Christeyns helps ease driver shortage and expands HGV fleet

13 April 2022

Bradford-based hygiene chemical specialist Christeyns has added HGV driving qualifications to its apprenticeship scheme in order to provide a solution for the current driver shortage.

Two new apprentices, Tom Grundell and Danny Clark, commenced their apprenticeships in September 2021 and following 18 months of training and immersion in the business, will be out on the road delivering chemicals for use in the Industrial laundry and construction sectors.

“The driver shortage has hit the supply chain hard,” states Richard Boardman, Transport Manager at Christeyns UK.  We wanted to find a way to encourage young people into the profession as well as future-proofing our own business.”

Christeyns has also taken delivery of two new DAF XF480FAX Rigid HGV wagons with a gross capacity of 32 Tonnes, taking the fleet to a total of 11.  The average mileage of each of the trucks is 70,000 kms per year as they travel across mainland UK, Northern Ireland and Eire.

The drivers’ main responsibility is the safe transfer of bulk liquids from IBCs into customer’s bulk storage tanks using specialist pumping equipment on their wagons.

Christeyns develops systems and chemicals that help customers save money and improve the efficiency of their operations by maximising water and energy use and cutting down on waste whilst being kinder to the environment.

For further information visit:

www.christeyns.com

Update from the TSA

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Planning for a sustainable and viable future for hospitality and commercial laundries

UKHospitality and TSA form collaborate partnership at Round Table, Round One

The first Round Table summit between leading hospitality groups and commercial laundries ended in a series of pointers that will help plan for a sustainable and successful future.  Hosted by the TSA (Textile Services Association) and UKHospitality, the event was the first step in establishing a collaborative partnership to tackle the extreme pressures that confront both industries.  Two key areas under discussion were the difficulties in the current operational model, with the need to take into account the increasing unpredictability of hotel occupancy, and the drive to be more sustainable. However, alongside these ‘big picture’ issues more day-to-day topics were discussed – such as the establishment of standard sizes for bed linen. 

Co-chairs of the discussions were David Stevens, CEO of the TSA, and Tony Sophoclides, Strategic Affairs Director of UKHospitality.  Leading organisations from both hospitality and the laundry industry were represented, including Accor, Clean Linen Services, Fishers Services, Georgian House Hotel, IHG, Johnsons Hotel Linen, Marriott, and Travelodge.  The event took place at the London Marriott Hotel Regents Park on 24th March 2022. 

The importance of laundries to the hotel sector was underlined by Andrew Towns of Marriott and Emmanuel Poignant of Accor, who both confirmed, “Linen is critical, without it we can’t sell our rooms.” 

Summer 2022 vs. summer 2021 brought lively discussion, underlining the occupancy issue.  While London hotels are reporting levels ahead of 2021, for the rest of the UK the figures remain in line with last year. 

From the left: Florence Alloing, General Manager (Georgian House Hotel), Kevin Godley, CEO (CLEAN Linen Services), Michael Simpson-Jones, Head of Category (Travelodge), Helen Wood, Managing Director (Johnsons Hotel Linen), Tony Sophoclides, Strategic Affairs Director (UK Hospitality), David Stevens, CEO (TSA), Michael Jones, Managing Director (Fishers Services), Emmanuel Poignant, North Europe Procurement (Accor), Andrew Towns, Senior Manager, Procurement United Kingdom & Ireland (Marriott)

Meanwhile, there has been a surge in last-minute booking, exacerbating the volatility of the market – and making it nigh on impossible to predict requirements for linen.  The combination of staffing issues and irregular capacity is adding to the problems laundries are facing. 

On a positive note, Kevin Godley of Clean noted that laundries are better prepared this year than they had been in summer 2021, when business went from zero to 100% almost overnight.  However, he added a proviso: “Success this summer will only be achieved if laundries and hotels work together in partnership to overcome these ongoing challenges of irregular occupancies, recruitment shortages and availability of linen.”

It was agreed that better communications between laundries and hotels could help reduce the issue of sharp peaks and fast declines in linen requirements.  However, there may be a need to invest in more linen – as one delegate pointed out, for a hotel, the cost of investment is likely to be less than the cost if they had no linen.

Sustainability is an ongoing issue and one that hotels and laundries must tackle together.  TSA’s ‘Infinite Textiles’ scheme, which looks to extend the life of linens and then recycle instead of sending them to landfill, was welcomed by the hospitality industry.  Meanwhile there was also consensus to move away from single use plastic to wrap clean linens: with discussions well underway, the initiative is expected to be agreed shortly.

Another question brought to the table was, should there be set sizing for linen? Currently there are very different types and sizes of linen, depending either on what the hotel wants or what the laundries supply. Would a simplified bedlinen sizing structure help? It was agreed that the topic would be investigated further at the next Round Table. 

“The Round Table discussions were candid, sincere and have moved us forward,” says David Stevens.  “We all agree on the need to work in closer cooperation if we are to survive and thrive.  This was round one and it has sown seeds and set up a map for future progress.” 

