It’s three years since we light-heartedly created our character of Neville the Napkin and told our customers a cautionary Christmas tale.

Back in 2022, we highlighted laundry industries’ losses of napkins – which, according to one operator, would almost all be damaged, marked beyond use or simply lost by their third outing.

While he wasn’t bigger news than Kevin the Carrot, Neville the Napkin had his 15 minutes of fame in the laundry media.

We’re pleased to report times have changed and this lowliest item on the festive table – used to mop up spilt food, blow runny noses, and even shine the odd shoe – now often enjoys a longer life span.

Forward-thinking hoteliers and their laundries are looking after the humble napkin better, with banqueting staff trained to take as much care to chase them down and count them in as they do in laying them out.

The robust fabric of serviettes means that if we look after them, they can go on, and on, and on. Doing our best to make this happen is sensible.

Costs have risen hugely over the past three years – linen is 12.8% more expensive than it was in 2022 according to the Textile Services Association – and the laundry sector has come on leaps and bounds in its mindfulness about sustainability since then.

Good quality napkins cost upwards of 50p each in bulk, and the plastic content of a kilogram of 100% polyester napkins is equivalent to 43 bags for life – providing two valid reasons to keep them out of landfill for as long as possible.

So, Neville is faring better – but the hospitality world can still do more to look after him.

As ever, if your laundry could do with some assistance in caring for your army of Nevilles – reviving whites, over-dyeing – get in touch.