/ Magazine / Editorial / Is the industrial laundry sector shifting from low prices to added value?

Is the industrial laundry sector shifting from low prices to added value?

Marzio Nava

Industrial laundry work operates behind the scenes, but its role is critical. Hospitals, hospitality, catering, and industry depend on it every day.

Each clean sheet and hygienic uniform is the result of a complex industrial process and the work of thousands of people. Despite being a cornerstone of the real economy, this sector still receives little visibility or recognition in public debate.

If there were still any need to clarify it, industrial laundries operating in the healthcare sector are not a grey area. They are subject to the regulations governing strikes in essential public services under Law 146/1990. These rules do not suggest, they require. Minimum service levels, mandatory staffing, requisition measures are legal obligations, not theoretical concepts. The consequence is clear: even during industrial action, continuity of service must be guaranteed.

Let us now turn to the labor issue. Tight production schedules, high temperatures, constant noise, and repetitive tasks make everyday life in industrial laundries physically demanding. Yet economic and professional recognition often falls short. Low wages, precarious contracts, and limited career prospects fuel insecurity, high turnover, and a gradual loss of skills. It is precisely in this challenging context that the sector is undergoing a decisive transformation: automation and digitalization are opening new opportunities to enhance productivity, improve workplace safety, and increase the overall attractiveness of laundry work.

On the economic front, the situation is equally complex. Industrial laundries operate in an environment of steadily rising costs: energy, water, chemicals, and maintenance. In this highly energy-intensive sector, even small price fluctuations have a direct impact on profit margins. Compounding the challenge is competition, often driven by price undercutting, which further squeezes profitability and discourages investment in innovation, quality, and safety. The result is a paradox: an essential sector compelled to operate on ever-thinner margins.

The environmental transition adds yet another layer of challenge. Reducing water consumption, minimizing the impact of chemicals, and complying with increasingly strict sanitary standards mean that sustainability is no longer optional but a condition for survival. For some companies, it represents a strategic opportunity; for others, a costly burden. In any case, it marks a dividing line between those investing in the future and those at risk of being left behind.

Breaking free from this deadlock requires a clear industrial vision: investing in human capital, improving working conditions, and strengthening skills. In this issue of Detergo, we speak with labor law experts, manufacturers, and industrial laundries, sharing the conviction that these challenges must be addressed collectively and systematically.

Accelerate technological innovation and digitalization. Move beyond competition driven solely by price, and build a model centered on quality, sustainability, and social responsibility. In other words: shift from a low-cost economy to a value-based economy.

"The future belongs not to those who cost the least, but to those who are worth the most"

DETERGO MAGAZINE # FEBRUARY 2026

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