ETSA ENVI Working Group meets in Ronse and Brussels
At the recent ETSA Environment and Laundry Technology Working Group meeting held on 7-8 April, members came together to align on key legislative developments and highlight industry innovation in sustainability. The event was hosted by Alsico at their facility in Ronse on the first day, followed by sessions in Brussels at ETSA's offices on the second. This meeting proved to be extremely valuable, giving members of the ENVI Working Group the opportunity to see firsthand the innovative approaches Alsico has adopted—not only in sustainability, but also through initiatives like the "Alsico Academy" and the ARX Initiative, where garments are repaired and given a second life. These concepts, along with Alsico's broader vision, were further explored in presentations by Vincent Siau and Jo Van Landeghem.
 Other highlights of the meeting included a comprehensive update on EU environmental policy affecting the textile services sector—namely the Omnibus Regulation, the Eco-Design for Sustainable Products Regulation (ESPR), REACH, and the upcoming Clean Industrial Deal. A standout presentation came from FBT's Frederik Dormaels, who gave an in-depth overview of the challenges and innovations in managing PFAS in industrial laundries. He discussed Belgium's experience with PFAS detection and regulation, and shared insights from ongoing R&D efforts—including the TETRA and KIS projects—which focus on advanced filtration and PFAS removal using biologically activated carbon and membrane technologies.
Day two of the meeting spotlighted circularity in practice. CIBUTEX's ambitious vision for a fully circular business textile economy was presented by Ralf Hellmann. ETSA also reaffirmed its role as a committed partner in the EU Climate Pact, featuring a guest presentation from the Climate Pact's Benelux Office, represented by Channa Chattoir, along with the European Commission's Lana Mentens. The meeting concluded with a dynamic "lightning round" in which several ETSA member companies showcased sustainability initiatives they have adopted—each in just 3-5 minutes. The Commission was particularly pleased to see the sector's proactive approach to sustainability and green innovation.
We would like to extend our sincere thanks to our gracious hosts at Alsico, as well as to our Working Group Chair, Matthias Zoch, for their leadership and support.
The slides and other presentation material are a privilege of ETSA membership. Please contact ETSA.
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