Environmental Issues role in facilitating change.“ Ongoing education on infection prevention, confidence in validated processing at Hygienically Clean-certified facilities, and policy support may help accelerate broader change, alongside hospital sustainability goals and operational priorities,” he says.“ Associations like TRSA help give member companies a collective voice in those conversations. For example, recent advocacy around Ohio’ s SB 344. The path may look a little different, depending on the state or local government, but the overall direction points toward greater interest in dependable reusable systems that support both performance and long-term value.”
Perils of PFAS
A related issue on the environmental-compliance front is that some iso gowns may contain a chemical additive in the form of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances( PFAS). These substances comprise a large group of man-made chemicals used since the 1940s in products that resist heat, water, grease and stains. In April 2024, the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency determined that two types of PFAS, PFOA( Perfluorooctanoic Acid) and PFOS( Perfluorooctane sulfonate), are hazardous substances under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act( CERCLA). Concerns over PFAS have also emerged in Europe and Canada. Bartsch notes that while the linen, uniform and facility services industry doesn’ t produce PFAS, it’ s nonetheless a concern if PFAS on garments or flatwork processed by laundries ends up in wastewater effluent.“ PFAS is absolutely an emerging area of concern— and one the industry needs to take seriously, both from an environmental and a regulatory standpoint.”
While enforcement actions in many jurisdictions are still pending, operators should expect them sooner,
rather than later.“ We are seeing a clear increase in regulatory focus, particularly around wastewater and effluent standards, even if enforcement timelines and thresholds are still evolving,” Bartsch says.“ As with many environmental issues, regulation tends to follow awareness— and awareness around PFAS, both in public policy and in the broader community, seems to be rising quickly.”
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As a textile manufacturer, Kerley recommends that operators scrutinize their textile sources closely and take precautions to monitor any possible presence of PFAS on the textile goods that they’ re processing. Standard Textile is also doing its part to monitor the issue.“ The
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May 2026 • Textile Services 17