TSA launches scheme for recycling textiles used in the hospitality industry

30 million textile pieces wasted each year: “The time is right for innovative solutions,” says TSA CEO.

The Textile Services Association (TSA) is calling for the hospitality, catering and healthcare industries to work with them in order to improve the recycling of textiles. Every year over 30 million textile items, including sheets, duvet covers, pillow cases and towels, are thrown away. This equates to over 2000 tonnes. The majority of these will end up in landfill or incinerated.  Meanwhile the cloth that actually does get reused often only gets one additional use cycle, as rags in sites such as garages, before also being disposed of.

Textile waste from the hospitality industry is ideal for recycling, as it is predominantly made of natural fibres, and white. The TSA has set up a project to research potential recycling solutions for the industry. It has teamed up with Swedish company Södra, which has pioneered a method that takes textile and re-engineers it into a pulp that can be used to spin cotton fibre yarns. A test shipment was recently sent to them to determine how suitable it will be for use in the UK.

Members of the TSA are well positioned to facilitate the recycling of textiles. Over 90% of hotels in the UK are serviced by TSA members, which will enable them to easily handle the logistics of the proposed recycling scheme. “We want to be part of the solution,” says David Stevens, CEO of the TSA. “So far our members have been very enthusiastic about the potential for them to help industries reducing waste and improving sustainability.”

The TSA is also in talks with UK Hospitality about the possibility of including staff uniforms in the scheme, which account for an additional four million items annually. Recycling uniforms is more complex as they often use a mix of different materials and accessories that require separation first. Going forward, designing uniforms for recycling is one of the solutions being discussed.

“We are delighted to be working with the TSA on their recycling project and it compliments perfectly our current campaign of Net Zero Carbon by 2030,” says Kate Nicholls OBE, Chief Executive of UK Hospitality.

Stevens adds, “It’s a win-win for the environment as landfill use and incineration is reduced alongside less need for new cotton. It’s estimated that 20,000 litres of water are required for every kilo of cotton grown, not forgetting the risks of fertiliser run-off.  Anything that reduces the impact this crop has must be good.”

With more companies and business sectors looking for innovative ways to reduce their environmental impact David Stevens feels the time is right to consider bold and innovative solutions to the larger issues they face. “We welcome all the feedback we’re getting and call on more stakeholders to come forward to discuss the individual needs of their businesses in order to make this scheme a success,” he says. 

If you wish to discuss the above or if you would like any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us on 020 3151 5600 or at tsa@tsa-uk.org.

CLEAN are proud to announce ISO 9001:2015 Certification for quality management

21 April 2021

CLEAN are delighted to have been awarded ISO 9001:2015 certification, an internationally recognised standard that ensures the rental and launder of garments, dust mats and any sundry items meet the needs of customers through an effective quality management system. The quality management system previously used at the Cheltenham workwear laundry site proved to be robust and consistent.  The next logical step was to formalise the standard and achieve a certification recognised by all its customer base, particularly those customers involved in the food manufacturing sector.

A Continuous Improvement Culture

CLEAN’s decision to work towards ISO 9001:2015 accreditation demonstrates its commitment to continually improving products and services.  To become ISO 9001:2015 compliant, the Workwear division based at CLEAN’s Cheltenham laundry site, underwent an extensive audit that included further development of its quality management system, a management system documentation review, pre-audit, initial assessment, and clearance of any non-conformances. The certification has provided CLEAN with greater visibility of their unique garment track and trace system and a progressive, robust framework for document control, root cause analysis and corrective action to ensure ongoing continual improvement.

Relentless Focus on Excellence

BSI Assurance Mark ISO 9001: 2015 is one of the most rigorous and well-regarded standards in the world.  The team at CLEAN were audited by BSI and were presented with their certificate in March 2021.

Gaining ISO 9001:2015 reinforces CLEAN’s relentless focus on providing consistent, industry-leading laundry services, measured against global benchmarks of excellence.

