Small changes, big impact: ideas into action at the TSA Autumn Conference
People, culture and collaboration set the agenda at De Vere Tortworth Court, Cotswolds, 13th and 14th October 2026
The TSA’s Autumn Conference explored how relatively small changes can make a significant difference to commercial laundries. Sustainability, safety, communication and culture were recurring themes and, as with previous years, practical advice was given through various research updates and industry debate.
The Cotswolds venue hosted two days of workshops, presentations and networking. The packed programme included personal subjects like self-promotion and neurodiversity as well as broader industry debate on hygiene, sustainable transport and the relationship between culture and company strategy. Using the Slido app live data was gathered throughout the two days to gauge the consensus of the room, and numbers were higher than ever at over 170 attendees from across the industry.
Sustainability: making progress together
Day one’s sustainability workshop, led by Mike Barry, newly appointed co-chair of the TSA’s Environmental Steering Group and former director of sustainable business at Marks & Spencer, gave delegates an opportunity to influence the group’s priorities. The discussion moved beyond headline targets to the practical barriers facing laundries. Electricity costs and grid capacity complicate electrification, while inconsistent product specifications and carbon data make meaningful comparisons difficult.
Textile lifecycle and longevity remains a vital topic at TSA events and was a reoccurring discussion throughout the conference, feeding into its theme of small changes, big impact. Delegates also explored carbon literacy, recycling networks and the need for suppliers, laundries and customers to work together. The workshop helped identify three priorities for the group’s next phase: energy efficiency and transition, circular textiles, and water and marine resource stewardship.
Reflecting on the seminar and the aim of the new steering group, Mike Barry says, “this is not about TSA telling people what to do. It’s about the membership stepping forward and saying these are our priorities.”
Protecting people and businesses
Alongside the sustainability seminar were workshops on employment law, recruitment and workplace wellbeing, as well as health and safety, cyber security and hygiene. These offered opportunities to discuss industry challenges and business concerns in smaller groups.
Safety updates included the TSA’s recently launched RiskAI Manual Handling Assessment Tool, an AI-assisted service aimed at minimising workplace injuries. The TSA’s newly developed Fire Safety Audit delivered by WorkNest was also discussed. Better information and practical changes were presented as ways to strengthen prevention.
The cyber security session addressed risks, policies and Cyber Essentials, while De Montfort University’s research team contributed a biofilm update. Together, the sessions reinforced the value of addressing risks, from cyber to microorganisms, before they become incidents.
Recognition and connections
The evening provided an opportunity to network with new contacts and reconnect with colleagues. Pre-dinner drinks in the Atrium were accompanied by music from singer-songwriter Natalie Holmes, before delegates gathered for dinner.
Afterwards, TSA Certificates of Recognition were presented to Gary Youngson of Elis, Calum Tait of TDS Commercial, Laurent Maillard of Jenson UK, Ian Smithson of Kannegiesser, Richard Newton of Opeque and Karl Bueggeln of County Linen. The presentations brought individual recognition into a conference otherwise focused on collective progress, providing a reminder that the industry’s work depends on people contributing their time and expertise.
A special shoutout was then given to Kathy Bowry, former editor of Laundry and Cleaning News, for her years covering the industry. TSA chief executive David Stevens followed this with a heartfelt speech on Charlie Betteridge and his role as TSA chair. This led to standing ovation from the room.
A changing industry
The main event began the following morning, and opening his final Autumn Conference as TSA chair, Charlie Betteridge reflected on an industry navigating the instability of the times. Energy prices, inflation and supply chain disruption have changed the operating environment, while customers’ own cost-saving measures are affecting laundry volumes.
He also highlighted the TSA’s evolution, with its technical training now complemented by support covering people management, mental health and wider business challenges.
TSA chief executive David Stevens and projects director Andrew Glassford outlined current initiatives, including training, innovation and practical safety tools. The emphasis was on sharing knowledge and encouraging members to help shape the association’s work.
