Dorset based Barker, the largest domestic laundry in the UK and a leading specialists Dry Cleaner, is making a bold commitment to reduce ‘single use’ plastic by 90%. Their impressive eco mission is well under way, having converted nearly all of its domestic laundry customers to long lasting Barker laundry boxes over the last 2 years.
They have now introduced a brand- new initiative in their Dry- Cleaning Division which is initially being rolled out in a trial at their Sherborne branch in Dorset. It includes the options to; collect dry cleaning in a new, reusable garment cover, have no cover at all, or pay 15 pence for polythene packaging. Proceeds raised from the polythene packaging will be donated to the business’s charity, MyTIME Charity for Young Carers.
MD Matthew Barker advised, “When packaging represents such a large and important part of our final product, with the requirements for hygiene and protection from damage, we have been slaves to the most viable and efficient form of packaging… plastic. As a business, by far and away the largest use of plastic is in our Dry Cleaning Division. Currently, all dry cleaning that leaves our premises is draped in protective polythene. We are determined to ultimately eliminate this practice, which has driven us to launch this new, reusable garment cover initiative. We are immensely proud that Barker are the first dry cleaning company nationally to work towards the eradication of plastic packaging and would urge our customers to support us in our efforts. If the Sherborne trial is successful we hope to extend the initiative to all of our branches by the end of the year. Branches include Ashley Cross, Poole, Ferndown and Bournemouth.”
Barker continued, “With our customers’ help and support we hope we can achieve our ambitious goal of reducing ‘single use’ plastic by 90% and in doing so start to put pressure on the rest of the industry to follow suit.
“This is requiring a significant investment from the business in the initial stages but I believe it is the right course of action. We will never lose plastic – it is probably one of the most effective wrappers ever invented but the way in which we use it and handle it will make all the difference to the future of our planet.”
About Barker
Barker is a high-quality fabric care and manufacturing business specialising in the improvement of established markets, from laundry to shirt making. Fully traceable, ethically grown and woven cotton of the highest quality is used to manufacture its bed linen range whilst also being the global leader in the supply of starched dress wear to the legal profession and the film, TV and theatre industries. Their work can be seen in Downton Abbey, Peaky Blinders and Mr Selfridge, to name just a few. Barker are now the largest domestic laundry in the UK and a leading specialists Dry Cleaner, with a heritage dating back to 1861.
About MyTIME Charity for Young Carers
MyTIME provides invaluable respite care and breaks for young carers (age 5 – 18) and their families at its centre at Worth Matravers in the Purbecks, in Dorset. The visits that the charity facilitates allows carers to take time out, have some much- needed fun and often forge long lasting friendships with other young carers. MyTIME also supports carers with life skills, education and their physical & mental health wellbeing.