Study from ARTA (USA) Reveals That Cleanrooms Can Save 58% on Garment Costs Annually (reusable garments)

The American Reusable Textile Association (ARTA) announced the completion of a study on the environmental and economic impacts of using reusable and disposable cleanroom garments. The ARTA-supported study was conducted by Environmental Clarity.

The study found that when U.S. cleanroom operations choose reusable coveralls over disposable ones:

  • More than 141 million megajoules (MJ) non-renewable energy (nre) (38 million kWh) is saved each year. Over a decade, 1.4 billion MJ nre is saved.
    • Annually, this environmental savings is equivalent to offsetting the carbon emissions from 1,650 cars annually, substituting for the diet impact of 4,100 persons, or displacing 89,000 iPads (design life).
  • Costs are reduced by 58% over disposables and provide an economic savings estimated at $120 million each year, which is $1.2 billion over a decade.
    • The financial savings of a full-market use of reusables would be about $210 million/year (nearly $2.1 billion in a decade). In order to capture the full benefit of reusables for a future market, 87.5% reusables was analyzed (12.5% are mandatory disposables).

From this study, the reusable cost savings did not appear to depend on the size of the cleanroom operation nor the region of the country located.  These benefits are directly accrued to the cleanroom organizations in their financial reporting and increasingly to their sustainability scorecards.  In addition, the manufacturers and the laundry organizations can share the sustainability credits with all their customers.  The study concludes that providing this information can help cleanroom firms’ decision-making and guide a path toward greater cost savings and environmental improvements.

About ARTA

The American Reusable Textile Association (ARTA) is a membership of allied associates, suppliers, operators and manufacturers that support the textile maintenance industry. ARTA’s mission is to create greater awareness and appreciation for reusable textiles — those cloth products that are reused rather than thrown away like paper disposable items. Members represent all facets of the textile maintenance industry: manufacturers of textiles, machinery and chemicals, as well as suppliers, sister associations, and the operators who clean and deliver clean napkins, linen, sheets, towels, blankets, scrubs, incontinence products, surgical gowns and uniforms to restaurants, hotels, hospitals, clinics and businesses.

The entire study is available on the WOPCOM plaform.