Small adjustments, stronger teams
Sean Liddell of Via Vita Health brought the people theme into sharp focus with a session on embracing neurodiversity. Drawing on professional and personal experience, he explored how workplace conventions and patterns can create unnecessary barriers. Verbal instructions, competing communication channels and sensory overload can all make tasks harder than they need to be.
His practical suggestions included clearer visual instructions, simpler communication and short sensory breaks. Managers were encouraged to recognise barriers, remove friction and help people perform at their best. Crucially, support shouldn’t wait for a formal diagnosis. Listening to individuals and making low-cost adjustments can improve the working environment for everyone, not just neurodivergent colleagues.
Research with practical relevance
Professor Katie Laird of De Montfort University updated delegates on research supporting laundry hygiene, including bioindicators used to assess decontamination performance. These provide evidence of microbial inactivation during washing, helping operators validate processes and assess changes in chemistry or technology. Consistent testing offers benefits for laundries, suppliers and customers alike.
She also discussed research into Candida auris and the importance of appropriate industrial laundering in infection control.
She concluded by examining biofilms: microbial communities that can persist within laundry systems. Early work highlighted the potential role of lint in supporting their formation, with ongoing research intended to inform control strategies and maintenance practices.
Electrification: start with the data
Royal Mail’s head of fleet transformation, Stuart Murphy, shared lessons from his own experience in electrifying the company’s large, complex fleet. His advice was to understand the operation before choosing the technology. Routes, payloads, terrain, charging opportunities and seasonal conditions all influence suitability. Rather than make assumptions, Stuart stressed the importance of trials and telematics that provide evidence to reinforce the best environmental options going forward.
Vehicle purchase is only part of the picture. Charging infrastructure, maintenance capability, driver training and total ownership costs also require attention. Rather than waiting until every route can be electrified, businesses can identify suitable applications now, test carefully and build from there. It was another example of small change leading to big impact.
Don’t be the best-kept secret
Former BBC business journalist Penny Haslam challenged delegates to become a little more visible. Doing excellent work matters, but people also need to know about it. Her session explored performance, image and exposure, encouraging delegates to share their expertise and not see visibility as showing off.
Practical starting points included speaking up in meetings, arranging short coffee conversations and contributing useful content through LinkedIn, podcasts or video. Authentic, helpful communication doesn’t need to be expensive and leaders can strengthen their businesses by supporting a wider range of employee voices. “Penny’s presentation really made me think we should be doing more video content,” said Joy Amory, HR director of Johnson’s Hotel, Restaurant and Catering Linen. “We should be putting ourselves out there… faces behind the big name of Johnson’s!”
Is culture supporting strategy?
Adrian Walcott and Martin Roach of Brands With Values used a conference culture study to explore the sector’s strengths and constraints. Tradition, safety and success featured strongly. However, the findings also raised questions about curiosity, collaboration and whether people feel able to challenge established approaches.
An industry panel featuring Kevin Godley, CEO of CLEAN, Mark Franklin, CEO of Elis UK, and Simon Fry, chair of Micronclean, examined the operational realities behind those themes.
Think bigger, act now
Drawing on his experience sailing around the world, Caspar Craven’s keynote explored the relationship between an ocean voyage and working within a business. Bold ambitions are important, but many get overwhelmed by the bigger picture. Tying to the key theme of the conference, Caspar looked at breaking challenges into smaller stages that ultimately lead to a bigger impact. By questioning assumptions and allowing for room to experiment, teams can move forward without waiting for the perfect conditions.
TSA managing director Emma Kiviniemi Wilson brought the focus back to the industry’s wider importance, outlining public affairs work and encouraging members to engage MPs through site visits. “We’re so thrilled by the response to this year’s conference,” says Emma. “I think culture has been a huge point of focus. From neurodiversity to self-promotion, we’ve seen how small steps can make a big impact. By bringing in speakers outside our sector too, they often comment on how important we are to the economy as a whole, but also how friendly we are as group. The conference is great opportunity for us to celebrate this together!”
