For this article, we contacted several laundry operators who serve thousands of customers from North and South America to Europe, Asia, Australia and beyond. They told us that while economic activity generally is accelerating, most aren’t focused on profitability alone. In fact, we found a strong commitment to sustainability—along with expanded sales and improved efficiency—among international operators large and small.

SHADES OF GREEN

That outlook manifests itself in multiple ways. For a regional independent like Topper Linen Supply Ltd. in Toronto, the focus is on not only complying with both the spirit and letter of Canada’s rigorous environmental rules ...