Machines capable of recovering a part of the rinsing water, waste water purification, energysaving washing, bio-degradable detergents with excellent efficiency even at low temperatures, and much more. Circular economy is defined as a virtuous and sustainable business model. Nowadays, companies and business systems must be evaluated based on the impact they generate in terms of pollution. New standards, new rules, more awareness. What does it means being circular, in the laundry? Can a napkin or tablecloth, for example, be recycled and put back into the circuit after an appropriate treatment? And what about the water, is it possible to re-use it for several times? Do you have specific environmental, sustainable and circular economy expertise inside your company?
Or was it necessary to source them externally? What are your future projects in accordance with the circular economy model? And in terms of energy savings, what can be done? Is there a market pressure generated by the new needs created by an ever-increasing environmental awareness of the customer? Should be necessary some help from the national and supranational institutions to change production processes and modify business models? It is therefore normal that such a virtuous cycle needs some time and financial resources to be implemented. As the well-known economist Milton Friedman used to say, there is no such thing as a free lunch…and even the circular economy has a cost, we would like to add
We are discussing about circular economy and environmental compatibility with a dry-cleaning machines producer. “Circular economy, translated in reducing the available resources for supporting the environment, it represents a benchmark also for us, as producers when working on new projects with the aim of reducing electricity and water consumption”, says Luca Rappini, the President of Union SpA. “When it comes for the circular economy, we have in-house expertise on environmental issues and sustainability, that we are constantly developing for responding the best to our customers’ requirements: we are paying a special attention to the issue of the so-called “carbon footprint” when it comes to our machinery, as well as regarding our company, where amongst many other aspects, we have installed photovoltaic panels to the point that the company is now practically selfautonomous in terms of energy consumption.
More than 40 years of experience in projecting systems for meeting the various needs of our customers all over the world, has allowed us to design an innovative system that stands out for its low energy consumption, highly interesting especially nowadays when it became so much important to reduce the running costs. The watchword is cost optimisation, because the best way to generate more profit is to keep the costs down. With many years of experience behind, we have designed a new dry-cleaning machine concept, equipped with a distillation system, for cleaning any type of garments, efficient against any kind of dirt. For this revolutionary project, we have focused on reducing consumption: by implementing the “Eco Concept” system, we have minimised energy loss to keep energy inside the machine as much as possible without unnecessary losses.
But also, significantly less solvent used, thanks to the “cloud” washing system, keeping a constant mechanical action, while profitably using the entire drum volume. The solvent carrying 90% of the dirt is being released through the spinning phase, and then distilled using less energy. It is passing then to the rinsing stage, enhancing the washing cycle. Finally, for the drying phase there is no longer needed the energy dissipated by the distiller, so the machine’s power consumption is reduced to more than half, optimising the distillation and drying cycle”.
Engineer, let’s try to give some numbers, so that our readers/ customers can get an idea. “For designing our machines, we have applied our experience acquired in the past, especially the experience gained on cooling systems for the air conditioning installations, which has helped us today in developing a system to reduce the consumption for the cooling water. For 8/10 washing cycles we have never exceeded the consumption of about 1 cubic metre of water, and either an energy consumption of about 8kW/h. The result achieved is very satisfactory as it is combined with a high cleaning quality. We have developed a concept, a new method, named “Eco Concept”.
With this system, certain parameters and volumes of the machines are being modified, and for the moment it has been applied only to the electrically heated versions. This method is compatible with almost all cleaning solvents such as Sensene, Intense, hydrocarbons, etc. We are currently defining some collaborations with the detergents manufacturers with the aim of better combining the machine/ detergent synergy. Energy saving, but also eco-sustainability as our machines have no external discharge and therefore, they don’t release any microplastics or other hazardous substances in the atmosphere. All cleaning residues are sent to the recycling systems”.