For more information about the conference, contact the TSA team on 0203 151 5600 or events@tsa-uk.org
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us either via email or phone:
T +44 (0) 20 3151 5600
TSA launches fire audit to strengthen safety and insurability in commercial laundries
New independent audit programme aims to help reduce fire risk and build confidence among insurers
The Textile Services Association (TSA) is introducing a new Fire Safety Code of Practice Audit for commercial laundries, designed to strengthen fire risk management across the sector and demonstrate a consistent, independently verified approach to fire safety. It has been developed in consultation with TSA members, expert fire safety auditors, insurance brokers and independent audit provider WorkNest. The audit aims not only to further improve fire prevention in commercial laundries, but also to address one of the industry’s biggest challenges: access to insurance.
Commercial laundries generally maintain strong safety standards, but the combination of heat, textiles, chemicals and continuous operations means fire risk must be carefully managed. When fires do occur, the impact can be severe. That has contributed to a more cautious insurance market, with some operators facing restricted cover and rising premiums. The TSA’s new audit programme is intended to tackle that issue head on. Building on the association’s Fire Safety Code of Practice, it will provide an independent means of evidencing compliance with an industry-specific standard for fire risk management, while helping show insurers that the sector is taking practical, measurable steps to reduce risk.
“We were advised that an independently audited, industry-wide approach is the most effective way to demonstrate a consistent standard of fire risk management,” says Emma Kiviniemi Wilson, managing director of the TSA. “We hope this will build greater confidence among insurers, encourage more providers into the market and, over time, help improve the availability and affordability of insurance for our industry.”
From January 2027, the audit programme will be introduced for all TSA laundry members. Operators with one or two sites will receive audits across all sites in the first year, while larger multi-site businesses will be audited on a phased basis, with all sites covered within a three-year inspection cycle. Members will normally receive at least six weeks’ notice of an audit, with full guidance provided in advance on the criteria, process and what to expect on the day.
WorkNest will deliver the independent audits on a site-by-site basis. “The audit is not about catching members out or assuming that every improvement requires significant capital investment,” says Jeff Watkins, head of fire safety at WorkNest. “It is about recognising good practice, identifying meaningful opportunities to reduce risk and giving members a clear route to demonstrate compliance with the Code of Practice.”
For insurance specialists involved in shaping the programme, that independent evidence is a key part of the value. “Insurers need clear evidence that effective fire-risk controls are not only documented but consistently implemented,” says Andy Taylor, client director at insurance broker Marsh. “Independent audits provide credible assurance and, over time, should support better-informed conversations between textile service businesses, brokers and insurers about risk, resilience and insurability.”
Lisa Fry, director of laundry broking & risk management at Milsom Insurance Brokers, said: “I’ve seen first-hand how fires can have a devastating impact on laundries, their customers and the people who work so hard in them. By establishing a clear, industry-specific standard for managing property and business risk, the Fire Safety Code of Practice represents an important step towards reducing both the likelihood and potential severity of these incidents.”
The programme has also been welcomed by operators with direct experience of the consequences of fire. Mark Middleton, managing director of Belmont Laundry and a TSA member involved in the audit’s development, said: “Experiencing a serious fire brings home just how quickly a business, its employees, customers and years of hard work can be placed at risk. If these audits help another business identify and address a vulnerability before a fire occurs, they will be seriously worthwhile.”
Andrew Glassford, TSA’s project director, has overseen the audit’s development, working with contributors including WorkNest, Marsh and TSA members. “It’s great to see the Fire Code of Practice audit programme launch after so much collaboration between TSA members, insurers and fire safety specialists”, he says. “This takes us from agreeing good practice to being able to demonstrate it consistently across the industry, helping members strengthen their resilience and protect their businesses.”
The new audit programme will be discussed in more detail at the TSA Autumn Conference 2026, where fire safety and risk management will form part of the wider conversation about strengthening the future of the industry. It will also be available to non-members at a higher rate, although participation will only be mandatory for TSA laundry members. The cost for members will be £600 + VAT per site, charged at cost, with no profit retained by the TSA.
