November 2020

GreenEarth has been running a number of short webinars around sustainable aftercare throughout 2020, but we decided to run something more in-depth on November 19th. As a company that is always looking to innovate and progress, we have conducted new research and have been progressing with product development as best we can. The webinar lasted for just under 2 hours, with presentations from GreenEarth Cleaning President Tim Maxwell, SGS USA and Canada Business Head Louann Spirito, and GreenEarth Cleaning Sustainability Director, Garry Knox. Tim Maxwell gave an insight into the Dry-Cleaning industry with a focus on the GreenEarth Cleaning difference. In addition, he shared information about the new microfibre and microplastic filter ‘Sea Clear’, designed for the commercial laundry sector and the research carried out to determine the potential impact of different forms of aftercare have on Covid-19, in relation to fabric. SGS has been a GreenEarth partner for over 5 years now, and Louann talked about their experience of GreenEarth, the reasons why they chose to commit to GreenEarth testing after their initial trial period. Louann has vast experience within the soft lines testing environment and was able to draw on her experience of all forms of garment aftercare, discussing all their features. Garry Knox primarily deals with Manufacturers and brands around the world and GreenEarth affiliates in the UK and Europe.  He was able to talk about the central government initiatives to fund a ‘Green Recovery’ from the current economic crisis and the brand activity that is also supporting a greener and more sustainable future. If you’d like to find out more about how GreenEarth Cleaning works with Fashion brands and manufacturers, please visit:  https://www.greenearthcleaning.com/apparel/

When it comes to sustainability in the textile arena (particularly in Fashion), a change has got to come.  In terms of the carbon emissions relating to the industry alone, it is one of the highest utility using sectors.  In the manufacturing side and also the disposal side.  Clothes are not lasting long enough. The right noises are being made and many are talking about how a “Green Recovery” is the only recovery we can or should make in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. In the U.K we are making a shift, but more (and something truly authentic) needs to be done.  It’s more about true green solutions and NOT “Green Wash!” The main goal of the Paris Climate Change agreement is to limit global temperature increases to just 1.5 degrees Celsius.  As things currently stand, there is a lot more that needs to be done to achieve that.  Probably an improvement of 60% against individual targets and the answer is not a silver bullet. A real shift is necessary, incorporating initiatives relating to sustainable design, responsible sourcing, fibre content, recyclable fibres, lifetime of the garment, circularity, renewable energy and recycling operations. This will become, like lots of things this year, the “new normal” and will involve a complete reset.  Fashion retail as a whole is going through a complete reset right now.  Not just the regulations they operate under due to the pandemic but catching up with their competitors.  Before 2020, for some retailers it didn’t matter if their online presence wasn’t too sophisticated because in some cases the bricks and mortar side, the store, balanced that out.  But footfall downturns have caused this reset. Even in the supermarket space, Aldi has launched a ‘click and collect’ model to cater to customers who don’t want to visit the inside of the store.  Not quite the full delivery service, but a step in the right direction. New alignment and joined-up thinking are going to have a big impact.  Just this week the U.K. chancellor has launched a ‘Green Bond’ which will help fund projects that will tackle climate change and firms and by 2025 large companies will have to publicly disclose the risks they face from climate change and the net-zero transition, or explain why not, by the end of 2023. Making the UK the first country in the world to make climate risk disclosures obligatory. But there needs to be an alignment with consumer behaviours and attitudes.  Something that demonstrates authenticity, whilst giving guidance, educating, something that’s measurable and that communicates all there is to know. The consumer is becoming savvier and is always looking for that gap in the logic.  We’ve become far more analytical and data-driven and there is very much a focus on what gets measured gets actioned.  For us, the gap is between sustainable design and production of a garment and how it’s disposed of. Leading us to a need for brands to focus on how to increase the lifetime of the garment, not just through sustainable design but in how the garment is cared for, so that it can live a long life in the wardrobe, and is in better condition to be passed on to someone else, or indeed, making sure the fabric is in a better condition to be recycled. GreenEarth will be holding a webinar on November 19th to talk about our advancements over the past 21 years and how we can all play a part in making clothes last longer.  To register your FREE place, please visit our Events page.

It was the summer of 2010 and everyone was anxiously awaiting the release of Toy Story 3; it was a simpler time. Apple launched its state-of-the-art virtual chat app FaceTime, which initially required a WiFi signal for use. From that point on, grandparents everywhere would ask, “Is this thing on?” and frustratingly attempt to unmute themselves. Once again, thanks to technology, our world was forever changed. Fast forward nearly a decade, leading up to 2020, our video chat capabilities had vastly improved and our application options seemed limitless. The digitization of our work environment was already in full swing. However, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, that adoption was thrown into warp speed with businesses scrambling to adapt to a socially-distant world. These video chat applications came in clutch. Working from home was the “new normal” and traveling to clients for in-person meetings was limited to essential business. Most companies implemented virtual meetings and learned how to conduct “business as usual” remotely, using whatever technology necessary to accomplish their day-to-day tasks. Microsoft Teams, various Google Apps, Zoom, and any other number of applications that allowed employees to interact with each other and share working projects became an integral part of how workplaces operate. A key ingredient to GreenEarth Cleaning’s success has always been our expert technical team. The pandemic posed a big challenge to continue to provide a high level of support to Members of the GreenEarth Network all over the world. Video support was not unheard of for us, but it was not the primary medium for providing assistance either. Virtual Visits are the “new normal” for our technical team, and our Affiliates are finding great value in them. Our team has mastered the experience to provide our Members with the same level of technical guidance and support that we’ve maintained throughout the years. As our world is changing at an even more rapid pace than ever before, business models are forced to pivot to a new way of thinking. This means different things for different companies, but for us, it’s shifted our focus to online workshop sessions and Virtual Visits—the bridge between a voice-only phone call and an in-person visit. To all GreenEarth Affiliates, make sure to save your spot on the calendar. Simply call our main office at 816-926-0895 or email techncial@greenearthcleaning.com.