Regenex has compiled its most compelling case yet for the careful care and re-use of every piece of commercial linen, in a new white paper.

Five key reasons for a seachange in the way the UK laundry sector sees its linen resources are set out in the document, ahead of the start-up’s fifth birthday.

A free resource, Loving linen longer: Five carbon and money saving reasons to get the most out of laundry stock, is available to download now.

Backed up by scientific research and industry statistics, Regenex aims for the white paper to ramp up conversation, imploring contract laundry groups serving the hospitality and healthcare sectors to develop thriftier habits because:

• Re-use is a simple, straightforward no-brainer
• The UK has a shameful textile waste problem that we do not want to exacerbate
• Microplastics shed in the wash are causing an ocean emergency
• A robust environmental policy is the only way do business now
• The cost of everything is rising, and saving money is more important than ever.

Paul Hamilton, technical director at Regenex, said: “We’ve been in business for nearly five years and we’ve seen real change in the way laundries approach the question of waste.

“Managers and owners are becoming much more savvy about how they can pursue their net zero ambitions and save money at the same time. We started out servicing a handful of laundry customers and we now have more than 20 on our books.

“As interest in operating more sustainably grows, we’re expecting to see a tipping point that will have a positive effect for the sector, in so many ways.

“We decided it was time to set out the core reasons to look after textiles better – and we hope this will fuel important conversations up and down the country and beyond.”

According to the Textile Services Association, UK laundries currently throw out 2,000 tonnes of stained or discoloured linen every year – and much of this is needless, when it can be revived and returned to stock.

Loving linen longer cuts down on unnecessary textile production, waste to landfill and microplastics in the oceans. It also saves laundries money at a time when the cost of everything from cotton to fuel bills is rising.

Paul added: “Only a fifth of commercial linen sees out its full potential service. So much linen is still ragged early simply because it is marked.

“Now the technology and innovation is there to remove blemishes and return those thousands of pieces – towels, bedding, tableware, workwear – back to laundries for many more washes to come.”