CLEAN’s Chief Executive Officer, Kevin Godley says:

“Achieving ISO 9001:2015 certification is fantastic news and means our customers have complete assurance our workwear rental and laundry services operate to the highest quality standard. We always strive for continuous improvement and this certification sees us take another step on our journey.”

He added:

“I am extremely proud of our team for their achievement. It provides further proof of CLEAN’s commitment to ensuring quality and providing the best possible service to our customers. We are dedicated to constant improvement and development. Achieving and maintaining an ISO 9001:2015 accreditation ensures we have the processes and systems in place for this and allows us to continuously measure and improve our performance within the ISO 9001 regulatory framework.”

CLEAN’s ISO 9001:2015 Certificate/Licence number is FS 736965 verifiable by visiting the inclusion in the Certificate Client Directory on the BSI website, click here to view the listing.

For more information about CLEAN, please visit www.cleanservices.co.uk or follow on Twitter @cleanlinenltd.

Laundry Cost Index: 2020/2021 FYQ4

Laundry Cost Index

Please see our latest published Laundry Cost Index for 2020/2021 FYQ4 below. FYQ4 constitutes data for January, February and March 2021 months as per the latest release of quarterly energy prices by BEIS (Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy).

Additionally, please note the same as for the last cost index (2020/2021 FYQ3), previously used indexes for Textiles and Other Transport have been discontinued and replaced with new indexes due to recent methodology changes by the Office for National Statistics.

Latest Laundry Cost Index

Please see the Previous Annual Increases below for comparison:

The Full Report
Annual Increase
Laundry Cost Index 2020/2021 FYQ3
2.00%
Laundry Cost Index 2020/2021 FYQ2
1.64%
Laundry Cost Index 2020/2021 FYQ1
2.02%
Laundry Cost Index 2019/2020 FYQ4
2.73%
Laundry Cost Index 2019/2020 FYQ3
1.75%
Laundry Cost Index 2019/2020 FYQ2
2.95%
Laundry Cost Index 2019/2020 FYQ1
4.00%
Previous Laundry Cost Indices

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

Update from the TSA Chief Executive

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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.

TSA joins BCC in move to benefit and strengthen both associations

Textile Services Association is warmly welcomed to BCC membership

The voice of the cleaning and hygiene industry will be heard more loudly

The Textile Services Association (TSA) has joined the British Cleaning Council (BCC) as an associate member.

The TSA represents commercial laundries in several sectors and textile rental businesses serving the hotel and hospitality, healthcare and workwear markets.  The textile care services industry contributes over £1.3 billion in GVA and supports some 28,000 jobs in the UK economy.  It has become the 22nd member of the BCC, in a move which benefits and strengthens both organisations.

BCC chair Paul Thrupp said, “I am delighted that the TSA has joined the BCC and I very warmly welcome them.  Working together with the TSA makes the BCC and the whole cleaning and hygiene sector that much stronger.  It is important that the cleaning and hygiene sector pulls together to present a unified front if we are to make our collective voice heard as loudly as possible.

“Textile services is a significant sector of the economy. There are also considerable synergies with the cleaning and hygiene sector as represented by our members, particularly in the health and hospitality sectors.  The TSA’s work lobbying the Government to move towards multi-use gowns for healthcare is something that dovetails well with the work of our members on the environmental agenda and their work on skills also supports our drive to create an accredited training and apprenticeship.

“We have many issues of mutual interest and I look forward to collaborating in the future. “

The TSA represents commercial laundries in several sectors and textile rental businesses serving the hotel and hospitality, healthcare and workwear markets.

TSA CEO David Stevens said, “We are delighted to join the BCC and work collectively with so many like-minded organisations.  We have so many harmonised agenda points I think the collective power of the BCC can really help drive these topics to some of the key decision makers in Government.  I see real benefits for our membership and improved momentum on some of our key project areas such as training, linen recycling and energy efficiency incentives, including the climate change agreement.

