There are also studies that show people who take small actions toward environmental living in their own lives are less inclined to support larger, more widespread actions.

This phenomenon isn’t limited to individuals. Even in an industry like hospitality, where we know there is a large amount of waste and a calculable impact on the environment, it’s hard to know what sort of difference a single hotel can make—and that can discourage owners and managers from taking action.

There are, however, some very compelling reasons to make that change in your hotel laundry operation and to believe that change will impact the industry overall.

The Numbers on Hotel Laundry

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that the commercial and institutional sector is responsible for about 17% of U.S. fresh water withdrawals. Hotels and other lodgings are responsible for about 15% of that usage.

While hotels certainly use that water for more than laundry, laundry does account for about 16% of a hotel’s water usage—the same percentage as landscaping, which is often one of the first things cut during a water shortage.

But how much water is that really?

On average, U.S. hotels use 25 gallons of water per room per day for laundry. There are about 4,926,543 hotel rooms in the U.S. alone. They’re not all full all the time, of course, so if we assume an average of 65% occupancy, that’s 2,401,689,713 gallons of water each month.

And that’s just in the U.S.

What Individual Hotels Can Do to Support Conservation

Even small changes can have a measurable impact on the amount of water your hotel is using on a daily basis. The American Hotel and Lodging Association estimates even just asking guests to reuse towels can reduce the number of loads of laundry washed by 17%.

But there’s so much more hotels can do to promote water conservation. By updating your laundry room to near-waterless washers, a single hotel can save hundreds of thousands of gallons of water each year (not to mention quite a lot of money).

That’s a measurable change, and just from one hotel.

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Here are a just a few of the trends that you can expect to see ramping up the laundry game in 2018.

Smart Laundry Technology

Professional laundry operations, whether outsourced or done on location, can be incredibly hectic. The Internet of Things (or IoT), simplifies the process.

Smart technology cuts through the chaos, providing unparalleled organization and tracking methods. Some companies use a tagging process that connects to the cloud and keeps track of the status of each item as it’s being washed.

Others use smart technology to measure resources, electricity, and chemicals. Smart technology also provides data reports and analysis, making it easier to target and eliminate causes of inefficiency.

Smart technology is also impacting machine design itself. Soon enough, the old knob and dial combo that we’re used to seeing on machines will fade away, replaced entirely by screens.

This choice isn’t entirely about aesthetic. With screens, washing options won’t be limited by the physical space on the dial. With limitless “space” within the screen, more programs can be made available, and each load can be more customizable than ever before.

A Different Approach to Detergent

Resources cost money—this isn’t a new phenomenon. The laundry industry is finding new ways to reduce the amount of resources needed per load of laundry, specifically those that are detrimental like the chemicals in detergent.

The concept of the detergent pod has exploded (not literally, we hope) in recent years. Detergent pods are pre-measured and are compatible with every machine. Instead of dealing with powder or liquid detergent, you can now just pop a pod into the load and have peace of mind that your machine won’t overflow and your laundry will be thoroughly cleaned.

Nearly waterless machines also change the detergent game, because by changing the amount of water in each cycle, we change the amount (and type) of chemicals needed.

Reducing the Use of Resources

On a similar note, consumers are flocking toward more eco-friendly products and services. Sustainable, or “green,” practices are highly sought after, and this trend will only pick up in the coming years.

Laundry requires water and energy—two resources that are dwindling. With the introduction of green certificates, the laundry industry is tightening up the exploitation of these resources. For example, the EPA’s WaterSense label ensures that the product or service uses at least 20 percent less water than the average prototype.

Individual companies are also striving for sustainability. From hotels to commercial laundries to dry cleaners, the trend toward more environmentally-friendly practices in professional laundry is saving companies water, energy, and money.

A fundamental change in the way we do laundry is on the horizon. The industry is following new rules, striving for efficiency and eco-friendliness. While we can’t predict for certain what the world of laundry will look like in 2018, on the whole, things are looking pretty good.

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