Throughout August, we’ll look at sustainability from several different angles. Some solutions involve advanced technology. Others are surprisingly simple. All remind us that even small steps, taken consistently, can have a lasting impact.
Companies Strut their Sustainability
By Becca Anderson
Sustainability doesn’t have to be a big, flashy program. It can be a series of social media posts that lead people to think and have those “ah-hah!” moments that change their perception and their behaviour going forward.
Here are some companies that are putting out the message in simple, accessible ways.
Can Laundry Be Both Sustainable and Profitable?
By Jenny Repfennig
Miele North America (USA & Canada) Regional Marketing Manager – Business Unit Professional)
Sustainability is no longer optional in today’s laundry industry. The commercial laundry industry is increasingly being asked to reduce its environmental footprint while maintaining productivity and cleaning performance. Advances in equipment design are making it possible to pursue both goals simultaneously.
Miele Professional’s current product line illustrates several of the ways manufacturers are approaching this challenge.
Sustainability Makes Headlines
LG Electronics Earns “Top 1%” Sustainability Ranking from S&P Global for Third Year
In May 2026, LG Electronics (LG) received “Top 1%” ranking in S&P Global’s Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA) for the third consecutive year, with a score of 77 out of 100. LG achieved the highest marks in the CSA’s Leisure Equipment & Products and Consumer Electronics industry category.
LG demonstrated consistent performance across multiple criteria, including environmental policies, human rights, supply chain management and customer relations. It also received high ratings in governance, reflecting its transparency and efforts to strengthen the independence of its board of directors.
Bill Seymour Promoted to Project Manager at Lavatec
Bill Seymour has been promoted to project manager at Lavatec. A 16-year veteran of the laundry industry, he reports to company president and managing partner Mark Thrasher.
Newly Formed Western Fabricare Association Joins DLI
This summer, The California Cleaners Association (a Drycleaning & Laundry Institute-affiliated regional partner association) merged with several states to form the Western Fabricare Association (WFA). The move expands DLI & WFA’s reach to serve fabricare professionals throughout the western United States.
The newly formed WFA brings together members and industry professionals from California, Oregon, Washington, Alaska, Hawaii, Montana, and Idaho under one unified organization.
CFA CleanExpo26 – Beyond the Label
November 13–14, 2026
The Westin Toronto Airport Hotel
950 Dixon Road, Toronto, Ontario M9W 5N4
Canada’s fabricare community will come together in Toronto for two days of education, innovation, networking and hands-on learning.
Under the theme “Beyond the Label,” CleanExpo26 will bring together fabricare professionals from across Canada and beyond.
Designed for professionals from across the fabricare sector, CleanExpo26 will provide opportunities to learn, connect and discover the products, services, technologies and ideas helping businesses evolve in a changing industry.
FULL DETAILS IN CONFERENCES & EVENTS…
September DLI educational and networking opportunities
The Drycleaning & Laundry Institute (DLI) and its partner regional associations present more opportunities for drycleaning professionals to learn, grow, and connect in September.
FULL DETAILS IN CONFERENCES & EVENTS…
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AUGUST ARTICLES: Sustainability
Wash. Dry. Grow.
How one equipment distributor is helping reforest British Columbia, one equipment sale at a time.
By Becca Anderson
While researching a recent article on East Van Laundry in Vancouver, BC, I spent some time exploring the website of its equipment distributor, Bichin Laundry Equipment. One section immediately caught my attention. It highlighted a sustainability initiative that was too good not to share.
Sustainability often feels like a conversation about regulations, technology and energy efficiency. Sometimes, though, it begins with a simple idea that encourages businesses and customers to make a positive local impact.
Driving Sustainability Through Smarter Logistics
How data and integration reduce emissions in the laundry industry
(Reprinted by permission from ABS Laundry Solutions)
Sustainability in the industrial laundry sector is often associated with water usage, chemicals, and energy consumption. While these factors remain critical, a less visible but equally impactful area is logistics. Transport between facilities, depots, and customers represents a significant share of operational emissions.
According to Rob Helsen (ABS Chief Product Officer), optimizing these flows is not just a logistical challenge but a strategic opportunity to reduce environmental impact. By leveraging software, integrations, and smarter data usage, laundry operators can significantly lower their carbon footprint without compromising service levels.
Companies Strut their Sustainability
By Becca Anderson
Sustainability doesn’t have to be a big, flashy program. It can be a series of social media posts that lead people to think and have those “ah-hah!” moments that change their perception and their behavior going forward.
Here are some companies that are putting out the message in simple, accessible ways.
Can Laundry Be Both Sustainable and Profitable?
By Jenny Repfennig
Miele North America (USA & Canada) Regional Marketing Manager – Business Unit Professional)
Sustainability is no longer optional in today’s laundry industry. The commercial laundry industry is increasingly being asked to reduce its environmental footprint while maintaining productivity and cleaning performance. Advances in equipment design are making it possible to pursue both goals simultaneously.
