The late Nate Belkin of Fashion Seal is credited with coining the phrase “The future isn’t disposable.” While that may seem obvious to laundry operators, convincing hospitals to make a permanent shift away from all-disposable isolation gowns is difficult, according to operators and supplier partners we spoke with recently. But many are nonetheless continuing the fight by seizing on recent COVID-fueled shortages of “iso gowns” in order to “change the narrative” on how hospitals perceive the case for reusables.

SELLING THE BENEFITS

Speaking at a recent forum on this topic sponsored by the American Reusable Textile Association (ARTA), Karl ...