CleanLease cuts waste and meets regulations by switching to banding

CleanLease, a leading laundry service provider in the Netherlands and Belgium, delivers clean textiles to hospitals, care centers, and holiday parks. While their service is built on hygiene and operational efficiency, their packaging approach, bundling towels, linens, and other textiles in plastic bags, was becoming increasingly problematic.

With increasing pressure from the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) and a strong internal commitment to environmental sustainability, CleanLease found themselves at a crossroads. Their reliance on single-use plastic not only created excessive packaging waste but also posed challenges for recyclability, an increasingly critical concern in the face of strict European mandates.

“We received the question: how are you going to adjust to the new packaging regulations? We then started looking critically at our own processes.”

CleanLease needed to find a solution to future-proof their operations, reduce their environmental footprint, and align their practices with upcoming regulatory requirements. In addition, CleanLease wanted to achieve this without sacrificing the quality or hygiene of their services.

Circular packaging through banding with bandall

In their search for an alternative to plastic wrap, CleanLease turned to Bandall’s innovative banding technology. Instead of enclosing bundles in plastic bags, textiles are now secured using a recyclable paper band, applied with precision by automated banding machines. These paper bands require no adhesives, ensuring full recyclability and eliminating the need for bulky plastic.
“We chose banding because it helps us reduce waste and use less material.”

Though initial implementation required customization, such as adjusting for bundles of varying heights and dimensions, the results were worth the effort. Bandall’s service team worked closely with CleanLease to ensure seamless integration into their existing operations.

Sustainable impact, operational efficiency, and regulatory compliance

CleanLease’s move to banding has delivered impressive benefits across several key areas:

• Regulatory readiness: Banding positions CleanLease as fully PPWR-compliant by using minimal packaging that is efficient, lightweight, and recyclable.
• Dramatic reduction in packaging waste: Previously, each textile bundle required 20–30 grams of plastic. With banding, the same outcome is achieved using only a few grams of paper.
• Recyclability: Despite having a PE coating, the paper bands are accepted in standard recycling streams, removing concerns about waste contamination.
• Operational integration: The banding solution was integrated into CleanLease’s automated line, allowing for fast, hygienic, and consistent bundling without manual interference.

Leading by example in the textile industry

By replacing plastic bags with recyclable bands, CleanLease is not just solving an internal problem, they are setting a new standard in textile logistics. They’ve shown it’s possible to embrace sustainability without compromising on functionality or efficiency.
The thousands of kilograms of plastic saved each year is a measurable impact that resonates with both regulators and environmentally conscious clients. CleanLease is proof that large-scale operations can adopt circular packaging solutions that are both practical and future-ready.

“The switch to banding helps us stay ahead of regulations while staying true to our sustainability values. It’s not just about compliance, it’s about leading responsibly.”

A model for the future of packaging in laundry services

This successful collaboration between CleanLease and Bandall demonstrates that banding is not just an eco-friendly alternative, it’s a scalable, efficient, and regulation-ready solution for the textile and laundry industries. For any company seeking to reduce its packaging footprint while maintaining operational integrity, banding presents a powerful path forward.