“An individual trade association can find it difficult to get space on the lobbying platform.  Working with the BCC will be a great way of sharing and supporting a single message, benefitting all members.”

If you wish to discuss the above or if you would like any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us on 020 3151 5600 or at tsa@tsa-uk.org.

TSA Knowledge Network Open Day

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Christeyns UK supplies water saving equipment for Eton College

24 March 2021

Laundry chemical and engineering specialist Christeyns UK has helped Eton College in Windsor meet its environmental goals with a new water filtering system.

Eton college, the prestigious boarding school in Berkshire, has been educating for the future for over 600 years.  Founded in 1440, this outward-looking institution with over 1300 students, has a proud history and rich heritage, yet embraces innovation in its pursuit of excellence and the provision of a well-rounded education.

However, it is not only forward thinking in its educational goals but also in the operational day to day running of the college and its commitment to sustainability.

In 2017 the college cut its energy costs by replacing lamps and fixtures that led to a reduction in their carbon footprint by 61%.  Earlier this year the college tackled the issue of water saving with the installation of a new storage and filtering system, Lint X.

Renowned for its innovative water and energy saving systems, Christeyns installs equipment in commercial and on-premise laundries across the UK and Ireland that complement the use of its patented Cool Chemistry and other detergent programmes.

Eton College has had a laundry on site since 1881 and has been using Christeyns’ chemistry for almost a decade.  A dedicated team of 30 run and maintain the laundry that processes 50,000 items per week which includes everything from rugby kit to chef’s outfits.  Items are sorted, washed, ironed and then individually repacked for each boy. 

“As a whole, both the school and the pupils are focused on improving our environmental commitment,” states Facilities Manager Paul Bayley.  “Addressing water usage was one of the initiatives that came out of a recent meeting, realising that the old tank system was way beyond being efficient.”

Christeyns Water and Energy specialist Brett Cartwright analysed the current provision and needs of the College and a Lint X Compact was installed and up and running ready for the students return post lockdown.

The new unit will save the site around a third of their water usage which over the course of a year will represent a considerable saving and go a long way towards meeting the College’s sustainable targets.

Lint-X Compact comprises a pair of tanks for storing and filtering used water from the washing process, typically water from the press tanks and rinse water tanks of the CBW’s.

The unit operates between three to five pumps and a freshwater valve in order to supply several washing machines with filtered, but used water, thus reducing the freshwater consumption in a laundry.

Paul continues: “Christeyns carried out a very professional installation of the Lint-X unit despite the challenges imposed due to lockdown.  The whole process went very smoothly and I look forward to seeing the longer term impact on our water usage.”

Sustainability is a way of life, not just relevant to laundries.  With the help of Christeyns, Eton College is setting the right example for other educational institutions, for its pupils and for the wider community.

For further information visit:

www.christeyns.com

www.etoncollege.com

Update from the TSA Chief Executive

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The TSA responds to the budget: commercial laundries are left in jeopardy

David Stevens, CEO of the TSA comments on the budget:

Commercial Laundries are Left in Jeopardy

 

Of course it’s good that the furlough scheme has been extended to September.  We’re happy that the Chancellor has also announced a new recovery loan scheme, the investment incentives are a definite plus so there are some positives.

Having said that, we’re very disappointed that the Chancellor didn’t see fit to expand the recovery net.  Commercial laundries are still in this enormous black hole outside of the government’s support bubble.  We aren’t eligible for business rates relief or for recovery grants, VAT reductions and so the list goes on.  We will see minimum wages increase at a time when we will be struggling to pay any wages!

Yet again the service support sector has been totally overlooked despite being part of and dependent on the hospitality industry who have been receiving support throughout the pandemic – it’s simply not fair.  This is not a good budget for our industry.

With support we could survive. Without it, commercial laundries, and the 24,000 people they employ, remain in real jeopardy. 

 

 

 

If you wish to discuss the above or if you would like any further information, please do not hesitate to contact us on 020 3151 5600 or at tsa@tsa-uk.org.