A firm based in Hampshire, England, is partnering with the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) to reduce its production of plastic waste and increase its use of reusable textiles, according to a recent report.

A recent article in Healthcare Management Forum noted the heightened importance of reusable personal protective equipment in the healthcare setting in Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study concludes that reusable PPE has many benefits besides its effectiveness in protecting healthcare professionals and patients from infection by microorganisms. These advantages of reusable PPE include lower costs, domestic jobs and improved environmental performance.

Attendees at TRSA’s upcoming Fourth Annual Canadian Production Summit & Plant Tours this Oct. 4-5 in Toronto will get a close look at a company that not only survived a disastrous fire and a series of COVID-19 lockdowns, but now has a fully refurbished plant, and an outlook on the future that’s brimming with optimism.

Like hotel laundries across the U.S. and beyond, UHS soldiered on through the downturn that accompanied the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Now the company has fully recovered and reports robust growth in the article titled “United Hospitality Services—‘A Company of Solutions.’”

As a result of feedback from exhibitors and visitors, Texcare International in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, will be held in autumn and run a total of four days from Wednesday through Saturday beginning with the 2024 show. The new dates for next year’s show are Nov. 6-9, 2024.

The old axiom that everything is bigger in Texas is alive and well. The state’s population is among the fastest growing in the U.S., and well-run businesses like Triple D Uniform & Linen Service are responding to the challenge. A local staple in Houston for more than 50 years, they recently expanded service to markets in central Texas and, in turn, upgraded their machinery to handle the increased business.

TRSA’s Fourth Annual Canadian Production Summit, which took a hiatus during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, returns to Toronto this year. Scheduled for Oct. 4-5, the summit will provide an opportunity for participants to stay abreast of developments in the evolving linen, uniform and facility services markets in Canada. TRSA members and nonmember operators from Canada, the U.S. and worldwide are encouraged to participate in the interactive sessions, tours and networking opportunities.

TRSA has secured the signatures of U.S. Reps. Greg Landsman (D-OH-01) and Michael Carey (R-OH-15) as the chief co-signers to a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra. The letter is requesting Secretary Becerra to “examine the feasibility and potential benefits of the increased use of reusable healthcare textiles (HCTs) in hospitals and other medical facilities to protect healthcare workers, address the rising environmental impact of disposables, prepare for future pandemics and potentially provide cost savings.”

New York State Assembly Member Amanda Septimo (D-84th District) last week introduced AB 6995. The legislation would amend the New York public health law, and require healthcare facilities to maintain a 50% operating threshold of certain reusable healthcare protective textiles in their inventory. New York State Sen. Cordell Cleare (D-30th District) introduced the New York State Senate companion bill.

The Textile Services Association (TSA-UK) is hosting a webinar on Thursday, April 27, at 2:15 p.m. CEST (8:15 a.m. EDT) titled “Building a Global Hygiene Protocol and Potential Future Challenges.” During the hour-long webinar, Professor Katie Laird from De Montfort University will present the results of a research project primarily funded by TRSA, TSA-UK and ETSA.