Krautschneider Named New ETSA Chairman

Posted September 7, 2017 at 5:59 am

The European Textile Services Association (ETSA) recently named Thomas Krautschneider, CEO, Salesianer Miettex, Vienna, as the associaton’s new chairman for a three-year term (2017-2020). Krautschneider succeeds Juha Laurio, CEO, Lindström Group, Helsinki, according to a news release.

“I am honored to take over the chairmanship of ETSA, the leading European association of the textile service industry,” Krautschneider said. “Our goal is to promote and defend our industry’s interests in close cooperation with suppliers and national associations within a European context. We value fair competition, eco-efficiency and sustainability.”

The linen, uniform and facility services industry is a major contributor to the European economy, with a current annual market share of nearly $14.4 billion (€12 billion). The industry employs 135,000 people in the European Union. The linen, uniform and facility services market has grown in almost every segment and product type in recent years, despite the negative economic climate. According to a recent Deloitte market study, the European laundry industry could grow to $55.2 billion (€46 billion) in revenues.

“In my three-year mandate, I will make sure that ETSA further strengthens its role as the industry’s information network, including for suppliers and national associations,” Krautschneider said. “Furthermore, we will continue to monitor and lobby the European institutions and international standard bodies to defend our industry’s interests and promote the many benefits of our services.”

ETSA members are committed to life-cycle thinking and ecological principles. This means long-lasting textiles, lower energy and water consumption in the laundering process, and eco-friendly detergents. ETSA aims to dispose of textiles in an environmentally acceptable manner at end-of-life, which means they are recycled or used as raw material for power generation.

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