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

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Infinite Textiles: greener linen for hospitality and healthcare

Commercial laundries’ recycling initiative will slash CO2 emissions and water consumption

The TSA has teamed up with UKHospitality, WRAP and PCIAW to launch the Infinite Textiles scheme.  The scheme will see commercial laundries partnering with their customers to recycle end of life linen and towels from the hospitality, healthcare and leisure industries, with the aim of saving tens of thousands of tonnes of carbon and billions of litres of water every year. 

Currently over 6,000 tonnes of hospitality textiles are sent to waste annually.  “Infinite Textiles has the potential to put a stop to the waste,” says David Stevens, CEO of the TSA (Textiles Services Association).  “If the industries can come together on this key project, we really will be making a difference to the environment. This will be the largest laundry industry textile recycling project in the world.” 

Infinite Textiles aims to cover the whole life of the textiles, from sourcing through manufacturing and on to washing and inspection, with laundries and their customers working together to maximise the life of the linen.  Only when the product reaches the end of its useful life does it move into the recycling phase.  Here it’s inspected, treated and sorted into bales before being delivered to the Infinite Textiles hub in Sunderland.  From there the bales go to approved recyclers for turning back into yarn and going on to manufacturers. 

The Infinite Textiles numbers make a convincing argument.  It has been reported that the energy required for the reuse or recycling process of polyester is only 1.8% of the total energy consumed by the virgin fibre.  Similarly, the reuse of one tonne of cotton fibre needs only 2.6% of the energy required for the virgin material.*

The growing and harvesting of natural fibres is where the most water is consumed and the most CO2 emissions occur.  For example, the production of one tonne of the nitrogen fertilisers used emits around seven tonnes of CO2 equivalent greenhouse gases.** 

The TSA will administer and manage the scheme, supporting a network of coordinated pick up points for the bales around the UK, making it easier for smaller laundries to take part.  The TSA is also providing plenty of support resources, including training and webinars, and setting up an online platform for participants to track volumes and revenue lines. 

“Rightly, there’s growing pressure to manage waste streams more responsibly,” says Stevens.  “The drive to develop the Infinite Textiles scheme comes not only from our members, but also from their customers, to help support their sustainability objectives.   By launching a certifiable scheme now, we stay in front of the curve and demonstrate the benefits of the commercial laundry industry and its circular credentials.” 

Infinite Textiles will provide evidence of compliance with the Waste Framework Directive and supports certification with ISO 14001 and BS 8001.  The scheme is allied with the Recycled Claim Standard (RCS) and compliant with circular economy certification.  It is audited by UKAS-accredited certification bodies. 

For information on UKHospitality visit ukhospitality.org.uk.  

For information on WRAP, the Waste and Resources Action Programme, visit wrap.org.uk. 

For information on PCIAW, the Professional Clothing Industry Association Worldwide, visit pciaw.org. 

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

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It’s ready, set, go for the TSA’s spring conference

Linford Christie OBE among the speakers lined up for the TSA’s 2022 conference

The Textile Services Association has announced the line-up and ticket details for its 2022 Spring Conference, which will take place at the Marriott Forest of Arden Hotel in Birmingham on the 4th and 5th of May.

After taking a couple of years off thanks to Covid, the Spring Conference is back and offers a chance for the industry to come together to celebrate the successes of the previous year as well as taking stock of some of the challenges ahead.

The conference line-up includes explorations of current topics facing textile service businesses as well as speakers from the worlds of business, sports and entertainment. The conference will end with sporting legend Linford Christie OBE giving what is bound to be an entertaining and inspirational keynote address.

The conference will kick off on the evening of Wednesday 4th with a gala dinner, and entertainment from comedian Alfie Moore.

The schedule for Wednesday includes panels and talks with experts from the textile services industry and beyond. Laura Chalkey, Head of Partnerships at WorkNest, will give a talk on The Law and HR, while best-selling author and top motivational speaker Adrian Webster will give an illuminating presentation on the secrets of successful team building.

The conference reaches a climax with an appearance by Europe’s greatest ever 100m sprinter and the only British athlete to have won Gold in the 100m at all four major competitions, Linford Christie OBE. Linford will discuss his amazing life story and the secrets of his career, as well as some of the lessons he’s learned along the way coaching the next generations of Britain’s athletes.

“After an eventful couple of years we are looking forward to welcoming everyone back,” says David Stevens, CEO of the TSA. “The conference is a great way to build relationships within the industry, along with providing a forum to discuss the latest challenges and opportunities it faces. We’re excited to be meeting old and new friends there!”

Tickets from the conference start from just £90 +VAT for a conference ticket, with dinner tickets for the Wednesday night £40+VAT. Attendees wishing to arrive Tuesday night can buy a B&B ticket for £99+VAT. These prices are for TSA members only as the event is heavily subsidised,. However, any non-members attending a TSA event for the first time are eligible for the members rate as an incentive to find out more about the TSA’s activities.