We move on to a company specialized in detergents and chemical products and we are addressing few questions to Stenilio Morazzini, the General Manager of Montega Srl. Do you have a specific in-house expertise on environment, sustainability and circular economy? At Montega®, the circular economy, or better said, the reuse and recycling of materials and energy for the longest possible time, is a business approach that we are trying to apply by recycling and reconditioning jerry cans, canisters and tanks, using renewable energy from our photovoltaic plant. Environment and sustainability are the watchwords of the latest period, thanks to company and products certifications such as ISO 9001, ISO 14001, GOTS, ISO 14006, ZDHC gateway, we manage to have a high standard even in the production with the new generation raw materials.
Which are your future plans according to the circular model? Our future goals are to keep on this recycling and sustainability line, but increasing the green sales lines, selecting raw materials that are respecting the environment but also health, and creating products that can bring higher energy savings, like Rapid Dry, Lumiere and Deter Green, with significant savings also regarding the drying times.
But basically, what can be done in terms of energy savings? In terms of energy savings, Montega® is offering products that allow increasingly higher energy savings. Investing in research is necessary not only when it comes to detergents, but also for machinery, green energy, water savings and other sustainable and renewable energy resources.
Is there a market pressure generated by the new needs created by an ever-increasing environmental awareness of the customer?
Industrial laundries are already focusing on achieving maximum results with less consumptions. Montega® is a key partner because it analyses the customer’s n9eeds and provides customised solutions, offering product and energy savings combined with green and sustainable products. We are prepared for any request, as we are experts in the sector for more than 40 years”.
Returning to the field of washing machines, and in this case both dry and wet-cleaning machines, we interview Marco Niccolini, the General Sales and Mkt Director of Renzacci SpA. “Renzacci has studied and implemented highly innovative solutions for achieving remarkable water savings, with lower energy consumption and manufacturing machinery with specific functionalities in the service of environmental sustainability and the circular economy.
We would like to highlight here some of them.
1) The exclusive Renzacci OCEANO system offers the following important features:
• Washing cycle with extremely reduced times, which can last even less than 24 min.
• High-quality washing results with exclusive “Tech Stream” system with high dynamic washing action.
• Particular cleaning efficiency even on greasy stains, thanks also to the new drum design with slide max system.
• Between 45% and 60% less water consumption thanks to the combined action in real time of the new computer software, the advanced Superstorage System and the action of the closedcircuit tumble dryer.
• Between 20% and 40% less energy consumption thanks to the combined action of the exclusive ECOCARE™ system and the closed-circuit tumble dryer.
• Real and concrete sustainability: OCEANO avoids water and energy waste as much as possible, by recycling and reusing them in the next washing cycles.
• Installation and building simplification, with the abolition of expensive extraction hoods and external fume exhaust pipes.
2) The unique “PLASTIC GUARD” filtration system plays a crucial role in the battle against plastic pollution. With PLASTIC GUARD, a washer extractor becomes not only an essential tool for the laundry professional, but also a powerful aid in preventing plastic pollution in the environment.
This is why PLASTIC GUARD is the only tool that allows you to combine the efficiency and profitability of your business with the implementation of a production process at the service of sustainability and the environment”, concludes Niccolini.
We move on to a player in the detergents sector and we speak with Antonio Ciccarella, the Laundry Division Manager of ÈCOSÌ. Our company has always tailored its production pattern in accordance with circular economy, committing itself to re-introduce resources and materials back into the process, but moreover to reduce the environmental impact by taking action in every aspect of the provided service. This translates into certified products and solutions, advanced water recovery systems, resource optimisation technologies and packaging life cycle extension. These are just some of the ways of how we are generating value in the professional laundry sector for over 20 years.
Let’s start with the Ecolabel multi-component system application: a technique that is using the combined application of 4 products (enzymatic detergents, bleaching and softening agents) with high efficiency and sustainable properties. Another important step is to reduce water consumption: Wos+ allows up to 62% water recovery that will be used for the next washing cycles, lowering the energy consumption, with a system that can be easily customised to the needs of each laundry. Wastewater treatment comes to complete all described above, and for this reason we have developed the Ecodal purification system, based on charcoal, a material that retains organic pollutants, surfactants and other harmful substances from water.
