Energy crisis: the TSA needs YOU to be part of the laundry lobby

TSA asks laundries to support lobbying by writing to their MP

If the energy support ends in March, commercial laundries are in for a very rough ride. The TSA is lobbying government to continue to provide support after March, and it is calling on commercial laundry owners and executives to write to their local MPs to really push the message home.

“We are writing to the PM, Chancellor and BEIS,” says David Stevens, CEO of the TSA. “But we can be much more effective if individual MPs are raising questions about our predicament, too. That’s where individual laundries can help – by persuading their MPs to take up the cause.”

The TSA has put together a letter template to help laundries willing to add their name to the cause. “It’s not just who you write to, it’s what you write,” says Stevens. “The letters need to include information about how your laundry impacts on the MP’s constituency – we need to make them understand just how important our industry is. Do you supply a hospital in the constituency? Mention it – and point out that without the support of commercial laundries, 90% of hospitals would have to shut down.”

The template gives suggestions as to what other things to include to maximise impact. For example, if the MP is interested in the environment, then include a mention of the industry’s Infinite Textiles project.

“We’re all in this together. If enough laundries write to their MPs, we can really stir things up. We have a strong argument for support – let’s make sure government gets the message!” says Stevens.

You can access the TSA’s letter template below:

MP Template Letter

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us either via email or phone: 

E tsa@tsa-uk.org

T +44 (0) 20 3151 5600

TSA urges government to consider “big picture” when helping hospitality industry

Bold action needs to be taken to safeguard future economic recovery

The Textile Services Association (TSA) is supporting UK Hospitality’s call for government support to help the hospitality industry bounce back from the effects of Covid-19, and is highlighting the importance of including the laundry industry as part of any future solution.

The hospitality industry is extremely important to the UK’s economy, employing 3 million people and generating over £130 billion of economic activity a year. The pandemic caused approximately £100 billion in lost sales in the industry, and saw businesses accrue £8 billion in debt. The laundry industry, which plays a vital role in keeping the hospitality industry running, missed out on government support during this time. While the effects of the pandemic are diminishing, the danger to the industry remains, thanks to the combination of the cost of living crisis and ongoing staff shortages.

UK Hospitality has put together a suggested list of measures the government should implement to enable businesses to survive in this uncertain environment. These are based around three areas: tackling inflation, unleashing hospitality’s potential for growth, and boosting productivity by reforming taxation and investment.  The TSA stresses that many of these suggestions should apply equally to supporting sectors, like laundry, that operate within hospitality’s value chain. “We fully support UK Hospitality’s stand and hope the government will truly consider the interconnected nature of our industries,” says David Stevens, CEO of the TSA. “The lack of help laundries received during the pandemic has undoubtedly slowed the rate of recovery, as well as seeding potential future problems further down the line if left unchecked,”

The measures that would particularly help the laundry industry make small, time-based changes on the Points Based System for immigration; changes to business rates; and changing the Apprenticeship Levy to allow 25% of funds to be used for non-apprenticeship training.

“UK PLC has gone through some tough times in the last few years, but the danger isn’t over yet,” says David. “Hospitality – and therefore laundry – play a key role in the UK’s economy, so the government needs to take action that helps not just the front facing industries but all the businesses that support them, too.”

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us either via email or phone: 

E tsa@tsa-uk.org

T +44 (0) 20 3151 5600

Update from the TSA

Please note this news item is restricted for TSA members only. If you are a member already, please click here to log in.

If you are not a member and you would like to find out more about our membership benefits and how to become a member, please click here.

Creating maps for a sustainable laundry industry

TSA Autumn conference hears latest updates on the progress of vital project

The Textile Services Association’s (TSA) autumn conference saw Christoph Geppert from Grain Sustainability give a presentation updating members on the progress of the TSA’s ongoing sustainability roadmap project.

Grain is a consultancy that is working with the TSA to establish higher standards for the laundry industry for sustainability to ensure it is ready to meet the coming challenges of implementing Net Zero Carbon targets.

In order to achieve this, Grain and the TSA are undertaking extensive research, interviewing stakeholders throughout the industry as well as scientists and suppliers. Christoph’s presentation examined some of the responses to the interviews, which give a snapshot of the state of the industry’s attitudes to sustainability and the concerns surrounding it.

Two of the biggest issues currently facing the industry are staffing shortages and the ongoing impacts of Brexit and the pandemic. Christoph summarised from the interviews, “We are still in recovery, sustainability can easily get put on the back burner unless we are intentional about it.” Without downplaying the difficulties the industry is currently facing, he confirmed the importance of looking for ways to improve long term sustainability whilst, at the same time, securing the survival of businesses, and how these aims can complement each other.

The importance of improving the working environment for staff was also examined, and Christoph stressed the importance of including factors like wellbeing, diversity and inclusion as part of any sustainability roadmap. “The work environment has to be a place where people want to be,” he said.

Christoph then outlined the next step in the process, which will be to gather accurate data on the extent of emissions produced by the textile services industry as well as throughout its supply chain. Customers have started to ask for this, so ensuring that the processes are in place to have these insights is very important.

In order to help with this, the TSA and Grain are creating guides on how to record this data accurately. This will help to identify areas with the greatest potential to reduce emissions. Christoph pointed out that the laundry industry has some inherent advantages that allow it to be a leader in sustainability. “Progress is already being made,” he said. “Some laundries have stopped using single use plastics for linen, for example. This is just one of the ways that being an inherently circular industry can help, as it allows you to rethink processes all along the supply chain and find more efficient ways of doing things.”

Once the assessment stage is complete, Grain and the TSA will begin to develop an overarching strategy for creating goals, targets and KPIs to clearly structure the Net Zero implementation process.

Christoph was optimistic that the industry would be able to achieve its goals. “This is a big opportunity to help a range of industries, not just laundry but textiles as a whole, as well as hospitality and other sectors that rely on them. We will be able to pool knowledge and build a proactive strategy that will work to protect businesses and the environment for future generations.

“Much of the laundry industry is already making very positive moves to reduce its energy consumption and emissions,” he said. “The good news is that laundries simply need to do more of what they are already doing!”

If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us either via email or phone: 

E tsa@tsa-uk.org

T +44 (0) 20 3151 5600