Earlier this week I had the pleasure of speaking with the founder of ‘Laundry Efficiency’, Colin Oakley. This year, Laundry Efficiency, located in Cannock Staffordshire, was awarded the prestigious Queen Award for Sustainable Development for their outstanding efforts to make the world a greener place. As COP26 is taking place next month in Glasgow this is the perfect opportunity for businesses to become leaders in tackling climate change issues and promoting sustainability within the workplace. British Chambers of Commerce published their latest data showing that only 11% of more than 1000 businesses surveyed in the UK are measuring their carbon footprint. Therefore, Staffordshire Chambers wants to share the efforts made by local businesses to start influencing change in our region.

Laundry Efficiency has been operating for the last 40 years helping laundry owners drive efficiency gains, increase productivity and reduce their costs in the process. By using ozone technology, the company has managed to transform the traditional ways in which laundry services operate. Implementing this process into washing and drying clothes eliminates all use of chemicals. As well as using less water and electricity, the time in which it takes to complete a full wash is halved. This means that laundry services are able to increase their efficiency by 50% as well as reduce prices for customers, all at the same time as reducing the amount of carbon emissions released into the atmosphere.

Colin Oakley, founder of Laundry Efficiency said: “We have seen the benefits that our system has brought to launderettes across the whole country as well as internationally. We have companies in Germany, France and Italy who have started using our ozone technology and can now never look back. Not only is the system 50% more efficient, saving water, electricity and time but customers have noticed that garments last twice as long and appear a lot cleaner.

“Our systems have seen companies reduce their carbon emissions by 21%, if every launderette in the UK used our technology, we’d reach Net Zero a lot faster. Once you install our system, you’ll realise the snowball effect of saving almost immediately.”

Farming Efficiency, also developed by Colin and Operational Manager, Graham Oakley, uses the same ozone technology delivering incredible yield improvements, lower crop losses and chemical savings to mushroom farms. Farm owners across the UK have said that by using ozone, mushrooms are a lot whiter, stronger and healthier. Ozone has been scientifically proven to achieve a level of cleanliness that no other machine can achieve; this means that once installed correctly ozone technology can be used in many different sectors helping to reduce the overall carbon emissions that we collectively produce as a country.

Sara Williams, CEO of Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce said: “To have a business so local to the chambers that is changing the way other UK businesses operate for the better is truly a pleasure. The work that Laundry Efficiency has done to promote sustainability will undoubtedly inspire many other businesses to follow in their footsteps and initiate a plan towards becoming green. I am confident that over the next few months and years the Chambers will be able to support other local businesses take these steps.”

To find out more about ozone technology visit www.theefficiencygroup.global or call 01543 871067.

If you would like to talk to us about any business issues or about projects that your business is working on towards achieving Net Zero in 2030 get in touch by emailing us at info@staffordshirechamber.co.uk or call us on 01782 202222