbest Sil-Tex Mills continues to advance its development of environmentally preferable products. The Bella-Dura® product line offers a cradle-to-cradle product line of performance fabrics. Current developments and introductions involve various forms of recycled pre-consumer and post consumer polyester products.
• Wearbest Sil-Tex Mills has a comprehensive recycling program for all product line items. This includes recycling of all weaving waste, obsolete or off quality yarns, design and sample blankets, test remnants, and any other associated textile production items. In every case, the materials are recycled and converted into other type textile products. This process diverts waste that would normally end up in a landfill and allows its formation into other usable product lines.

Our Mission

People dedicated to EXCELLENCE in:

1. Design
2. Quality
3. Customer Service.

Lean Initiatives

Wearbest Sil-Tex Mills Ltd. offers superior value to customers because of a relentless effort to drive down costs while providing the highest quality products and best service in the business. A key to this success has been Lean Manufacturing. These well established techniques provide a blueprint to increase efficiency, reduce waste and lower costs. Wearbest Sil-Tex Mills has employed these principles for several years to sustain manufacturing operations in Northeast New Jersey just twenty minutes outside New York City.

Our Lean efforts began with help from the New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program. The initial focus on Value Stream Mapping created an overall evaluation of opportunities. Many additional ideas were added to this effort by both management and employees to create an initial list of more than 100 projects. All of these were evaluated and implemented where feasible. New opportunities are generated all the time in all areas of the company.

One of the most productive efforts was the videotaping of selected operations. These tapes were reviewed by a group including employees actually performing the tasks. This careful evaluation of all steps in an operation provided a clear understanding of opportunities where changes could be made to improve results. Substantial savings were generated.

Many of these cost reduction projects were contingent upon a careful review of key operational data to guide decisions. This timely data was generated by the company's integrated Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) computer system. Several other Information Technology (IT) systems provided significant support to engineering savings in many areas.

One example is hand held wireless computer "guns" that are used in the warehouse and other areas to record transactions on the fly. Bar-coding of all materials and products is essential to reap the benefits of speeding transactions and allowing immediate real time feedback of activities. These ongoing benefits are the result of a team effort that involves all operations in the company. Our efforts continue to provide the best products and service in the industry.