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us either via email or phone:
T +44 (0) 20 3151 5600
Textile Services Cost Index: 2026/2027 FYQ2
Textile Services Cost Index
Please see our latest published Textile Services Cost Index for 2026/2027 FYQ2 below:
Please see the previous annual increases below for comparison to the latest Textile Services Cost Index with an annual increase of 6.08%:
If you have any queries or would like any further information, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.
T: +44 (0)20 3151 5600
E: tsa@tsa-uk.org
Small changes, big impact: the TSA’s Autumn Conference 2026
The TSA’s fast approaching Autumn Conference heads to the Cotswolds with a focus on practical change, sustainability and people
The Textile Services Association’s (TSA) Autumn Conference 2026 will soon bring its members and the wider industry together in the Cotswolds for two days of insight, discussion and networking built around the theme Small Changes, Big Impact. Designed for management teams across the sector, the event will combine practical workshops, keynote speakers and industry-specific presentations focused on the issues shaping commercial laundry businesses today. Taking place at De Vere Tortworth Court on Tuesday 13th and Wednesday 14th October, the conference is fast approaching and places are filling quickly. Set in 30 acres of grounds near Junction 14 of the M5, it’s an accessible base for delegates travelling from across the country.
The Tuesday programme begins with a supply partner meeting and lunch, before moving into a series of focused sessions on people, sustainability, safety, cyber security, health and hygiene. Topics for the people session will include an employment law update from David Eastwood of Worknest, future workforce recruitment with Anne Kinsman from the Department for Work and Pensions, workplace wellbeing with Sean Liddell of Via Vita Health, and an open forum on the people issues that matter most to delegates.
The sustainability session will be led by the newly appointed co-chair of the TSA’s Environmental Steering Group, Mike Barry, former director of sustainable business at Marks & Spencer. Those attending will be invited to explore with him the shape and future direction of the Steering Group. Delegates will review progress to date, discuss the next steps for the sector roadmap and consider how the industry can work together to deliver meaningful change. Another workshop will look at protecting laundries through updates on health and safety, cyber security and biofilm research, including contributions from sector specialists and the De Montfort University research team.
The second day of the conference opens with Charlie Betteridge, TSA chair, followed by TSA chief executive David Stevens and managing director Emma Kiviniemi Wilson. The programme then moves through a wide range of business-critical topics, from neurodiversity and workplace culture to research, sustainability and transport.
Among the keynote speakers is Penny Haslam, former BBC business journalist and award-winning speaker, who will deliver Make Yourself a Little Bit Famous, focusing on communication and confidence. Later in the day, leadership and mindset speaker Caspar Craven will challenge delegates to think bigger in a session exploring how small changes can create major impact.
Other featured speakers include Professor Katie Laird of De Montfort University, who will share research relevant to the sector’s ongoing work on infection prevention and hygiene, and Stuart Murphy, head of fleet transformation at Royal Mail, who will discuss the future of sustainable transport. Brand and culture specialists Adrian Walcott and Martin Roach of Brands With Values will present on whether organisational culture is genuinely supporting business strategy, followed by an industry panel featuring Kevin Godley, CEO of CLEAN; Mark Franklin, CEO of Elis UK; and Simon Fry, chair of Micronclean.
The conference offers delegates plenty of opportunities to connect with peers from across the industry, including networking breaks, lunch, pre-dinner drinks and the conference dinner on Tuesday evening.
Conference tickets are £130 + VAT, with dinner tickets priced at £55 + VAT and Tuesday night bed and breakfast available at £120 + VAT. Accommodation has now sold out, but please do contact the TSA if you are looking to book accommodation in case we receive any cancellations. Room bookings should be made via the TSA rather than directly with the hotel to secure the agreed rate.
For more information about the conference, contact the TSA team via events@tsa-uk.org
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us either via email or phone:
T +44 (0) 20 3151 5600
Creating safer laundries: TSA launches AI risk handling assessment tool
Webinar on 24th September will show how tool enhances health and safety and saves time
Health and safety in commercial laundries is high and it’s improving. Even so, manual handling is a cause of workplace injury. That’s why workplace risk assessments are so important – and why they are a key responsibility for employers. However, they can be time-consuming, subjective and difficult to apply consistently across different sites and tasks.