Miele Professional’s current product line illustrates several of the ways manufacturers are approaching this challenge.
Sustainability Makes Headlines
LG Electronics Earns “Top 1%” Sustainability Ranking from S&P Global for Third Year
In May 2026, LG Electronics (LG) received “Top 1%” ranking in S&P Global’s Corporate Sustainability Assessment (CSA) for the third consecutive year, with a score of 77 out of 100. LG achieved the highest marks in the CSA’s Leisure Equipment & Products and Consumer Electronics industry category.
LG demonstrated consistent performance across multiple criteria, including environmental policies, human rights, supply chain management and customer relations. It also received high ratings in governance, reflecting its transparency and efforts to strengthen the independence of its board of directors.
The Missing Link in Clothing Sustainability
Fabricare professionals know what happens to garments after the sale. That experience could help the entire clothing industry reduce waste.
By Linley McConnell
Earlier this year, Gibson’s had the pleasure of hosting the leadership team from Fashion Takes Action (FTA), at our new facility. FTA is Canada’s leading non-profit working to make the fashion industry more sustainable and reduce textile waste. Their work helps consumers, students, businesses, governments and industry partners find ways to make clothing more sustainable and less wasteful.
I sat down with Laura Cristinzo, FTA’s Circularity Program Manager, to learn more about their work and how fabricare fits into the conversation.
When Sustainability Meets the Bottom Line
Vale Siegrist is the founder of Circular Club, a membership group that allows families to share quality used children’s clothing, rather than throw it away when it is outgrown. She has thought and written extensively on garment production. This is a reprinted opinion piece.
JULY ARTICLES: Longevity in a Disposable World
Hooray, It’s Laundry Day!
An owner with fresh ideas turns an aging Vancouver laundromat into a thriving neighbourhood business.
By Becca Anderson
What happens when an industry newcomer takes over a laundromat filled with older equipment? At East Van Laundry in Vancouver, BC, Maureen Ngo’s fresh ideas, enthusiasm and a commitment to customer service have breathed new life into a once-struggling location.
The Business That Wouldn’t Quit
Fire couldn’t stop Division Laundry’s commitment to customers, employees and quality
Twenty-five years ago, a devastating fire destroyed Division Laundry & Cleaners’ facility in San Antonio. Many companies would never have recovered. Division not only rebuilt—it expanded into a four-location operation that now serves customers across Texas and Oklahoma.
The Longest-Lasting Investment Isn’t Equipment—It’s People
By Christopher White, Executive Director, America’s Best Cleaners
In an industry focused on automation, artificial intelligence, labor shortages and the next generation of technology, it’s easy to believe longevity comes from investing in equipment. Technology will continue to reshape how we operate. But after more than 20 years in this industry, I’ve come to believe something equally important. The businesses that will endure won’t simply have the newest machinery—they’ll have the strongest people, the best-trained teams, and leaders committed to continuous learning.
When I think about longevity in our industry, one person immediately comes to mind: Liz Davies.
Seeing Is Believing
Using Social Media to Showcase Your Company’s Longevity
By Becca Anderson
Longevity doesn’t have to be explained. Sometimes it just has to be shown.
If you have great equipment, celebrate its durability. If you have outstanding employees, celebrate their commitment. If your company has a rich history, tell those stories. One of the easiest places to do all of that is on social media.
I took a couple of hours one afternoon just to look for posts that companies had made online that demonstrated longevity in creative or interesting ways. See what you can learn from them, and adapt these ideas for your own company.
Longevity Is an Investment, Not an Accident
How Metro Laundry Service Maximizes Equipment Life
Metro Laundry Service has extended the life of its laundry equipment through preventive maintenance, software upgrades and smart reinvestment. COO Steven Young explains why longevity depends on planning ahead rather than waiting for equipment to fail.
When Is It Time to Let an Old Machine Go?
Do you keep the old equipment, or safeguard your company’s future?
By Kevin Marois
Old machines are like old cars. People say the old cars were the best. Maybe your memory is fading (or you weren’t even born then). I worked in a gas station back when I was young, and I remember those cars.
The Customers Who Quietly Slip Away
By Francis Flair
Every business notices when a customer leaves, but few notice when a customer starts leaving. There’s a difference.
Most customers don’t disappear overnight; they slowly drift away. Maybe they used to come every two weeks. Now it’s once a month, then every couple of months. And before long, they’re gone. There is no drama, no complaints, and perhaps no bad review. They just leave, and because it happens so slowly, most businesses never see it coming.
Your Best Marketing Tool Might Be Your History
Bring Your History to Life
By Linley McConnell
Whether your business is 6 months or 60 years old, customers connect emotionally to storytelling. Being intentional about how you tell your company’s story helps customers understand who you are, what you value, and why they should trust you.
Your history is right there at your fingertips. So much so, you probably take it for granted. But it’s an area that helps you stand out from other companies, because every history is different. Here are four simple ways to put your company’s history to work.
