Government ignored TSA advice, choosing disposable PPE instead
The TSA says it is pleased that the laundry industry has been recognised by the Covid Inquiry, in the module 5 release on July 14th.
Initially the laundry industry was not included in the inquiry, but once the TSA had lobbied and explained the situation during the pandemic, the Association was allowed to make a statement. As a result, the latest module includes the following paragraphs (sections 4.78 and 4.79).
In April 2020, the Textile Services Association (the trade association for the textile care services industry) offered to scale up reusable gown and sterile laundry services during the pandemic, engaging with UK Make and Cabinet Office procurement officials. UK Make staff, Cabinet Office staff and consultants from Deloitte (a professional services company) working to source PPE asked the Textile Services Association to design a reusable gown. The Textile Services Association was in contact with officials from UK Make and the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy between April and September 2020 and with NHS England between February and August 2021.
Although the Textile Services Association had repeated contact with officials, including from UK Make and the Cabinet Office Complex Transactions Team – and work was undertaken to reserve raw materials and manufacturing capacity and to ensure compliance with regulatory and technical standards – it did not lead to any contracts. While it explored the possibility of reusable PPE, the UK government prioritised the purchase and manufacture of single-use PPE during the pandemic. This was despite the full supply chain for reusable gowns, including a laundry network, already existing in the UK.
Emma Kiviniemi Wilson is the TSA’s managing director. She says, “Whilst it was frustrating to be ignored at the time, we are pleased to be recognised in the report. The challenge will now be how we move this forward, so that if there is a next time our advice is not only listened to but acted on.”
The TSA is actively lobbying government – most recently, on the 19th May 2026, it hosted a cross party meeting in Westminster that was hailed as a big success. Andrew George, MP for St Ives, said afterwards: “It was very eye opening to learn how the sector helps to sustain so many aspects of the economy. I think everyone who attended is keen to make sure the government looks carefully at what the industry needs to take it forward.”
Emma adds, “The Covid Inquiry release and the success of events like the cross-party meeting shows that we are making progress. We are certainly going to keep on pushing, to build on these foundations through further discussions with government to ensure the laundry industry is heard in the future.”
The TSA is the trade association for the textile care services industry. The TSA represents commercial laundry and textile rental businesses. Membership ranges from family-run operations through to large, multi-national companies. Visit www.tsa-uk.org for more information.