Now the Textile Services Association (TSA) has teamed up with Cardinus, the health, safety and risk management specialists, to give members access to the RiskAI Manual Handling Assessment Tool. The tool combines artificial intelligence with recognised methodologies to make manual handling risk assessments quicker, simpler and more consistent, generating a comprehensive risk assessment within minutes.
To introduce the new service the TSA is hosting a webinar on 24th September, from 10am to 11.30am. The event will demonstrate how the app works, explain the assessment options available, and walk through a series of live examples to show how it can be used in real workplace situations. There will also be a live Q&A with experts from Cardinus, giving attendees the opportunity to ask questions and discuss how the tool could support their own organisations.
“Health and safety is at the top of the industry’s agenda,” says Emma Kiviniemi Wilson, the TSA’s managing director. “The RiskAI Manual Handling Assessment Tool will help members reduce the risk of injuries and improve workplace safety. It is designed to support, rather than replace, professional judgement, saving health and safety teams time so they can focus on implementing improvements rather than producing paperwork.”
The TSA’s projects director, Andrew Glassford, has been heavily involved in the initiative. “The RiskAI App provides a consistent, evidence-based assessment that helps managers, supervisors and health and safety professionals make informed decisions,” he says. “It allows them to target interventions where they will have the greatest impact and demonstrate a robust approach to managing manual handling risks.”
After the launch of the RiskAI App the TSA will be looking to add more support for members, by working with health and safety specialists Pristine Condition to put together guidance and training documents.
To register for the webinar, please click here.
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us either via email or phone:
T +44 (0) 20 3151 5600
Update from the TSA
Andrew Glassford appointed Projects Director at Textile Services Association
With decades of industry experience he is looking forward to finding new ways to assist members
The Textile Services Association has appointed Andrew Glassford as its new Projects Director.
He has a deep connection to the laundry industry – his parents met at on a laundry technical course at Derby college – and his career has granted him a broad experience of the laundry industry as a whole. He spent 20 years at Paragon Laundry in a variety of roles ending up as Operations Director. He then moved to become a consultant at NewGen, where he offered his expertise on the industry to businesses around the world, helping them to establish best practice where laundry wasn’t their main focus.
“I am seriously impressed with the work of the TSA,” he says. “They provide their members with plenty of resources that would have been incredibly helpful to me and my teams back in the Paragon days, and having the chance to support the industry is something I’m really looking forward to.”
Over recent years the TSA has been focussing on helping the laundry sector evolve in a number of ways, such as meeting its Net Zero commitments, strengthening diversity, improving the culture of health and safety, promoting careers and supporting vital research in collaboration with De Montfort University.
“It’s been a fascinating process rediscovering the industry from a new perspective,” Andrew says. “Some aspects of it are almost unrecognisable compared to when I started. In many ways change is the only constant and I am relishing the chance to work with the team here to support our members with the challenges that the next few years present us.”
One thing that has struck him already is the collaboration that exists within the laundry industry. “There’s a general feeling of collegial competitiveness that could well be our secret weapon. Everyone wants to work together on the important issues, creating a culture where people compete to raise standards rather than to diminish each other,” he says. “Even in the short time I’ve been here it’s impressed me. This eagerness to work together to achieve big goals is very promising.”
Andrew’s aims will be to maintain the momentum behind the TSA’s existing projects and initiatives while identifying new opportunities. In the short and medium terms, he says his key priorities will be safety and sustainability. “There is so much of value happening in the industry,” he says. “So much progress has already been made in so many areas, particularly developing sustainable practices. We are already a circular industry heading into a future where circularity is only going to increase in importance. Our leadership in areas like this can have huge effects throughout the wider economy, due to laundry’s key role in supporting our customer sectors.”
