Energy Efficiency

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Executive Summary

Energy efficiency is not the sole solution to sustainable laundry. Hence, this report focuses on the issues of water pollution and packaging in the laundry process. The suggested short-term and long-term strategies help to develop sustainable laundry. Our strategies address the three triple bottom line of sustainability and demonstrate their impacts on various stakeholders.

Introduction

Technological advancements of washing machines have clear effects on the environmental impacts of washing machines since the mid-80s. This, combined with environmental campaigns such as the ‘I Prefer 30o’ by the International Association for Soaps, Detergents and Maintenance Products have led to energy reductions by washing machines in the UK from 268 kilowatt hours for the average household in the mid-1980s to 166 kilowatt hours in 2012. However, focusing solely on the issue of energy efficiency does not deal with the other aspects of laundry which affect environmental sustainability. A survey by the Sustainable Consumption Institute of laundry habits of 1500 households in the UK suggests that a ‘more joined up account’ of laundry habits will help to achieve sustainable laundry (Yates and Evans, 2014).

Our consultancy team therefore believes that your organization, a trusted nationwide retail store, could significantly impact consumer behavior and encourage customers towards sustainable laundry. We understand that a sustainable business contains both opportunities and responsibilities. For opportunities, sustainable business can create long-term shareholder value; and for responsibility, it should concern economic, social and environmental development. Thus in the following part, we first analyze the current situation of household laundry and identify the main areas that we want to focus. We will then suggest short-term and long-term strategies for making your laundry category sustainable, the potential barriers and corresponding solutions. The report will end with evaluating the impact of our strategies on the different stakeholders.

Our Focus – Water and Packaging

Since energy efficiency in laundry is only one of the aspects of sustainable laundry, we will base our strategies on two other equally important laundry issues – water pollution and generation of wastes. Current Domestic Laundry Cleaning Products (DLCP) generate 41,600 tonnes of phosphorus which is a water pollutant (Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs, 2009). Thus, we suggest strategies to switch to selling DLCP containing negligible amounts of phosphorus and therefore aiding the UK government in its endeavor to phase out DLCP containing phosphorus, by the end of 2015. We also address the worrying issue of laundry waste generation as the detergent bottles are produced using polyvinyl chloride (PVC) which is a hazardous chemical and Europe generates 500,000 tons of PVC in packaging every year (Vinyl Sustainability Forum, 2014).

Short-term strategies

Strategy 1: Switching to concentrated laundry detergent to reduce use of phosphorus in DLCP and to reduce packaging wastes. We suggest more focus on selling concentrated laundry detergents as they use less phosphorus. According to recent data, phosphorus from DLCP contributes to 3-4% of freshwater pollution. By manufacturing and selling low phosphorus DLCP your organization could aid the government in achieving its goal of eliminating DLCP containing phosphorus, by the end of 2015 (Department for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs, 2009). From the viewpoint of manufacturer concentrated DLCP consume less water in their formulation but still possess the same potential to clean the same amount of laundry load as before. Moreover, these products come in smaller bottles, thus using less plastic which means less cost of production and less packaging needed to be recycled or disposed of. Since the products come in smaller bottles, this result in lesser fuel needed for distribution and thus, helps control the greenhouse gases as well as other emission (Bartos, 2008). Further, it also consumes less space on the shelf and provides more space for other products. By using these products customers will incur less cost as these products can be used at lower temperature washes which save electricity and water bills. This would reduce bills by £10 a year (Waste and Resources Action Program, 2011). As an addition, smaller bottles make the product easier to carry and store at home. However, there might be a challenge in implementing this strategy, as the customers might not want to change from the existing products that they usually use, to the concentrated liquid detergent. Therefore, giving rewards to the customers can be one of the solutions to this challenge, for example the customers can exchange 5 old detergent containers for a new free bottle of concentrated liquid detergent.

Strategy 2: Setting up a refill station for concentrated liquid detergent by installing dispensers to fill the concentrated detergent. In order to further support the use of the concentrated liquid detergent, we would like to propose another short term strategy, which is to set up a concentrated liquid detergent refill station by setting up a dispenser for concentrated liquid detergent. This will allow customers to bring their old detergent bottle to get a refill of the product at a lower price compared to buying a new one. By doing this, it will extend the life of the bottle and the customers will have no need to purchase another bottle which means less waste from packaging. Retailers can also benefit from this scheme, as they can offer a product at lower prices and thus be more competitive. Challenge that comes with this plan is the fact that setting up the refill station would require a lot of space from the retailer. Yet, the problem can be solved by wall mounting the dispenser as it will occupy less space in the store.

Long-term strategies

Strategy 1: Launching a kid’s eco-friendly laundry capsule. We advise that your organization comes up with a new concentrated detergent capsule. The product should be designed to attract children and their parents. The capsules could be multi-colored to attract children. We suggest the new product should be sold in a vending machine, thus reducing packaging waste. To educate children on laundry, the vending machine should have clear and simple steps of doing laundry. Also, there could be a tablet next to the vending machine which plays “how to use” videos thus educating children in a fun way.  We are aware that kids may not be interested in doing laundry and their parents in educating them about sustainable laundry. Therefore, to address this problem we have some suggestions. The capsules could be designed in the shape of cartoon characters to attract children. To encourage parents in order to involve their children into sustainable laundry, we suggest rewarding them with points on their loyalty card.

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