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September 24, 2012
TRSA Exhibits Laundry Performance Standards at AHE Conference

PHOENIX — Builds awareness of increased environmental stewardship, infection control conscientiousness

PHOENIX — The Textile Rental Services Association (TRSA) presented its new Clean Green and Hygienically Clean Healthcare certification programs for laundries last week to attendees of Exchange 2012 to build their awareness of the increased environmental stewardship and infection control conscientiousness TRSA members are practicing.

TRSA chose the Association for the Healthcare Environment (AHE) conference and exhibit to demonstrate that textile services operators who earn these certifications are the “superior choice for AHE members whose supply chain management calls for outsourcing laundry and linen.”

Those certified are exceeding government standards, TRSA says, by:

  • Meeting conservation goals and deploying best management practices for resource reduction, reuse and recycling above and beyond the reporting requirements established by EPA for the Laundry Environmental Stewardship Program (LaundryESP)
  • Testing cleaned goods for bacterial content—in addition to documenting deployment of best laundering practices—to build healthcare providers’ confidence that their outsourced laundry’s linen is as clean as possible, in line with practices standardized elsewhere in the world but not yet recommended by U.S. authorities

“TRSA respects and supports other standards besides Clean Green and Hygienically Clean to which our members can ascribe. Any effort to document launderers’ attention to preserving natural resources and controlling the spread of infection reflects positively on the textile services industry,” explains TRSA President and CEO Joseph Ricci. “Our new programs execute our responsibility to our members to give them tools to show their customers and prospects they are willing to raise the bar in these respects.”

August 6, 2012
Washington Textile Service Companies Earn Environmental Kudos

SPOKANE, Wash. — Installations of enviromentally friendly, resource-saving equipment draw accolades

SPOKANE, Wash. — The Association of Washington Business (AWB) recently honored two textile service companies among a group of seven businesses for their innovative and environmentally sustainable practices with its 2012 Environmental Excellence Awards.

Service Linen Supply, Renton, Wash., and U.S. Linen & Uniform, Richland, Wash., were recognized for Resource Conservation/Pollution Prevention.

Faced with the need to update some of its washers, Service Linen Supply decided rather than replacing just a few machines, it would install “Rosie,” a 79-foot-long, 50,000-pound Milnor CBW® washer with PulseFlow®, the first of its kind in the Pacific Northwest. The tunnel replaced six washers, reducing the number of people needed to operate machines. It also dramatically reduced water consumption and scaled back the amount of energy required to heat the water. It’s expected to save up to $350,000 per year.

In order to comply with effluent discharge requirements, U.S. Linen & Uniform could have invested in a system that met the basic requirement but did not significantly reduce water or natural gas use. Instead, it chose to spend more than twice the amount on a ceramic micro-filtration and reverse osmosis water system that not only reduces pollutants in its wastewater discharges by nearly 95% but also cuts natural gas usage by 25% and water usage by 50%.

“Washington’s private sector businesses have shown tremendous innovation in the 20 years since we first began our Environmental Excellence Awards,” says AWB President Don Brunell. “The companies we honor have chosen business practices that take into account their impact on the environment. Whether through battery recycling or finding a cheaper way to make solar panels, these companies are successfully demonstrating ways for businesses to be both successful and environmentally sensitive.”

December 2, 2008
AH&LA Launches Green Strategy

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) launched its green strategy at a recent board of directors meeting. The strategy focuses on minimum environmental guidelines culled from 88 overall guidelines targeting effective energy, water and waste management.

The guidelines will be continuously added and built upon, with the next set focusing on design and construction, materials and resources, chemicals and cleaning, and indoor air quality.

October 8, 2008
Eco-friendliness Remains at Heart of IH/M&RS Agenda

NEW YORK — Supporting the hospitality industry’s continued efforts to decrease carbon footprints and develop eco-friendly properties, the 93rd annual International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show (IH/M&RS) next month features educational programming, a special exhibitor, and product awards highlighting the latest sustainable products and resources, according to show manager GLM.

September 24, 2008
It’s Everywhere, but What Exactly Does That Buzzword ‘Green’ Mean? (Part 1 of 2)

“What ‘green’ laundry products are available for my operation? Are they truly ‘green’ or ‘environmentally friendly’? What’s the difference? I hear the term applied most often to chemicals, but can’t equipment or textiles carry that description, too?”

Textile/Uniform Rental: Steve Kallenbach, American Dawn, Los Angeles, Calif.