In order to book tickets please complete the booking form which can be found on the TSA website and return it to events@tsa-uk.org

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

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CCA can save laundries £millions – but opportunity ends on March 31 2022

Government agrees to reopen Climate Change Agreement scheme temporarily

If a commercial laundry isn’t registered for the Climate Change Agreement Scheme (CCA) then it’s missing out.  TSA has lobbied government agencies to reopen the scheme – and they have agreed, but only until the end of March 2022.  Once this window closes, that’s it. 

So what can commercial laundries get from signing up to a CCA?  Basically it gives a discount on the Climate Change Levy charged on their energy bills, and over the past two years alone, TSA members collectively have saved over £10million through the scheme.  Any commercial laundry can have a CCA – in order to receive the discount, they have to meet targets to increase energy efficiency and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. 

“It’s a no-brainer,” says David Stevens, CEO of the TSA.  “On the one the hand, initiatives like the CCA are vital if we are to combat climate change.  Meanwhile, the scheme offers significant cost savings for almost every commercial laundry.  At a time when our industry is faced with huge cost rises, ignoring the CCA is economic madness.”

Having a CCA, and partaking in the Climate Change Levy Discount Scheme, deliver significant savings.  They include discounts on the CCL charged of up to 92% on electricity, up to 83% on gas, and up to 77% on LPG, in return for meeting energy or carbon saving targets. 

CCAs are designed to encourage UK businesses to save energy and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. The TSA is one of 53 sector associations in the UK that have signed up to the CCA initiative, managing the scheme on behalf of the laundry and textiles industry. 

“We can be proud of our efforts to date,” says Stevens.  “Since 2013, the laundry industry has achieved over 25% energy efficiencies in primary energy alone – this is market-leading progress and one of the best energy efficiency figures across all of the 53 CCA sectors.   

“Now any commercial laundry that hasn’t got a CCA has the chance to get one – but they need to be quick about it!” 

Climate change consultants Jacobs is handling the CCA scheme for the TSA. To start the ball rolling get in touch with the Shyju Skariah at the TSA (shyju.skariah@tsa-uk.org) and he will answer any questions you have. The scheme is open to TSA members and non-members.  TSA members receive a 50% discount on the registration fees.

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

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Update from the TSA

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Laundry industry pleads for Government support on energy prices

Commercial laundries close to ‘throwing in the towel’ warns TSA

Just as commercial laundries serving the hospitality sector think they can see a light at the end of the Coronavirus pandemic tunnel, they face another crisis, this time because of the massive and unprecedented rise in energy prices.  The Textile Services Association (TSA) is warning that if the government ignores the industry again, and fails to offer support, then businesses will fail and the industries that rely on laundries, including hospitality, will face significant challenges.

Now the TSA has written to the Rt Hon. Kwasi Kwarteng MP, the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), pleading to include the commercial laundry industry in any support it may offer to energy intensive industries.

David Stevens, CEO of the TSA, says, “We are an energy intensive industry and are recognised as such, alongside areas like manufacturing, under the Climate Change Agreement.  Whilst we have worked incredibly hard to reduce consumption, you cannot operate an hygienic process without energy to wash and dry the products. Energy represents about 10% of a commercial laundry’s overhead.  When energy prices are quadrupling you don’t need to be a mathematician to work out the impact.”

Several organisations and politicians are calling on the government to offer energy intensive industries support in the short term.

John Reynolds, the Shadow Business Secretary, has been lobbying government, saying they should “Come out with a plan sooner rather than later, there are lots of options available including a mix of loans and grants.”   However, the TSA fears that laundries will miss out – again.

Commercial laundries missed out totally on any government support offered to the hospitality sector during Covid, because they do not directly deliver hospitality, despite being totally dependent on it (and despite hospitality being very much dependent on commercial laundries).  Similarly, in the past, energy grants have usually been limited to mainstream manufacturing industries, meaning commercial laundries have missed out.  

“We support any plan that helps our sector,” says Stevens.  “We have been to hell and back and really cannot face another crisis.  I can see many commercial laundries literally throwing in the towel if they are not offered support this time.”

Commercial laundries employ over 24,000 staff and wash over 50 million pieces of laundry a week, including over 90% of the NHS’s products and 95% of hotel linens. Virtually all food and pharmaceutical factories outsource their washing of workwear to laundries.  Without commercial laundries many parts of the UK economy would grind to a halt. 

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

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Update from the TSA

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Laundry Cost Index: 2021/2022 FYQ3

Laundry Cost Index

Please see our latest published Laundry Cost Index for 2021/2022 FYQ3 below. Please note, as well as the Cost Index, a TSA Laundry Cost Index Bulletin for January 2022 has also been published to sit alongside the Cost Index. This statement has been produced to highlight the unprecedent cost pressures which are not reflected in the current Cost Index. A similar bulletin was produced previously as well and can be found here.  

Latest Laundry Cost Index & Bulletin

Please see the Previous Annual Increases below for comparison:

The Full Report
Annual Increase
Laundry Cost Index 2021/2022 FYQ2
5.92%
Laundry Cost Index 2021/2022 FYQ1
3.26%
Laundry Cost Index 2020/2021 FYQ4
1.43%
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