THE INDUSTRIAL LAUNDRY SECTOR – SUSTAINABLE, RESOURCE EFFICIENT AND CIRCULAR
WHO ARE WE, WHAT DO WE DO and WHO DO WE SERVE
There are almost 200 industrial laundry sites in the UK, comprising groups such as Elis, Johnson, Clean, Fishers and Synergy as well as smaller companies, all of whom provide linen, workwear, dustmat and washroom services to hotels, hospitals, industry and commerce on a contract or textile rental basis.
We are a SCOPE 3 supplier to so many industrial and commercial sectors and it is imperative that we continue to reduce our emissions to support our customers’ reduction targets.
The various customer sector services comprise:
- front of house corporate image wear for service industries
- ultra-clean workwear for healthcare, food, pharma, electronics
- high-performance protective clothing (PPE) in many applications
- general-purpose workwear for manufacturing, construction, transport
- healthcare bed linen, OR surgical gowns and drapes
- hospitality linen for hotels, restaurants and cafes
- washroom hygiene services; textile towels, soap dispensers, air fresheners, etc.
- dust control mats and mops to keep buildings and work areas clean
- tough and absorbent reusable textile wipers for industry
The textile rental solution offers :
- full service:
- investment in the stock of textile goods
- management of the stock according to the customer’s needs
- pick-up of soiled items, and
- delivery of professionally cleaned, repaired and quality textiles
- professional expertise in logistics, textile purchasing and maintenance
- wide range of validated regulatory compliant products
- product and service solutions individually tailored to the customer needs
The bottom line is that professional textile rental services provide essential measurable added-value so that customers can focus on their core business.
Moreover, the textile rental solution is environmentally friendly resource efficient compared to domestic or commercial laundering.
OUR CONTRIBUTION TO THE UK NET ZERO STRATEGY SO FAR
The industry can boast that over the last 12 years it has achieved massive energy efficiency improvements and reduced emissions by some 25% on a volume pro-rata basis.
This has been achieved through major technical advancements in the industrial laundry equipment which now boast efficient variable speed electric motors, thermal insulation to prevent heat loss, optimum heat generation, distribution and consumption, making best use of all heat recovery opportunities.
Advanced chemistry and process application to reduce washing temperatures and enable closed circuit and contra-flow water controls saving bother water and energy.
Consequently, water consumption has reduced four-fold to an average of 4 litres per kilogram of laundry, which compares to the domestic/home washing factor of 10 litres per kg.
FURTHER EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS STILL POSSIBLE WITH CAPITAL EXPENDITURE
In energy conservation terms, we have ‘picked all the low hanging fruit’, invested in new equipment and even new-build sites.
Historically, we have addressed and implemented all best practices, undertaken energy saving opportunity surveys and through carbon foot printing, developed our net zero strategy applying sensible milestones.
Like most industries, we are now at a crossroads as far as a heat generation policy is concerned, having investigated the individual and combined benefits of investment in biomass or other forms of CHP, hydrogen or electrical steam generation, air and ground source heat pumps, PV and thermal solar panels, electrical and thermal (phase change) battery technologies.
CAN GOVERNMENT FUNDING HELP? ……YES!!
We are not sure that there is an instant answer at this stage, but we are confident that further tangible savings are achievable in the two fields of CHP and Heat Pumps.
We would like to propose two innovative projects for government funding; we can provide the sites where it would be possible to undertake controlled demonstration projects.