ASTM Seeks Industry Experts for New Standard

A proposed ASTM International standard, titled ASTM WK35985, or Practice for Sustainable Laundry Best Management Practices, will identify and define best-management practices that are used in commercial laundry facilities to reduce their impact on the environment. The standard is aimed at textile services operators, as well as users of reusable textiles in the F&B, hospitality and healthcare sectors, government agencies, and environmental organizations. ASTM, based in West Conshohocken, PA, recently invited members of the textile services industry to participate in a task force in the development of this standard.

“We are looking to further reduce our carbon footprint and enhance our environmental stewardship by developing ASTM WK35985,” said Gary Gramp, TRSA’s certification programs manager and chairman of the task group developing the standard. “Our goal is to encourage the implementation of best-management practices for sustainability at all commercial laundry facilities.”

The best-management practices noted in the ASTM standard also are part of TRSA’s new Clean Green certification program. To get Clean Green certification, companies must demonstrate leadership in sustainability and conservation by reaching efficiencies in water and energy conservation and adopting best-management practices for reusing, reclaiming and recycling resources. Areas that will be covered in the proposed ASTM standard include:

• Water reuse technology
• Boiler heat recovery
• Wastewater heat recovery
• Environmentally friendly low-temperature detergents
• Nonylphenol ethoxylate-free detergents
• Wastewater pretreatment (mechanical)
• Advanced wastewater pretreatment
• Energy audits
• Energy-efficient lighting
• Solar energy
• Recycling
• Fleet optimization
• Fleet vehicle alternative fuels
• Spill prevention plan
• Preventative boiler maintenance

ASTM International is one of the world’s largest international standards development and delivery systems. ASTM standards are accepted and used in research and development, product testing, quality systems and commercial transactions.

For more information on TRSA’s Clean Green certification program, click here.