Infinite supply of greener linen for hospitality and healthcare in the UK

Closing the loop in the United Kingdom
In the same line as the Dutch initiative CIBUTEX as reported in the CINET newsletter of last week the Textile Services Association ((TSA) in the UK, started a recycling project focussing on bringing down CO2 emissions and water consumption of commercial laundries. For this purpose the TSA teamed up with United Kingdom Hospitality, 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 more than 6,000 tonnes of hospitality textiles in the UK are sent to waste annually.  “Infinite Textiles has the potential to put a stop to the waste,” said David Stevens, CEO of the Textiles Services Association (TSA).  “If the industries can come together on this key project, we really will be making a difference to the environment.

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.

Source: www.laundryandcleaningnews.com
For information on UKHoskpitality 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.