Andrew lives in Gloucestershire with his partner Sarah, their two boys and Hops and Barley, their dogs. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoys running, walking and paddleboarding. He has recently discovered a love of climbing and, as his children have gotten older, has been able to rekindle his love of reading.
“We are delighted to welcome Andrew to the team,” says Emma Kiviniemi Wilson, Managing Director of the TSA. “His knowledge of the industry and enthusiasm for developing projects to help it develop will be a huge boon. He’s quickly found his feet here and we’re sure that he’s going to have a positive impact as we continue to find innovative ways to help our members.”
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us either via email or phone:
T +44 (0) 20 3151 5600
Covid Inquiry recognises that reusable PPE could have been part of the solution
Government ignored TSA advice, choosing disposable PPE instead
The TSA says it is pleased that the laundry industry has been recognised by the Covid Inquiry, in the module 5 release on July 14th. Initially the laundry industry was not included in the inquiry, but once the TSA had lobbied and explained the situation during the pandemic, the Association was allowed to make a statement. As a result, the latest module includes the following paragraphs (sections 4.78 and 4.79).
“In April 2020, the Textile Services Association (the trade association for the textile care services industry) offered to scale up reusable gown and sterile laundry services during the pandemic, engaging with UK Make and Cabinet Office procurement officials. UK Make staff, Cabinet Office staff and consultants from Deloitte (a professional services company) working to source PPE asked the Textile Services Association to design a reusable gown. The Textile Services Association was in contact with officials from UK Make and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy between April and September 2020 and with NHS England between February and August 2021.
Although the Textile Services Association had repeated contact with officials, including from UK Make and the Cabinet Office Complex Transactions Team – and work was undertaken to reserve raw materials and manufacturing capacity and to ensure compliance with regulatory and technical standards – it did not lead to any contracts. While it explored the possibility of reusable PPE, the UK government prioritised the purchase and manufacture of single-use PPE during the pandemic. This was despite the full supply chain for reusable gowns, including a laundry network, already existing in the UK.”
Emma Kiviniemi Wilson is the TSA’s managing director. She says, “Whilst it was frustrating to be ignored at the time, we are pleased to be recognised in the report. The challenge will now be how we move this forward, so that if there is a next time our advice is not only listened to but acted on.”
The TSA is actively lobbying government – most recently, on the 19th May 2026, it hosted a cross party meeting in Westminster that was hailed as a big success. Andrew George, MP for St Ives, said afterwards: “It was very eye opening to learn how the sector helps to sustain so many aspects of the economy. I think everyone who attended is keen to make sure the government looks carefully at what the industry needs to take it forward.”
Emma adds, “The Covid Inquiry release and the success of events like the cross-party meeting shows that we are making progress. We are certainly going to keep on pushing, to build on these foundations through further discussions with government to ensure the laundry industry is heard in the future.”
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us either via email or phone:
T +44 (0) 20 3151 5600
TSA Sustainability Summit showcases practical steps to decarbonise UK laundries
From Dragons’ Den-style innovation pitches to data driven energy strategies, reflections on the TSA’s recent summit and its sustainability goals – Double Tree, Hilton, Wokingham
The Textile Services Association’s (TSA) Sustainability Summit brought together over 70 of its members to explore practical solutions for reducing the environmental impact of the UK’s commercial laundry sector. With thought-leaders, innovators and policy partners, its programme combined keynote analysis with member case studies. It also explored how new technologies from other industries could help drive sustainability further. Tying this all together was the importance of both collaboration and data sharing in ensuring practical steps continue to be made towards a greener textile service industry on course for net zero.
Sustainability leader Mike Barry opened the day with “Accelerating Sustainability – Practical Leadership for What Happens Next.” Former Director of Sustainable Business (Plan A) at Marks & Spencer, he now leads Mikebarryeco Limited, advising companies across sectors on sustainable change. Although an outsider to the sector, his talk touched on the pivotal role laundries play in the wider UK economy and their environmental footprint. “Good progress has been made, but there’s so much more to do,” he said. “Decarbonisation, taking natural gas out of the value chain… they’re really hard to do on your own. You need organisations like the TSA to be convening, sharing best practice and helping shape the policy environment around us to deliver that outcome.”