We have also invested in digital innovation: today DynamiCO2, a software tool for monitoring and assessing the environmental impact, is an integrating part of our company strategy, always focused on sustainability. DynamiCO2 collects real-time information on carbon dioxide emissions, energy and water consumption; we use this data and work together with our customers for optimising resources and processes while respecting the Minimum Environmental Requirements. And, last but not least, we don’t throw out anything: we collect and recycle the containers”, concludes Antonio Cicarella”.
“Circular economy”, is a term often used because it is trendy and it attracts the attention of those with a particular sensitivity towards this concept”, is the premise for where it starts Carlo Miotto, the CEO of Imesa SpA. Circular economy is rather the pillar of successful business models, beneficial for the company, whether small or large, for the ecosystem, and for the entire society”. But how can this concept be transferred to the laundry sector? “One of the pillars of the circular economy is the limited use of resources; the earth does not have infinite resources and one of the most precious goods the earth offers us, water, is the raw material in a water-based laundry. How can this important resource be preserved? By using intelligent washing machines that guarantee excellent results through customised washing cycles and the total control of every parameter.
By controlling each step of the washing cycle and every single factor contributing to its success, it is possible to accurately measure the resources used, water, energy and detergent. Relying therefore on companies that, in addition to washing machines, are offering to the customers their knowledge, experience and solutions, contributes to enriching the wide world of the circular economy. Minimising waste production is an essential condition for a circular economy; it is important to avoid wasting resources and excessive disposal, especially if we handle rubbish that the earth is unable to regenerate. The detergent used in the laundry, for example, must be used in the right quantities, as small as possible, but with excellent results. The detergent is then disposed of with the waste water and it is important that the product has certified eco-friendly formulas.
We can name it “circular economy” if it has a direct benefit for the company and its resilience. IMESA production is characterised by its solidity and the quality of the materials used. Solidity also translated as durability, means that the economical investment of a laundry, is prolonged over time by choosing IMESA brand. Highquality materials mean using AISI 304 stainless steel and other indestructible and recyclable materials. The choice of IMESA is to continue along the path of the circular economy, both in the management of our in-house manufacturing activities and in the design of our production, through the expertise of our teams, investments in human and material resources, and continuous research”.
“For obtaining clean garments requires a certain consumption of water, electricity and detergents. Electrolux Professional is using cutting-edge technologies and innovations for creating eco-friendly, resource-efficient products so that our customers always place sustainability first,” we speak with Marco Oleoni, Sales Manager Laundry. The Electrolux Professional 6000 Line is the result of 20 years of innovation and all this allows us to offer ergonomic and sustainable washing solutions, with significant water savings for the washing machines, energy savings for the tumble dryers designed with heating pump, but also reduced running costs for the washing machines equipped with automatic dosing systems.
We have developed a new range of dryers equipped with a heating pump that allows to achieve consistent energy savings of up to 60%, with very short drying times, compared to a conventional dryer, reducing the environmental impact of the laundry without affecting productivity. Furthermore, our tumble dryers are equipped with the Moisture Balance system, an innovation that measures the precise humidity level during the drying process and stops the dryer when the linen are dry. This has the benefit of an extended fabric life and significant energy savings.
But our responsibility for the planet is not limited just to the products range that we are producing. All of our production sites are undertaking significant efforts towards sustainability. Our goal to have all our logistics, production and R&D activities third-party certified according to ISO 9001. All of our main production sites are also ISO 45001 and ISO 50001 certified. Electrolux Professional is committed to reduce the environmental impact of its activities. This includes the responsible use of materials and chemicals, reducing energy and water consumption, and waste management”, concludes Marco Oleoni.•
by Marzio Nava
DETERGO Magazine # November 2023
