ZWZ is the first industrial laundry worldwide to be certified according to OEKO-TEX® STeP

What is your philosophy and strategy for sustainable production?

We understand sustainability as a holistic principle that takes social, ecological and economic criteria into account. Within this framework, we strive for a continuous improvement process in our operations, product range and supply chains. It is essential for us to create awareness of the three dimensions of sustainability in our own operations and in collaboration with our partners, to set goals and to implement effective measures. With our approximately 200 employees, we bear a great responsibility - the ultimate goal is to be able to offer a solid basis to promote further development and to cultivate respectful interaction.

What are your reasons for becoming OEKO-TEX® STeP certified?

We chose STeP because it is a comprehensive sustainability certification for textile companies, as well as a valuable addition to the other certificates we already hold. It allows us to verify our sustainability commitment from all sides, verify it externally and demonstrate the results. For us, independent certification was also important to underline the credibility and sincerity of our commitment. As a laundry, we obviously do not have a classic textile production, but we do process 40 tonnes of laundry per day. If you look at the life cycle of a textile, we are, so to speak, the use phase - only on an industrial level.

How does the OEKO-TEX® certification scheme help you in communicating your success in sustainable production?

With the certificate, we can communicate in a clear and simple way what we have achieved in terms of sustainability.

What innovative technologies are installed in your facility to enhance production efficiency, save resources, and reduce consumption and costs?

ZWZ operates one of the most modern industrial laundries in Europe. This means we can work very innovatively and highly efficiently thanks to a high level of automation. The current state of our machinery is designed to conserve resources and is partly powered by the electricity from our photovoltaic system which covers around 2,900 m². By recovering heat, we reduce our natural gas consumption and can significantly reduce the consumption of resources by reusing water. In addition, as much water as possible is channelled into cycles and reused to manage the large amount of water required in a sensible way. The washing baths are optimized accordingly.

What other measures do you have in place in your facility to promote sustainability and circularity?

As a laundry, we have the advantage that we are entrusted with all phases of a product's life: we procure, maintain and dispose of products. The ZWZ leasing and rental model contributes significantly to a reduced need for goods and thus to lower material consumption. Thanks to the extensive rental range, commercially used textiles are also used across customers, so that fewer goods are needed. This not only conserves resources and thus the environment, but also contributes significantly to increasing efficiency in the laundry. If an item no longer meets the quality criteria of ZWZ after a long and intensive period of use, it is given to a recycling company where it finds a new purpose.

Could you cite some examples on the best practice being adopted in your facility for better chemical management?

We have a fully automatic dosing system for our detergents. It records which laundry should be washed with which programme and the detergents are dosed and used accordingly via a pump system directly from the chemical storage. This is not only very efficient, but also a great achievement in terms of safety.

What were the major challenges in getting your facility STeP certified, and how did you overcome these?

Because we are already ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified, we already had a very good basis for STeP certification. We developed the remaining criteria and verifications step by step.

What are the next steps for your sustainable production journey in terms of the 6 STeP modules?

In addition to the projects that are already underway, we will certainly look at the recommendations we received from TESTEX in the audit report and develop further on that basis.

What was your experience in working with TESTEX in this STeP certification?

We can only report positively here. Even during the preparation for the audit, TESTEX was always available for questions and discussions. This made the certification process easier for us.

Statement by the lead auditor of TESTEX, Adrian Meili, regarding this cooperation:

“The evaluation of the online questionnaire and the audit were carried out and successfully completed by TESTEX to the fullest satisfaction. When working with the company's employees, the focus was always on mutual success and the highest level of satisfaction. Communication before, during and after the audit was very pleasant and open. As ZWZ is the first laundry in the world to be audited and certified according to STeP, I had the opportunity to audit one of the most modern operating facilities during the entire process and especially during the on-site audit. This was a highlight of my work as a STeP auditor. ZWZ AG is committed to the principle of continuous improvement and is therefore particularly open to constant further development within the STeP modules. This attitude is very commendable and very promising in the context of sustainable operations."