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Standards Developer Adopts TRSA Sustainable Laundry Best Management Practices

ALEXANDRIA, Va — ASTM International, a global organization known for the development and delivery of international voluntary consensus standards for various industries and governments, has published the Textile Rental Services Association of America (TRSA)-initiated Standard Practice for Sustainable Laundry Best Management Practices, recognizing the association’s criteria for Clean Green certification as universal indicators of sustainability in commercial laundry work.

The ASTM standard “codifies” practices in TRSA’s Clean Green standard as “the structural, non-structural and managerial techniques” effective for a laundry to achieve green objectives, according to TRSA, adding that the ASTM reviewed TRSA’s standards for 19 months.

The ASTM’s acceptance of the TRSA proposal reflects “our industry’s commitment to sustainability and dedication to further reducing our carbon footprint and enhancing our environmental stewardship,” says Joseph Ricci, TRSA president and CEO. “The ASTM standard, implemented through TRSA’s Clean Green certification, encourages every laundry facility to adopt sustainable, green best management practices.”

Among the best management practices incorporated in the ASTM standard include conserving with water reuse system; using environmentally friendly detergents; and filtering wastewater before discharge to sewer, among others.

A combined total of 78 laundry processing plants in the U.S. and Canada are certified Clean Green, according to TRSA, with a combined total of 19 plants pending designation.

The Clean Green designation, launched in 2012, was inspired by decades of cooperation between TRSA and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), according to the association.

“The [EPA] has long acknowledged TRSA members as sustainability leaders, based on 15 years of voluntary reporting to the agency on energy and water conservation performance and repeated cooperation on wastewater treatment, wash chemistry and air quality issues,” says TRSA.

TRSA also plans to submit its Hygienically Clean certification for adoption as an ASTM standard.

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