Did you know that the UK’s laundry industry average rejection rate is just over five per cent?

In that, for every 100 items delivered to the hospitality or healthcare provider customer, about five of them do not meet standards – because of tears, holes marks or discoloration.

This might not sound like a lot, but it adds up. According to the Textile Services Association, a shocking 55% of hospitality linen is discarded before it is six months old – proof if any is needed that rejected items amount to significant wastage.

Now the pressure is on for laundries to do better than this.  Operators that can legitimately claim a lower failure frequency are using this plus-point as an effective marketing tool in an increasingly competitive landscape – and it’s driving up standards across the sector.

We spotted one major player recently advertising a non-conformance rate of 1.7% which is commendable and hard to equal.

So, do we really need to sweat rejection rates? Is it such a big deal? Well, yes. Especially when those substandard items go round and round supply systems.

Washing them, pressing them, transporting them, sorting them and sending them back marked ‘not good enough’ adds up to a lot of wasted water, fuel and staff time across the whole supply chain.

No wonder clients are interested in laundries that can promise enhanced quality control.

The key to success in this area is better sorting and segregation – removing tired towels, problematic pillowcases and shoddy sheets from circulation.

Methodically purging the system of those items is the way to minimise that rejection rate.

Then, what next for the ‘failed’ pile? A good proportion such material has potential to continue its useful life before the inevitable landfill or rag.

That’s where Regenex comes in. Anything intact – not ripped or torn – can be revived, no matter how badly it is stained.

We can rescue and restore pristine whites in up to 80% of cases, be linen marked with food, rust, mould, mildew, fake tan or anything else.

And when we cannot do that, we can overdye it. Colouring towels in particular, in rich new shades, is a great way to lengthen their lifespan.

Get in touch with Regenex to see how we can work together. Call our technical director Paul Hamilton on 07795 693345 or email paulhamilton@bulmerandlumb.com.