The Textile Services
Association (TSA) and UKHospitality hold second roundtable looking at joint
industry challenges
The event, which was held on Friday
22nd July at London Marriott Hotel Regents Park, was chaired by
David Stevens, CEO of the TSA, and featured delegates from some of the UK’s
biggest companies in both the hospitality and laundry sectors. The day consisted
of two sessions. The first was broadly based around the current situation
around commercial laundry services, how they operate within the hospitality
ecosystem and the broader challenges both industries are facing.
This included discussing the
impacts of rising costs and wages and the difficulties both sectors are facing
with recruiting and retaining staff. Michael Jones, managing director of
Fishers Services, noted that they are seeing a demand for flexibility in shift
patterns from staff. Similarly, Sarah Simmonds, director of commercial
procurement for Travelodge saw the trend for multi-skilling staff and
diversifying roles increasing in importance.
The continued expansion of the
number of hotels and the concomitant rise in demand for laundry services will
be a big challenge for both industries if they are going to harmonise supply
capability with demand. All participants agreed that closer working
relationships to build the necessary infrastructure was necessary for it to
succeed.
The TSA produces a laundry
cost index which highlights the key elements of a laundry service and tracks
movements in these costs. This is currently running at 23% and this figure formed
the basis of the discussion. However even this rate does not reflect the wage
pressures both industries are experiencing due to lag in gathering accurate
figures. The cost of linen was also discussed, the importance of growing the
culture of valuing the product which will support both the viability and the sustainability
objectives of the group.
David Stevens noted that out
of 7,000 tonnes of linen purchased every year for the hospitality industry only
a very small percentage is used to its maximum potential. All parties agreed
that there was progress to be made through improved staff training on best
practices. Nigel Graham from Bourne Leisure stressed the need to change the
culture and attitude, and the need for support from the laundry industry to
communicate the importance of linen care.
The group also discussed
alternative contractual arrangements as we develop stronger supply
partnerships. It was felt the current arrangement do not always allow for
long-term investments.
The second session focussed on
the shared sustainability roadmap of UKHospitality and the TSA.
David gave a presentation on
the TSA’s new Infinite Textiles scheme. This is a recycling initiative to
eliminate the amount of linen that ends up in landfill. The TSA is looking for
ways to ensure that textiles can be recovered and recycled into new products
using the latest fibre-to-fibre technologies.
Christoph Geppert, director of
Grain Sustainability, has been engaged by the TSA to support their
sustainability journey and to present its members with a series of objectives
and a template roadmap for the membership to engage with.
Tony Sophoclides, strategic
affairs director for UKHospitality, hailed the impressive work already being
done within the hotel industry while stressing the need to go further.
While a great deal of progress
has happened in terms of reducing the carbon footprint of laundries, the life
cycle for hotel textiles is a complex one. David expressed his pleasure that
the two industries were working together to align strategies at the beginning
of this journey.
Following on from this, Jack
Quick, UKHospitality’s Policy Manager, gave an overview of UKH’s current roadmap
for improving sustainability and cutting emissions that fall under Scope 3. As around
90% of hospitality’s emissions come from supply chains it will involve
co-operation and education to continue the impressive work that hospitality and
commercial laundries have already accomplished. Helen Wood, managing director of Johnsons
Hotel Linen observed that “Everyone needs to think differently” to reduce
emissions throughout supply chains.
UKHospitality’s roadmap is currently aiming towards
reducing operational emissions by 2030, with Net Zero by 2040. Going forward, both
organisations will aim to promote and share best practices with simple and cost-effective
ways to tackle sustainability.
The round table concluded with
all parties agreeing to continue working together, with a pledge, to form a
sustainability joint steering group and a separate project group to work within
the housekeeping teams to provide training and support on improving the
longevity of the linen. Furthermore, it was agreed that there would be further
roundtables at an executive level, every six months, to keep everyone updated
as hotels and laundries evolve viable models for sustainable operations between
the two industries.
For more information on
UKHospitality visit www.ukhospitality.org.uk
The TSA is the trade
association for the textile care services industry. The TSA
represents commercial laundry and textile rental businesses. Membership
ranges from family-run operations through to large, multi-national
companies. Visit www.tsa-uk.org
for more information.
Copy
ends
The
Laundry Industry Culture Study 2022 – Aug-22
Press Enquiries:
The Publicity Works: 01263 761000; teaboy@publicityworks.biz
David Stevens, CEO, Textile Services Association,
T: +44 (0)20 3151 5600 M:
+44 (0)7966 531954 E:
david.stevens@tsa-uk.org
Get the latest news on the TSA from tsa-uk.org or from
the TSA
press office at publicityworks.biz
Editors notes
Picture details
From the top
left of the screen in the room:
- Rona Tait, Managing Director (TDS Commercial/NLG)
- Helen Wood, Managing Director (Johnsons Hotel Linen)
- Linda Tilburn, Procurement (Premier Inn)
- Nigel Graham, Procurement (Bourne Leisure)
- Shyju Skariah, Director Programmes & Projects (TSA)
- Francesca LeGall, Specialist, Procurement (IHG)
- Paul Brown, Head of Purchasing (Best Western/Beacon)
- Sarah Simmonds, Director of Commercial Procurement
(Travelodge)
- Mark Franklin, CEO (Elis UK)
- Kevin Godley, CEO (CLEAN)
- Michael Jones, Managing Director (Fishers Services)
- Jack Quick, Policy Manager (UK Hospitality)
- Tony Sophoclides, Strategic Affairs Director (UK
Hospitality)
- David Stevens, CEO (TSA)
Others who
attended not in photo:
- Christoph Geppert, Director (Grain Sustainability)
- Emma Andersson, Director Finance & Membership (TSA)