Every day, millions of Europeans depend on textile services provided by industrial laundries for a variety of needs, including hospital linens, surgical gowns, hotel bedding, and restaurant textiles. These services, while often unnoticed, play a crucial role in sustaining the economy of the continent. In fact, in numerous countries, over 90% of hospitals and hotels would face immediate closure without a reliable supply of hygienically cleaned textiles, while pharmaceutical and food production industries would cease operations within a mere 24 hours.
Enhancing sustainability through a circular business model
At the heart of this essential industry is a well-organized European sector that merges operational efficiency with a circular, service-oriented business model. This model focuses on washing and maintaining textiles to extend their lifespan, thereby minimizing waste and reducing environmental impact while also prioritizing public health. By emphasizing reuse, repair, and professional maintenance, the industry significantly lessens the demand for new raw materials imported from outside Europe.
Moreover, these locally based service models not only create skilled jobs and generate tax revenues for communities but also stimulate ongoing innovation in circular solutions. This dynamic fosters new business opportunities and propels industrial growth throughout the European Union.
Policy changes to support sustainable practices
In the context of evolving geopolitical challenges, it is essential to recognize the strategic importance of circular, service-based business models. These models enhance competitiveness and resilience while contributing to Europe’s sustainability goals, as emphasized by Hartmut Engler, CEO of CWS Workwear.
“As several important legislative files move forward in Brussels, it is time to reflect on what textile services need to continue to implement sustainable solutions.”
Public authorities across the EU allocate over €2.6 trillion annually for purchasing goods and services, which represents about 15% of the EU’s GDP. Unfortunately, a significant portion of this investment is still directed towards linear services and disposable products, hindering progress toward Europe’s environmental and industrial objectives. The upcoming revision of EU public procurement regulations should recognize that the textile rental industry is pivotal in advancing the EU’s circular economy and environmental goals.
Specifically, green public procurement should be mandated across all EU member states, promoting alternatives to direct purchasing such as leasing models or product-as-a-service business structures. Such an approach must prioritize not just immediate cost savings but also a comprehensive lifecycle evaluation that considers long-term environmental and social impacts. Implementing mandatory lifecycle costing as an award criterion would ensure that sustainability is assessed over the entire duration of a contract, rather than solely at the point of purchase.
As noted by Elena Lai, Secretary General of the European Textile Services Association (ETSA), the longevity of products should be a primary focus of the forthcoming Circular Economy Act. The most sustainable products are those that remain in use the longest, emphasizing durability and repairability as core environmental benefits.
ETSA members are already pioneering sustainable business models, incorporating product-as-a-service strategies that facilitate repair, reuse, and extended utilization. These models should receive legislative support alongside recycling initiatives. Enhancing the longevity of products yields significant climate and resource benefits compared to merely recycling items after short usage periods, as it conserves the energy, water, and raw materials already invested in production.
Nonetheless, prioritizing durability must not overshadow end-of-life solutions. ETSA members are collaborating to launch a joint recycling pilot project, aimed at transforming end-of-life textiles into recycled fibers suitable for high-value applications like insulation materials and industrial wipers. This initiative embodies a long-term vision of advancing closed-loop systems whereby recycled fibers can increasingly serve as raw materials for new textile production.
The success of recycling hinges on stable markets and consistent policy frameworks, and the sector is actively working to establish both. By creating tangible use cases for recycled materials, these efforts are crucial in solidifying European recycling value chains and reducing reliance on suppliers from outside the continent.
Europe is not starting from scratch when it comes to implementing circular solutions; they are already established. The pressing need is to develop policies that bolster circular, service-based business models rooted in durability and extended product lifespans, thereby maximizing the value derived from existing resources.
“Textile services are not an emerging concept but a proven, scalable European solution — reducing consumption, anchoring jobs locally, safeguarding public health and lowering emissions.”
Recognizing and supporting service-oriented reuse models in upcoming legislation will accelerate the EU’s sustainability ambitions while enhancing its competitiveness and strategic independence.
Disclaimer: This is a political advertisement sponsored by the European Textiles Service Association (ETSA), advocating for the acknowledgment and support of circular, service-based business models within forthcoming EU legislation.