ITU operates all processing facilities under the belief that Environmental Responsibility is not optional. Textile products that are reused many times eliminate the waste created by disposable products and conserve natural resources. Through management practices and technology advances, ITU strives to drive down its consumption of energy, water, packaging and increase the life of the textiles themselves. ITU is implementing ISO 14001 certification, and our products and services have assisted thousands of customers who also value environmental stewardship.

This philosophy and the innovations and practices it fosters impact many facets of the industrial laundry business -- and those of our customers -- such as:

• ITU's unique, patented process to recover and quantify solvent from soiled towels prevents solvents from evaporating into the air or going into the sewer system. After recovery, the solvent is so contaminant free that it is a valuable material. In 2005, more than 250 tons (more than 70,000 gallons) of solvent were recovered and reused.
  
  
• The thousands of tons of industrial laundry that ITU facilities process yield a wide range and large quantity of separated soil. In 1993, ITU facilities generated over 1300 tons / 350,000 gals of hazardous waste oil. With solvent recovery and improvements in our dry cleaning systems, that amount was reduced to zero a few years later. ITU facilities generate no process related hazardous waste today.
  
  
• Waste oil from aqueous and dry cleaning operations is also processed to be a useable product. In 2005, more than 250 ton of commingled industrial oils and grease soils were diverted from landfills or the sewer system and reused in industry.
  
  
• This high level of process control means ITU customers can have confidence the soil in their laundry will not come back to haunt them as a future liability.
  
  
•  ITU processing facilities have reduced water consumption by nearly 75% over the last 10 years while consistently meeting sewer and air discharge standards. Natural gas usage has also been a priority project and creative solutions in our processing have resulted in more than an 8% reduction over the last 5 years.

• ITU is recognized by federal, state and local agencies as being at the forefront of the laundry industry in environmental capabilities and is the recipient of many environmental awards.