EUROPE
The European Textile Services Association (ETSA) Awards held at this year’s ETSA Congress in Prague, the 30th anniversary of the association, have grown since the inaugural event in Rome in 2022. They encompass a diverse range of categories, each tailored to spotlight distinct forms of excellence within the industry. From pioneering innovative projects to making significant strides in environmental sustainability, and from setting benchmarks in corporate social responsibility to excelling in customer experience, ETSA believes these awards are a testament to the multifaceted brilliance of the industry’s frontrunners.
This year, ETSA expanded the categories to include:
• Best Innovative Project Award
• Climate Impact Award
• Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Award
• Customer Experience Excellence Award
• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion Award
• Employer of the Year Award in Textile Services
Salesianer Miettex walked away with the 2024 Best Innovative Project Award for its Linen2GO initiative. With the goal of democratising linen rental for a larger audience, Salesianer Miettex, represented by CEO Victor Ioane and managing partner Thomas Krautschneider, the judges frecognised Linen2GO as a tribute to the company’s commitment to innovation and excellence, having invested over €250,000 and employing 10 dedicated employees. This project was remarkably completed without the need for outside funding, demonstrating Salesianer’s ingenuity and tenacity.
Klopman International won the Climate Impact Award for its innovative ‘We-ar Circular™- Post-Consumer Recycled Fabrics’ concept in partnership with TDV Industries. This ground-breaking concept establishes a new benchmark for the textile industry and demonstrates Klopman’s and TDV Industries’ dedication to environmental sustainability and the circular economy.
We-ar Circular™ turns used clothing into recycled materials preventing downcycling and landfill disposal by using mechanical recycling to manufacture new fibres spun into yarn from post-consumer cotton and polyester mixes.
The Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Award honoured a noteworthy partnership between the Czech social enterprise DobroDílo and textile services provider Lindström. This collaboration is a perfect illustration of how companies can promote social inclusion and support the circular economy. Elizabeth Kuiper, Associate Director at the European Policy Center and judge for the CSR Award, commended the initiative, stating: “The collaboration between textile service company Lindström and the Czech social enterprise DobroDílo is a wonderful example of how companies can promote social inclusion and contribute to the circular economy at the same time. Great to see how the initiative empowers disabled people, reduces textile waste, and fosters local development!”
Lindström racked up another award, this time for Customer Experience Excellence Award, for what ETSA describes as an excellent illustration of a customer-centric strategy that has greatly improved customer experiences across several touchpoints. Lindström’s Omnichannel Experience Framework was created to support and guide Lindström’s aim for continuously exceeding customer expectations and providing great value.
Ecolab received the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Champion Award, for its excellent activities that cover the whole organisation under the critical eye of Lisa Lang, director for EU Affairs & Policy Orchestrator for EIT Climate KIC and chairperson for the Cultural & Creative Taskforce at the UNFCCC United Nations Global Innovation Hub, who was the Judge for this award. Even while Ecolab’s efforts haven’t yet produced significant effect metrics, their continuous, corporate dedication has established a standard that other businesses can follow, making it a genuine ‘walk the talk’ accomplishment.
Ecolab’s strategic approach to integrating multiple perspectives and challenging industry standards demonstrates the company’s dedication to diversity, equity, and inclusion while ensuring that actions are consistent with its core principles. The organization has put in place a number of initiatives centered toward attracting and keeping a diverse workforce, such as internal mobility plans that elevate marginalized groups and targeted hiring procedures. Specifically, Ecolab’s E3 network and employee resource groups have been crucial in promoting gender parity and assisting women in leadership positions by offering venues for professional growth, networking opportunities, and mentoring.
Not content with already netting two awards, Lindström made it a hat trick by taking the 2024 Employer of the Year Award in Textile Services. This esteemed prize honours Lindström’s extraordinary dedication to creating a work environment that promotes lifelong learning, skill development, and general employee wellbeing. The ground-breaking Global People System, Linda, is an example of Lindström’s unique approach, which has raised the bar for employee development, performance, and engagement.
Early in 2023, Lindström debuted Linda, a revolutionary HRIS system intended to be more than just a system; rather, it was to be a dependable friend for each Lindströmer, fostering growth, engagement, and performance. Linda encourages a sense of ownership and autonomy among employees by giving them the freedom to maintain their own information and profiles.
For more on the background to the awards and the stories behind the winners please visit here
