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Going for green: UK's biggest domestic laundry hits ambitious eco targets within three years

Matt Barker, Managing Director, Barker: "We believe that we are in the vanguard of our sector."

By Staff Reporter [email protected]

Published: February 14, 2021 | Updated: 14th February 2021

Ambitious eco targets by the UK’s largest domestic laundry have been achieved within three years with its boss claiming his company is “in the vanguard of our sector.”

Barker, which is also a leading specialist dry cleaner, had set itself several key objectives including:

  • Removing single use plastic from packaging across the entire business
  • Investing in washing/water heating technology
  • Reducing electricity via LED replacement of all lighting

The cost of the initiatives has resulted in an investment of more than £100,000 over the last two years by the Bournemouth-based company.

Matt Barker, Managing Director, said: “Three years ago at Barker we set ourselves the ambitious target of reducing our use of ‘single use’ plastic by 90 per cent.

“We are extremely proud to say that we have achieved this ambition.

“It’s particularly pleasing as it’s been achieved despite the recent challenges of Covid.

“We have converted almost 95 per cent of our 2,500 domestic laundry customers to long lasting laundry boxes.

“While still plastic, they have a 20-year life span.

“In our Dry Cleaning division we previously reported that we had trialled removing polythene packaging in one of our branches.

“This initiative proved hugely successful.

“We subsequently introduced re-useable garment covers in all our four stores.

“These are proving very popular with our customers, as well as looking extremely smart and professional and doing a great job of protecting clothing items.

“While it’s recognised that we shall never lose plastic, as it’s probably one of the most effective wrappers ever invented, the way in which we use it and handle it will make all the difference to the future of our planet.

“At the end of 2019 we received a low carbon grant funding award of £25,000, allocated by Dorset Council’s Low Carbon Dorset programme and funded by the European Regional Development Fund.

“Our aim was to improve our energy efficiency, increase the use of renewable energy and aid the development of new low carbon products.

“The award allowed us to invest in various new equipment and laundry technology: two new washing machines, a boiler and a state-of-the-art water heating system.

“The new gas fired water heating system has enabled us to change from the steam method by which we previously heated water, thus reducing our use and reliance on fossil fuels by an impressive 50 per cent.

“The investment in technology has also delivered a significant saving in terms of reducing carbon emissions – over 90 tonnes of CO2 emissions per annum.

“We have always recognised how important it is to bring our team of 50 staff along with us on our eco journey.

“We carried out an internal initiative to highlight awareness of our environment and the impact and use of plastics within the business.

“As a result, everyone is much more conscious, educated, and most importantly motivated to help the business.”

Matt reserved particular praise for the company’s customers.

Barker has about 2,500 domestic clients in central southern England and Greater London with a weekly collection and delivery laundry service.

It also has specialist dry cleaning retail shops in Bournemouth, Ferndown, Poole and Sherborne.

He said: “We would like to thank all of our customers for their support with our eco ambitions.

“We believe that we are in the vanguard of our sector.

“Not only is it the right thing to do environmentally but for everyone it makes absolute economic sense in the long term.

“We have further ideas and initiatives which we shall review over the coming months.”

Matt acquired Barker in April 2000 from his father.

The company is much more than a laundry these days.

It’s also a global leader in the supply of starched dress wear to the legal profession and the film, TV and theatre industries.

Barker’s work has been seen in some of TV’s biggest period shows including Downtown Abbey, Mr Selfridge and Poirot among many others.

The business, which can trace its history back to 1861, is now the only company left in the world providing a laundry and re-starching service for detachable collars and dress fronted shirts.

It also manufactures and sells a range of shirts and bed linen under its own label, the Barker Collection.

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