Following his keynote Mike chaired a panel with Alexandra Brennan (Johnson Service Group), Ben West (Abbey Glen) and Rima Paharia (Little Bill Laundry). Their discussion focused on how lasting change is only made possible by people and how they can adapt to and influence the sustainability culture within their companies and beyond. “We’ve got to make sustainability relatable to everyone’s day job,” Mike said. “Delivering a business case and taking costs down – that’s what matters.”
A centrepiece of the programme was the ‘Decarbonising Laundry Heat’, hosted by Innovate UK’s Jacky Cope. The goal of Innovate UK Business Connect and its Innovation Exchange programme is to help companies grow and face their technological challenges by meeting innovators that can help their specific needs. The TSA initially approached Innovate UK to explore how its programme could help the laundry sector in its decarbonisation journey. It then arranged for two TSA members, Clean and Royal Jersey, to partake in it. Multiple innovator companies from outside the sector provided both companies with their proposed sustainable solutions. The finalists of these were then given the opportunity to present again to other commercial laundries at the Sustainability Summit in Dragons’ Den–style pitches. These were notably varied, from microwave heating and advanced steam generation to energy management systems and boiler insulation. Jacky Cope described the Summit as “a fantastic opportunity” for innovators to reach laundries across the UK and invited further engagement with the Innovation Exchange: “Bring us your challenge and we’ll help you find a solution,” she said. Both Clean and Royal Jersey hosted site visits to provide data and operational insight that shaped the proposals.
Energy pathways beyond electrification were explored by Dr Kelly Manders, Regional Development Manager at Cadent, who outlined opportunities for biomethane and the future role of hydrogen, particularly where electrification is challenging. “The opportunity that hydrogen and biomethane can bring to this sector is huge if it is to continue on its decarbonisation journey,” she said, noting the pragmatic blend of electrification where feasible. Her assessment echoed a recurring theme throughout the day: sustainability comes from a diversity of actions that can be implemented now and scaled over time.
Circularity and social impact were showcased through TSA’s collaboration with In Kind Direct, the UK’s leading product giving charity. Philippa Dodi detailed how the partnership aligns with TSA’s Infinite Textiles initiative to extend product life and reduce waste. Working with Clean, 26 pallets of surplus bedding and towels were donated to support 17 charitable organisations across the UK. “By donating product you’re able to increase circularity and reduce waste while also creating social impact,” Dodi said, adding that getting the sector together through events like the summit accelerates shared learning, especially on practical steps that members can take up immediately.
The relationship between robust data and policy alignment formed the basis of the presentation by Sarah Whittaker and Izzie Jess of Jacobs. Briefing attendees on the next phase of Climate Change Agreements (CCA3), they highlighted the tighter targets and the increasing importance of accurate measurement and transparent reporting. Elsewhere members shared performance data and lessons learned, notably Clean’s “Clean Carbon Journey,” presented by Kate Karlinska Peshawaria. “It’s good to be in a position to help other laundries, to share our experience and try new things,” she noted, demonstrating the sector’s willingness to collaborate beyond competitive boundaries to accelerate decarbonisation.
The day concluded with “Water Matters Too,” a keynote from Dr Geoff Townsend urging a broader environmental lens that includes water management alongside carbon reduction. With water scarcity on the rise, he argued that efficiency, recycling and responsible management must become operational priorities. As TSA project director Andrew Glassford later reflected: “Water is often considered last, but cannot remain so if the sector is to build long term resilience.”
Building on the Summit, the TSA will encourage other members to work with companies like Innovate UK to explore decarbonisation routes within their laundries. It will continue to support member data transparency and advocate its Infinite Textiles scheme. Above all, the insights shared at the summit reinforce commercial laundries’ commitment to sustainability, beyond ambition alone and towards sector-wide implementation.
If you have any queries, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us either via email or phone:
T +44 (0) 20 3151 5600